Guide: Why is trail running SO good?

Trail running is for some the ultimate experience, while for others it is this unexplored land that you have heard many people talk about, but have never really visited yourself. Trail running is a growing phenomenon in Denmark. More and more people are discovering this fantastic way of running.

What exactly is trail running?

Dear child has many names. Trail running, trail running and offroad are some of the most common names for moving away from the hard surfaces of the city and out into nature and running. It’s about getting away from the hard surfaces, away from the city and the sometimes trivial form of running.

Leave the electronic aids like heart rate monitors, GPS, etc. at home. Trail running is about getting out into the more free running form. Get out and feel and see nature wearing running shoes.

Why should you run trail?

You should because it is a super fun, beautiful and very challenging experience. And you should choose to run trail because you get so much reward when you do it. In the headings below you can read a little about the benefits you get from trail running – completely free.

You need to focus on the experience

The best thing you can do for yourself when you start trail running is to have the experience in mind. Take the run as the experience it is. You get a unique opportunity to combine the beautiful Danish nature with a solid walking exercise. For the trail runner, there are many benefits to trail running, you can read more about that below.
Try to optimize your experience by leaving your heart rate monitors and other tracking devices at home. Go for a walk in nature and listen to it.

There are several different reasons why you should leave your heart rate monitor at home. But it quickly becomes a race against time when you have it with you. But comparing running times from a trail run and a regular run makes no sense. Trail will always be a bit harder as the surroundings are completely different. And then it won’t be this free and good experience if you start by being “depressed” about not being able to keep the kilometer times.

If you are a beginner, start with a simple approach

If you search the internet for trail running, you will quickly discover that there are many cool pictures of various (ultra) trail runners who have all the equipment on. There is probably a hydration backpack, the right clothes and the latest trail running shoes. A good piece of advice from here is to keep it very simple. It doesn’t take anything to get hooked on trail running, and once you are, it makes more sense to upgrade your equipment. It’s better to take the quiet path to the goal than to end up with a lot of expensive equipment in the drawer that you may never use.
We recommend that almost all of our guides buy a pair of real trail running shoes because it makes the most sense and the best experience. But having said that, you can always run in the forest on the slightly larger trails to feel the atmosphere. Because there are also challenges on these trails in the form of climbs and turns, and you also get the opportunity to experience the silence. And believe us when we say, it won’t be long before you’re ready to upgrade on the shoe front, and then you’re suddenly ready for the more challenging trails.

Trail running makes you a better runner

Your fitness bliver merkant forbedret når du løber trail. Uden at du opdager det arbejder du jo lige pludselig både bakketræning og intervaltræning ind i din “almindelig løbetur”. Men det er især intervaltræningen som mange løbere har svært ved at slå hul på når de løber på landevejen. Men i skoven kommer den til dig meget mere naturligt når du skal forcere en bakke. Så slår pulsen automatisk mod toppen.

Your dynamism and your strength is significantly improved. You do not run nearly as monotonously as you tend to on the road. The many changes of direction and forcings of nature’s own challenges in the form of stumps, trees, streams, etc. give you a lot of strength for both muscles and joints. You move many more muscles in the body and you strengthen your joints in a healthy and soft way. The surface is much friendlier to your body as it is much softer and more responsive to land on the forest floor than on the road.

Running technique only gets better from trail running. You will very quickly discover that you are forced to switch between several different types of running. You quickly learn that the long strides from the road may not be the best solution when you have to climb a hill on soft ground. Then you will quite naturally switch to smaller strides and discover that a hill is easier to overcome by changing your running style. Generally speaking, you will have a slightly more “loose” running style when you start trail running. Your body, your joints and your muscles are met by a very changing surface that demands that your body adapt. So your entire body posture becomes a little looser when you run trail. A really cool feeling for the whole body. The hardest thing about this technique is learning to trust your body (and your equipment). Trust that your legs and feet get the optimal position in a very changing surface.

Your courage gets better. Doesn’t have much to do with whether you become a better runner and better technique. But you learn to become more courageous when you have to trust that your legs and your equipment will keep you in place when you are hurtling down a hill with a damp surface and the risk of slipping is present.

You are being challenged without realizing it.

As has also been suggested earlier in this guide, you will quickly discover that your body, your muscles and certainly your breathing will be significantly improved when you run trail. And that’s without you even noticing it. You will very quickly notice an improvement in the form of better fitness, better breathing and a more flexible body. And the best thing of all is that you don’t have to do anything extra for it. It comes quite naturally.

