What is trail running?
Providing extra grip on all kinds of terrain, EzyShoes have proven ideal for exponents of trail running. But what exactly is trail running?
It’s a modern twist on standard road and track running, which pushes the pursuit closer to the realm of extreme sport. Generally speaking, trail running takes place on hiking trails which cannot be accessed by road, meaning participants run (and occasionally scramble) through mountains, forests, woodland... even desert.
Trail running courses usually include steep undulations, which can see trail runners ascend to thousands of feet before descending to the finish line. In essence it’s like a mountain walk, just much, much faster!
Indeed, some trail runners do take walking poles with them for stability.
Trail running events
Trail running is still a relatively fledgling activity – particularly in the UK - but it is steadily growing in popularity. Lakeland Trails, an event series which has brought trail running to the Lake District, attracted more than 5,000 runners to its races in 2010. Just six years earlier, its inaugural trail running event had just 80 participants.
The increasing appeal of this rugged outdoor sport is understandable. Lakeland Trails describes its marathon event as the ‘most picturesque marathon in the UK’, offering a 42km race through some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in England. Certainly there are few road runs that could compete with that kind of panorama!
But of course, the long distances, high altitudes and ever-changing terrain means it’s incredibly important to be properly trained and well equipped.
Trail running shoes are a must, and many top runners – including World Champion Thomas Lorblanchet – add EzyShoes for extra grip in snow, ice and dirt (all of which you should anticipate atop a mountain!)
For more information on trail running in the UK, search the web for ‘Lakeland Trails’ or learn more through our useful collection of trail running advice articles.
