Amid COVID-19, racial and social injustice and other things, everyone’s life has been affected in some form this year. However, this is not a time to lose sight of running. The key to staying positive about running is to look ahead. During the past few months, I have had to rethink why I run in order to maintain my healthy relationship with running. While racing is awesome, it is not the sole purpose for running. Without any races on the calendar, I figured this could be a great time to begin making an unofficial shift away from road running to trail running as a way to becoming a more balanced, athletic runner and duathlete.
Since I am starting from scratch as a new trail runner, I have to remember to start slowly, build into it, and have realistic expectations. Due to the inconsistent nature of individual trails, not only will my running style will be different, my per-mile pace on a trail won’t equal what I normally run on road. Running a distance on the trail will take longer than running that same distance on the road. I will be considerably slower than when I am running on pavement. Furthermore, slowing down is also the best way to traverse potential obstacles (slippery mud, rocks, and protruding tree roots) and unpredictable terrain to avoid the risk of tripping, falling, and potential injury (e.g. rolling my ankle).
Trail running can be a bit more challenging, but it can also be extremely rewarding. The challenge is that every trail has its own unique terrain. Since it can be a lot more demanding than running on the roads, it’s best to progress slowly. The goal to gaining confidence in trail running is knowing what to expect. Ultimately, it’s about finding a good balance between improving as a duathlete and also having fun.