Quite lucky where I live in Marple as there are many off road trails, canal tow paths within a matter of a few 100m where I live. The Middlewood way is a popular route as is the Peak Forest canal which takes you over highest canal aqueduct in England for some great views. Also not far from Lyme Park which has loads of trails for running.
The National and Mormon Loop Trails at South Mountain Park in Phoenix, Arizona (USA). The trails here teach you how to run on trails that are very technical, super rocky and steep. Once you get to Buena Vista Lookout, you can look out and see the city of Phoenix during day and it's beautiful to see on a night time run. Just watch out for rattle snakes and watch out for scorpions if you go to sit on a rock. Daytime temperatures 'can' get up to the 120's (f) in the summer so start your runs here super early in the morning. There are plenty of running stores in the Phoenix area that can give you helpful information for running there. Water and electrolyte drinks are a REQUIREMENT anytime of the year here. Have fun!
NZ is home to us, and where we love to run. Strava heat maps is great for finding new routes and we love filming in the wonderful national parks and local hills.
Emma is such a star, how she stood up to the dirty goings on at British Cycling is something rarely credited to a professional sports person. A rare sports person with honour and credibility.
I just watched about 6 "trail running for beginners" type of videos. This is the first video that had a strong coverage of health and safety (i.e., went beyond "take it easy on the downhill"). Very nicely done!
There's an interesting theory that we love panoramic views because for evolutionary reasons if you can see all around you, you know there are no predators that are going to come for you and so it has a calming effect
I am definitely more likely to encounter a dangerous animal on the trails though. There are rattlesnakes here. I still run on the trails, but I watch out for snakes.
I live in California and there are plenty of nice trails around my area , I’ve gotten into trail running this year and I’m absolutely loving it , since 4 of my running races this year have been trails it’s been fun , relaxing ruining out in nature 👍🏻
I fell in love with trail running in France. Running trails is a total different ball game comparable to going from road cycling to Mountainbiking in the woods(trails).
Great video! I’ve been looking into getting started with trail running as I want to run a 50-miler next summer so this was perfect timing for my growing curiosity.
i used to trail run with my dad when i was in middle school, and i have no idea why i stopped! i am 16 now and getting back to it. this video helped so much thank you
Took a couple of seconds to get use to seeing Emma off the bike, but totally worth it. She's such a natural presenter! I went in Feb' 2020 on a holiday to Martin, Slovakia. The people at the tourist info centre showed me their favourite hiking trails and I went trail running for the first time in my life. It is so much fun, absolutely loved it!
Thank you for this incredibly helpful video! Planning to start some easier trail runs here in Belgium, so for summer 2023 I am ready for some Swiss trail running!
Thanks for this. I love being in the out doors and running so doing both at the same time what’s not to like. I have just signed up to my first marathon, which is in the Brecon Beacon. Not to June 2020 so time to train.
There are lots of beautiful trails around Forres and Elgin in Scotland. Lovely part of the country for a holiday and great for spotting red squirrels too.
Trail Running in Wyoming mountains is definitely beautiful fun ....but I think I need a helmet ⛑😂 , every time I look up at a pretty view or something I trip on a rock or root. 😜
I’m lucky to walk out of my front door and I got trails on my doorstep also the tracks are maintained as the windmill company’s still use them now and again
Started running trails since 2021 and its amazing. Entered my first Fell race last month and was incredible. I am very lucky to have the Carneddau behind me house.....Snowdonia National Park! Great video
I'd second that head torch comment. I got caught out recently without one - pitch black, on the canal tow path with eroded edges and roots practicality clawing at my feet. How I avoided an unintended bath I don't know!
Hi, anyone could recommend good waterproof running shoes? Started running this summer so don't have a pair of these yet. I'm using basically a flat cycle trail but obviously full of puddles as Autumn comes. Thanks
Valery Kiss I bought Salomon Speedcross 4 GTX (Goretex). Used them through last winter in the snow/ mud/ ice and they were great. I haven’t actually cleaned them since buying them but after Emma’s advice they will get a clean this weekend.
