PURE PERFORMANCE | RUN
BY MICHELLE HEMLEY
WINTER : THE BEST TIME FOR TRAIL RUNNING
There is never a bad time to head out on the trails , however winter is especially ideal ; you can stay semi-protected from the elements , explore new territory and take advantage of the plethora of new and challenging events on offer . What ’ s not to love ?
So why are the trails SO good ?
1 . It ’ s an ideal way to build a running base , no pressure The softer surface of the trails is more forgiving on your joints , making it perfect for those easy , longer winter runs . Try completing your weekly long run on the trails and as the weeks pass and your fitness improves , use the natural elements to complete a ‘ fartlek ’ or ‘ speed play ’ set where you run fast to pass 10 trees . It ’ s fun to mix it up different to our usual structures !
With speed being hard to consistently gauge when on the trails ( and you ’ ll certainly go slower than on the road ), it ’ s fantastic to run free of your trusty watch and simply build your fitness without the pressure of constantly monitoring splits .
2 . A fantastic strength builder Trail running builds strength in more ways than one .
As many trails cover hilly terrain , they naturally engage our more significantly used muscle groups such as our quads , hamstrings , calf muscles and glutes . This is all completely beneficial to your road running and remember a strong runner equals a fast runner !
Even better , due to the uneven nature of the trails , our smaller , stabilising muscles around our ankles are activated more than pure road running . Over time , this leads to increased strength and ability to complete the more technical trail running skills of descending , ascending , rock hopping and cornering . The everchanging terrain allows us to constantly change up our muscle groups , assisting to decrease our chance of overuse injury .
3 . Exploring opportunities Triathletes are creatures of habit and during the summer race season , people will typically stick to their regular routes . Trail running is a great opportunity to grab a few mates , head somewhere new and explore . It ’ s amazing what ’ s out there when you only look !
4 . Avoid the elements Most trails are bordered with trees and bush settings , making them semi-protected from the wind , rain and cold we can experience at this time of year . Honestly , would you prefer to be lost in the beautiful scenery of a new trail , or buffeted from the wind running along your local footpath ?
5 . Broaden your horizons with different events Once you are confident on the trails , the world of events opens up . We now have more varied and interesting events than ever to sink your teeth into over the winter months .
Here are some events and organisations to consider :
Rapid Ascent Rapid Ascent is an adventure event company that conducts trail runs , mountain biking and a whole host of off-road events Australia wide . With a wide range of events , locations and distances , there is something for everyone . www . rapidascent . com . au
In 2 Adventure In 2 Adventure embrace all things off-road and ‘ off the beaten track ’. Along with trail runs , they host the TreX Duathlon and Cross Triathlon series and Dirtfest events . Check them out here www . in2adventure . com . au
Tough Mudder The event that could very well claim responsibility for bringing offroad and adventure racing to the masses , Tough Mudder is a hardcore obstacle race which includes , you guessed it …. mud ! If you are up for the challenge , find your nearest Tough Mudder event here www . toughmudder . com . au
Obstacle / Spartan Races And if you REALLY want to go next level and mix your trail running with intense strength and conditioning training , search the Obstacle Races Australia website for a mix of challenging events www . obstacleracers . com . au
The most important thing over winter of course is just to get out and DO THE TRAINING .
Trails can add an element of fun , excitement and challenge to the usual routine , making it more motivating to hit the outdoors .
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