Use trail running as a replacement or supplement

Trail running is used by many runners as a supplement to their regular running. It is not that one excludes the other. But in the fall and especially in winter, trail running can be a really great supplement to the road, as the forest in particular is a little warmer due to less wind, and in many cases there is not as much snow and ice. Many are, with good reason, a little worried about running on roads and sidewalks in the winter, as you can never be completely sure whether there is salt or not. Then it is a fantastic supplement to put on your trail running shoes and move out into the forest instead. Less ice and snow and with a pair of running shoes that are built to deal with challenging surfaces.

What does it take to run a trail race?

It doesn’t take much to get started with trail running. However, there are a few recommendations we would like to highlight. Because basically you could just put on your regular running shoes and your regular running clothes. But that won’t give you the best experience. Maybe even the opposite. So below you can see a list of the things we recommend you have in place for trail running.
Of course, it also requires that you have relatively easy access to the terrain. Many people choose to run following the terrain, so it is certainly possible – but experience shows that if you have “trail terrain” in the immediate vicinity of your normal running surroundings, it is easier to get started with trail running. Because if you have it within affordable proximity, it is easier to get yourself together to get into trail clothes and run the trip.

The right equipment for trail running

Of course, you need to think a little about the most important parameter in running – namely your running shoes. And this is where you can significantly worsen or optimize your experience by choosing correctly. When you get out into the terrain, there are some other elements that come into play, and therefore your regular running shoes will be a poorer solution. Therefore, you should do yourself a favor and buy a pair of trail running shoes – it will give you the best experience and the best conditions for success.

• We have of course made a guide for choosing the right trail running shoes.
• Guide: Do you need waterproof running shoes – read about the concepts here

The right choice of shoes can be crucial to your experience

Your running clothes can be your regular running clothes. You just have to be aware that out in the forest, or generally away from hard ground, there is a greater risk of hitting branches and thorns, and your running clothes will definitely get dirtier..
So think about what you wear. It doesn’t have to be your newest outfit. I would recommend thinking about running clothes that fit as snugly as possible or that you can stand to run in. Because if it fits snugly, there is less risk of loose fabric getting caught on branches and thorns.

Other equipment that a trail runner uses could be gloves, a headlamp, a hydration pack, and a cell phone. For example, when you run in the forest and you might move away from larger trails and onto smaller trails with more challenge, it can be extremely comfortable to have a pair of gloves on, as you are almost guaranteed to “touch nature” when you have to go over a stump, around a bend, or the like. If you run in the late afternoon in the fall or winter, it might be a good idea to have a light source with you. The forest can get very dark, very quickly. Here, a headlamp is the optimal solution. It doesn’t take up any space and provides a reasonable amount of light.
If you are going on longer trails (mostly reserved for very experienced trail runners), you should probably consider bringing some fluids with you on the trip. This can be in the form of a hydration backpack or perhaps a hydration belt with smaller water bottles in it.

Even though we have described that trail running is similar to the nature experience, away from everyday life and all its electronic aids, we would still recommend that you take a mobile phone with you on the run. Not for music, mapping or GPS signal. But solely because you need to be able to get in touch with the outside world if an accident happens. Since you are moving on uneven ground, the risk of joint and sprain injuries is significantly increased. And there is not much point in lying in the forest floor without the possibility of getting in touch with the outside world.

Trail running can be a breeze

Many runners who regularly run trail races see it as a fun game. It becomes this cool experience where you don’t think about anything else but enjoying nature while getting a lot of great exercise and burning a lot of calories.
Whether you are at one level or another in trail running, it is seen by many runners as this “free space” where there are no “rules” for mileage times, distances, and social likes.
It’s about getting out and playing with the natural challenges that nature throws at you. Whether it’s the small mountain bike trail, the steep hill or your zigzag run between the trees that is your next challenge, you are free when you trail run. You very quickly forget time and place.

Trail running is mostly a wonderful experience

Trail running is a child-friendly sport

Trail running is also a great opportunity to get your wife and/or children on a run/walk. While on the road you would prefer to find a “running partner” of roughly the same level so that you can run at the same pace, with a better chance of improving your times, trail running is a slightly different proposition. It gives you the opportunity to invite the rest of the family along for a run. Since trail running does not directly invite you to run according to times, it is very easy to make a family trip more cohesive. If mom or dad wants more of a challenge, it is often the case that the forest allows running on regular trails and more challenging trails in close proximity to each other. That way, everyone can get something out of it. Of course, there is also the option for the children or partner to come along on a mountain bike and challenge you on the pace. There are plenty of options, and we promise you, the family will be happy about it, and so will you.