Anything with GTX or Goretex written either on the shoe or in the shoe name will be waterproof.. be wary though because anything waterproof will also hold in sweat, meaning increased risk of blistering if used in the warmer months or for long hauls I have a pair of non waterproof Salomon Ultras and have ran in mud and snow with no worries, just need to be wary of puddles
Richmond Park is near me and that has some cracking trails to run on and great scenery. Bushy Park, in the opposite direction, is flatter but still good for some off-road action.
Both excellent trail adventures. Equally, round that way, Wimbledon Common's a good one. You can even do Wimbledon Common and hook into Richmond Park from there, if you're feeling mega adventurous! (Anna)
Funny you should mention golf courses, and head torches... I live near a big park neighbouring a golf course, and there are some rights of way across the golf course but no accompanying paths. Not a problem in the daytime, but at night with a head torch you can only see so far and with no path to follow I lost my bearings slightly!
Another tip for finding good running trails, especially around flatlands and cities, is to look for trail *races* in your area and download the GPX file. That's how I discovered a great wooded area 20 min by car from my flat, a 20K loop with cumulative elevation gain/loss of 500 m. It's great, I'm training to effectively use running poles, and I'm soon heading for some easy runs in the mountains to check out how well I can do over there. I've learned to not use the poles at the beginning, as I tend to run too hard, but at the end it's a great help.
Recently stumbled across some lovely trails very close to my house (just outside of Madrid). It's not quite as scenic as the Swiss Alps but still lovely. A good mix of fields and a bit of forrest. Definitely going to be running there more often. Time to invest in some trail shoes - I'm sure my wife will be delighted at the idea buying yet another pair!!
Any trail is a lovely trail in our opinion. We were just fortunate enough to be able to go out in some stunning scenery in Switzerland for this video! We guarantee the trail shoes are worth the investment though 👌
Went for my first proper trail run about 2 hours after watching this vid today. 11km in the end. Had a few of the tips echoing in my head during it. 👍🏃♂️
@@deldridg I know what you mean 😜. I am managing about 1 trail run a week, travelling about 16kms on average. I find i need the trail or i am grumpy all week regardless of how many road runs i do during the week.
@@johnstoddart1039 That's great and I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets grumpy! At 52 I need the nature escapes more than ever. Here in Sydney, there are times when you feel the concrete and metal relentlessly closing in on you and hammering away at your sanity. Fortunately we're in the leafy northern part of the city, surrounded by trails - only 70m from the front door. I'm very lucky that my wife and 2 kids are all avid trail runners and we run several times per week, probably averaging similar distances to you, though I often do a little more plus a fair bit of mountain biking. Cheers - Dave
Last time I went running on the trails, I badly sprained my ankle. A year and a half later, my ankle pain flares up from time to time and it's put me off trails now!
Try to drink 2mg of vit C 2h before trying to run. Your scar tissues didn't heal properly, so you need to make it easier for your body to avois the pain from it. Antioxidants might help you. The fat under tuna or salmon skin also helps. (not pills)
Ankle busted tendons never go away. If you moved your feet while healing... Nothing else you can do. It's like a spider web of tissue. It grows very losely and messy too.
I run in the lovely Hainault forest away from all the traffic, fresh oxygen delivered to my lungs. What’s not to love. All year round it changes so much. Although I haven’t been there for a while (too many races lol)
The Running Channel I will I’m doing the Southend 10k this Sunday the Cross country season starts at hog hill Saturday week. It’s A very busy time of year.
One thing everyone needs to carry is a firesteel and striker. That way, if you get lost you can light a fire and stay warm + the smoke will make it easier for rescuers to find you. You will need to be able to make some sort of shelter. Wind, rain and snow kills people...
