For the uninitiated, when the query of what is trail running arises, they often wonder about the term’s usage. After all, running is running. Or, is it? To be sure, trail running is, indeed, running, but that is where the similarity ends. It is clearly much more, a variation of running quite unique from regular road or track running.
First of all, trail running occurs under different circumstances, usually taking place on a single-track trail, such as a hiking trail or occasionally, a fire road. The unifying characteristic of these kinds of trails is that they are generally unreachable by roads except those found at the trailheads. Thus, to participate in trail running is akin to getting away from it all, becoming one with nature.
Moreover, such trails are seldom flat. Instead, they may encompass terrain varying from hills and mountains to desert and forest, often with narrow passages to transverse. With land variations sometimes extreme, hiking or climbing may be necessary to make the transition that steep inclines and rough, rugged terrain require. With terrain primarily a factor of geographical location, many trail runners find themselves descending the same step cliffs or land formations they have just climbed; further, trail runs can have ascents and descents encompassing thousands of feet.
When addressing running on trails, there are as many variations of style as the runners who embrace the sport. While some enjoy running trails for daily exercise or training, others go for weeks on runs in the backcountry. Such runs are more worthy of being labeled expeditions, as they can last upwards of eight days, with participants averaging 8-10 miles daily with heavy backpacks. While there are some solo trail runners who choose shorter stays out in the country, of three or four days, and cover greater daily distances with lighter gear, this increasingly popular adventure can be more difficult, to say nothing of more dangerous.
When questioning what is trail running, imagine a run that is far from boring, complete with specially designed shoes, more rigid than needed for the road, and plenty of outdoor accessories, such as water bottles, sunscreen, sunglasses, and insect spray. For those who love fitness running and want to experience the great outdoors, running on scenic trails is the perfect solution. If you can get yourself hooked on trail running your metabolism will out pace the fat burning power of even the best hcg drops.