Some Benefits of Trail Running to Help with Road Running Performance
Trail running builds strength in extra muscle groups that will support key road running muscles. It improves our overall balance. It strengthens our core, which is important for good running posture.
Trail running allows us to put more training kilometres in with a reduced risk of repetitive strain injuries.
Running in nature helps to clear our mind from stress. Reduced stress means a receptive mind and body that can focus on training harder.
The act of mixing up training will keep our running magic alive. Always running on the roads can become boring after time. To combine road runs and trail runs weekly, will make us feel better physically and mentally.
The Mental Health Benefits of Trail Running
Trail running often takes place in natural settings where we can connect with the environment and experience the calming effects of nature.
According to some research, spending time in natural settings has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Nature’s sights, sounds, and smells can also have a positive effect on our physical and mental well-being.
Studies have found that individuals who spend time in nature have lower levels of cortisol, a hormone that is linked to stress. Exposure to nature can also lead to increased feelings of relaxation, restoration, and positive emotions.
Trail running is not only a great form of physical exercise, but it also has numerous benefits for mental health. Running for mental health in natural settings such as forests, mountains, or trails allows us to connect with nature and our environment.
This magic of nature will motivate us to train more, and improve us as a road runner.
What is Trail Running? There are so many different types of terrain and surfaces when it comes to trail running, which is one of the things that makes it more fun and challenging. For example, we might have access to technical terrain which may include sharp rocks, tree roots, river crossings, and even sand. Then there’s the more comfortable, or runnable terrain which may include non-technical/smooth trails, forest trails, fire roads, grass tracks, and also long stretches of smooth rock. Trail running gets even more interesting when changing weather conditions make the terrain reactive differently. For example, when an otherwise easy trail, lined with smooth, dry rocks gets wet, it suddenly becomes slippery. This is why there are so many different types of trail running shoes to choose from, with different terrains, changing weather and the effect this can have on those trails. Mountain race featuring extreme elevation gain and loss are for those who want more of a challenge from their trails. We need more leg muscle and endurance to get through a run like this but because this type of trail running requires us to climb and descend a lot (as opposed to running on the flat), we also need to learn how to pace ourself properly with a steady heart rate for various reasons. How to Start Trail Running? It’s actually really easy nowadays, all we need to do is find a decent local trail to run on, get some decent trail running shoes, a few other essential accessories, some electrolytes, energy gels or chews or bars, and then simply go out and give it a try. To perform both trail and road runs really supports better muscle strength and reduces muscle soreness. Running on the road always has the same type of impact on our legs and muscles, but on the trail, running in nature and more technical grounds will strengthen our legs and different muscles regularly. So running on the road with stronger leg muscles and flexibility will feel much better. If you’re a trail runner only, to add some road runs weekly, will increase your fitness level and running pace.
Perform Nice Trail Runs And Road Runs Weekly, Enjoy Running In Nature, Fell Better and Happier, Enjoy Road Runs Feeling More Positive, With Stronger Muscles And Faster Pace!
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