I live in West Australia, and as a result I don’t trail run anymore. I England I loved it but here the heat tends to ruin it but not as much as the trillions of damn flies that ruin any run...first world problems...👍👍
Trail running is more dangerous, much more straining and more natural, but we in the city lost the ability to run through the obstacles like we used to run. We lost the shape of our feet due to shoes and evolution (adaptation) too.
Honestly I feel like I should switch to trail running from track it’s more fun cause the course unique! It’s not the same all the time (the classic track)! But track is still awesome.
My favourite trails are cruisie pine packed forest trails on rolling terrain. The smell of the pine on a damp morning with the sun peaking through the tree canopy is amazing - invigorating. (Sometimes even allows you to forgot the hard slog parts!!)
On the other side of the pond I have the joy of living in Daniel Boone National Forest in southern Kentucky. Within the forest is Cumberland Falls state park, which is pretty much in my backyard. The trails are really technical for running as a beginner but great for hiking if you're new. Once you're more comfortable the trails are runnable just be prepared for a lot of steps, both wooden and rock. The park hosts the Moonbow Ultra (10k, 30k, 50k) every year, it was actually just last weekend. A main feature of the race, park, and trail network is the Moonbow Trail, which is a piece of the Sheltowee Trace Trail, a ~325 mile trail that runs through Kentucky and Tennessee. There's a group that schedules trips every year to become an "end to ender", it's on my bucket list. If you were to travel to the states you should avoid 95% of the cities you've heard of. I could go on for hours why you should instead come a small town in Kentucky. I can set you up in a town that has a nice hotel within walking distance of a Walmart, several fast food options, a public track and walking path. It's a very comfortable town to visit, yet you're still within an hour drive of 5-6 different state parks that have amazing views, amenities, and trails for days. There's even a water park within a 10 min walk from your hotel, or bring your tent and you can just camp at the water park or any one of the state parks. Just give me a yell when you're around. 👍
There are some nice trails nearby, but I’m not much of a trail runner really. At least when I think trails I think like mountain bike singletrack trails, there are a few gravel path type trails that I run on occasionally. Most of the time I do singletrack trail running at a race every so often. But I definitely recommend trail shoes for any kind of technical trail, last year at a race on Thanksgiving day weekend I stubbed my toe real hard on a rock and if I had not had trail shoes on I might’ve broken it. Oh, and I got the 41st place post 😀.... I would like to thank the Academy for this award 🥇😎🤓🥳.
I just got into trail running after buying a pair of Inov-8 Arctic Claw shoes.... thankfully we have a local trail running club that goes out for 1hr run each week with experienced guides to help pace and keep us on the correct track.
I am originally from the Alps (Northern Italy) so I always enjoy loads of trail runs when I go back home. Trail running is AMAZING and I would recommend it to everybody. Stunning views, don't bother about the pace, fresh and clean air. Love it!
Amazing! The scenery in the mountains is STUNNING! We love getting off road every now and then Don't forget to subscribe to The Running Channel too - it'd really help us out 🙌
I just started trail running... She's lying. Nature isn't quieter. I'm distracted by the sound of me trying to keep my lungs in my chest when I run uphills. Additionally, there's the added stress of jumping over rattlesnakes (like I did last week!) and the finally the sounds of mountain biker's bikes clanging toward you... Ok, I'm totally joking. Maybe if I ran in the Swiss Alps I might see what she's talking about but I don't. For me it's Chaparral coastal shrub with dry sage and dirt... not quite the alps... BUT! My running fitness and speed has improved a lot because of my work on hills. I've switched to trail running from now on--even with the snakes.
I recently got given some brooks running shoes from a family member but the wrong brooks I wanted so told member of the family it ok I dont mind doing trail running the problem now I have is I dont know many trail run in my area so watching this has helped just need to find where the trails are
Awesome! Good luck with the half marathon. Have you seen our video of tips on how to run your first half marathon? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ilqMvP-8Doc.html Don't forget to subscribe to The Running Channel too - it'd really help us out 🙌
Alan same here - I’ve just completed my first half marathon and am considering trail running. I think there’s a park run near me that is basically a trail run, so I’ll have a look at that soon. Good luck with the half marathon!
