Who loves a trail adventure?
/Are you getting bored of your same old tried and tested running route that involves pounding the pavements near your home? Yes its convenient and you can get a good fast running time but wouldn’t it be nice to leave that GPS watch at home sometimes and just run for the fun of it on a trail run?
My regular blog readers will know how much I love training in the great outdoors and my clients benefit from this type of training too. I love the variables such as uneven paths, logs to jump over and trees to duck under.
Running off road in varying terrain combined with numerous obstacles will work those little stabilizing muscles such as those in the foot and ankle to get an amazing workout and will help to supercharge your fitness too. You can’t strengthen what you don’t work, and the monotonous, one direction movement of road running can leave those stabilizing muscles and ligaments underworked.
Why not leave your headphones at home and enjoy the peace and quiet out on a trail run. Just being in nature surrounded by trees, birds and the running water of a stream is just a perfect relaxing antidote to todays hectic world.
Appreciate the break from the stress and commotion of everyday life, and even of the crowds and traffic that can accompany road running. Leave social media, emails etc behind and just go off-grid for a while!
Trail running is typically harder than road running. Due to the varying terrain, inclines, and curves in the trail, your average pace per mile/km will most likely be slower than your pace on paved road. Just don’t stress about your pace. In fact, if you can bear to part with it, leave your GPS watch at home and find your natural running rhythm.
Trails are a constant adventure that can truly awaken your senses. There is most likely a trail run you could do from your front door. Look out for local bridlepaths/footpaths or why not give the trails below a try or take it a step further and try a trail race (such good fun) See below for details.
Try the following trails in East/West Sussex:
Southdowns Way (Try accessing from Jack and Jill windmills at Clayton). https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/leisure-recreation-and-community/walking-horse-riding-and-cycling/south-downs-way/#scroll-link
Downslink https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/2203/downs_link_6_stage_route_2010.pdf
For great trail races try: