By
Scott Rollans on May 9, 2014
"Want to run but are sick of the sidewalk?" asks Nick Holt, '02 PhD, associate professor with the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation. "Want to spent more time in nature? Start trail running."
Holt promotes trail running as a more enjoyable alternative to training for marathons. Once you're up to speed, there are plenty of races you can enter, ranging from a few kilometres to ultramarathons (some of which welcome team relay participants). "And one great thing about trail running is that the variation in terrain seems a bit easier on the body than constant, repetitive pounding on flat sidewalks," Holt says.
Nick Holt's Tips for (ahem) New Trail Runners
- Start by scouting out some of the trails in your area. Don't worry about planning every step; just run, and when you see a trail, take it!
- Buy some trail-running shoes, available at any good sports store. The additional traction and support make them far better on rough ground than regular runners.
- Find some hilly terrain. Running uphill obviously requires a lot of effort. Running downhill can also be quite technical and requires practice. Holt does a lot of interval training on hills - sometimes focusing on the climb, other times on the descent.
- Don't do too much too soon. Avoid overuse injuries. Strength training and yoga can help keep muscles strong and limber as you build on your abilities.