Another great video guys! I love running trails in the dark with a head torch. It's a whole new game! The advice on trail shoes is so important especially when it's wet.
We love running in the Lake District. There’s a handy half marathon route around Windermere that starts in Bowness, goes up to Ambleside and back the other side, finishing with the boat back across the lake 👌 Just don’t forget your fare for the boat trip!!
I've only ever done trail running, but I found this video because I'm trying to make a form correction that feels dangerous on the trails: Keeping my head higher and gaze ahead. Emma mentioned this - to keep your gaze about 5 meters in front of you - but I'm nervous about this. I don't want to trip on a hidden root or something that I could have seen if my head had been down. Anyone else have experience with this? I'm very scared of falling and getting injured. Still found this video super helpful, thank you!
Kenyans build endurance by running 100% barefoot in trails. If you are afraod of falling, I can suggest you learn how to fall with martial arts and skateboard or check the best time and light across your path to make sure you don't fall. Check eye sight too. Falling is bad. I hate it.
✈️ after GNR 😉 I have the woods and North Yorkshire moors on my doorstep. Some amazing views 👈 posted up some videos. Also carry a thermal blanket maybe a First Aid ⛑ kit. Salomon Speedcross 4 GTX great trail shoes so far, even in winter in all the snow. Winter is coming
As well as the London LOOP, there's also the Capital Ring. The Capital Ring is about 80km and hovers roughly around TFL zone 2/3, the LOOP is about 150km and more around the green belt/m25. Both do their best to go through as many green spaces as possible, have clear signage showing you which way to go, and there are some real hidden gems on both routes, often only known to locals!
I'm Dutch, we barely have nature. The few trails I can run on are man made mountainbike trails. The cyclists usually don't mind, I run the opposite direction so I see them coming in time to move out of their way.
I am doing a lot more trail running (lots of great trails outside NYC). The trails are hilly, rocky and rooty in the Eastern US. While I enjoy it, I fall hard more than I like - and it doesn't seem to matter whether I'm going up, down or flat. The other day I hit my hip hard and almost broke a wrist (no harm in the end). You mention a few things around 5:30, such as shorter stride, arms out further, etc.. Which of these or other tweaks (beside walking in the tougher sections) do you recommend to help minimize falls?
I use the ordnance survey app which shows loads of cross country routes to take and has live GPS so you can check where you're at if you take your phone out with you. In East Sussex, the 1066 walks are fantastic, miles and miles of countryside from Pevensey to Rye, and can be split up into small sections!
What a height difference! Due to the fact that taller runners are more likely to get injured ( inherently due to extra weight for being taller ) And a longer leg is going to go through greater forces ( shorter stick harder to snap then a long one ) Trail running , especially any jumpy / downhill parts pose more of a risk to tall runners, plus - further to fall for a taller runner! A short person will weigh less and go through less impact, therefore be better suited to trail running when it involves technical situations , its easier for them to use 'all fours' if required too. I would love to do more trail running, and though the surfaces are softer, the hops, jumps ect just do me in. I'm 6 foot, not massively tall but there's a good reason why nearly all marathoner or race winners are short! Its because the tall wannabe elite will be injured ! There are some exceptions as with everything - but I feel like its an unspoken fact of running, that taller runners are perceived to have an advantage! When in fact taller runners get injured, overheat due to skin surface and body mass being bad, and a longer pendulem ( leg) is harder to swing back and forth thousands of times ...... Try swinging your arm vs your leg. A smaller lighter limb is easier to move! Running is dominated by shorties! Look at your local club runners - it will be the short men, that are hardly ever injured and fastest. Tall sprinters are different - they can gain muscle to strengthen themselves and never overheat, but long distance runner with extra muscle, is even more weight to drag about. As a tallish runner, I would love this myth that a long stride is the magic bullet! There are physiological reasons why the sport is dominated by shorter athletes - I have nothing against short people my wife is a 5 foot 2 , 7 stone runner :) - and no! She never gets injured.
Just getting into trail running. Having a blast with it! I’ve uploaded a video of my first 1/2 marathon and most recent trail run in the mountains of WNC. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UhmekeEbbZY.html
I occasionally run on trails around Atlanta. But I'm a weirdo - being out in the country is nice, but I get really relaxed, inspired, and lifted up by the energy of running in a big city. Skyscrapers and subway trains make me happy.
I like that if you start low to high, when you get to your halfway point, youve done 3/4 of the work, you tend to come back finishing strong, relative to just running a route in a city
Great video thank you the run experience, those mountain trails have such beautiful views! I’m in the Midwest US Michigan and my favorite trails are on the NCT (north country trail) especially along the cliffs of pictured rocks and along side Tahquamenon falls. Also fall brings brilliant colors to the trees around here.
I love running in the Coombabah wetlands on the Gold Coast Australia. Lots of tracks with varying woodland vegetation. Have to pause to see the Koalas but lots of Roos in the afternoon.
Love trail running! Doesn’t have to be in spectacular mountains, just anywhere that isn’t a concrete or tarmac path. Luckily there are lots of options near where I live here north of Auckland, NZ - pick any one of our regional parks and there are trails galore to choose from. Great video as always from The Running Channel team!
Amazing video. I never thought about having my arms out wider when running downhill on trail course. I have ran some lovely Reservoirs down in Somerset/Dorset area. Am planning on doing a race in the quantocks this month to. I’d say I’ve ran more trail races this year than road and there is something that just gives you that extra enjoyment, in completing a challenging, scenic trail race
Wanting to buy my first trail shoes soon. I go for a stability shoe for road running due to pronation - I've read I don't need to worry so much about this for trail shoes? Is that correct?
Great video! I've just started getting into trail running and you make it seem even more accessible. It was fun to see you both run, especially Emma on the downhill parts because those freak me out and now I know it's not silly to hold my arms out. :D Cheers!
Great advice. I myself on my long trail runs I carry a 💩 kit in my race vest ( bog roll , hand sanitizer cream all in a waterproof bag ) and at the bottom of my race vest
I'm lucky enough to live 1/2mile from The Clay Trails in Cornwall which are brilliant for all levels of Trail Running! (I'm only a 4mile run through these trails from the 5th fastest parkrun the Eden Project) Also ran the Southwest Coastpath a few times which is also a short distance from my front door 😎👊🏻👍🏻
Amazing trails to live near! Lucky you! If you enjoy our videos, we'd love it if you'd subscribe to The Running Channel too. It'd really help us out! 🙌
Awesome! Great to have you on board! We’ll be down in Cornwall for some of your gorgeous scenery for sure. Quite fancy your tough parkrun at Mount Edgcumbe too 🙌
trails, every time - Tollymore forest in NI is my favourite. Undulating, with occasional steep hills. Great fun, especially as a guided (blind) runner.
Thanks Emma and Andy, this video was very helpful. Trail running is another type of run I have on my list to do. The one here in South Australia I want to run is Mount Lofty summit (there are others but Lofty is the one I want to conquer). I've walked it plenty of times (roughly an hour up, 45 mins down), but haven't been back there since I started running a year ago, can't wait to put these tips to use and give it a go running. Cheers.
Switched to trail running from marathon running. I've been hiking in the mountains since I was 10, so one of my favourite places to run now is over the mountains of north Wales, which is only a 2.5 hour drive for me, so its relatively easy to get up there for a Saturday or Sunday.
Shorten your stride, that’s great information. I thought it would be for better balance but if you have wider strides and trip on a rock, root or any obstacle if you trip you may not fall or the fall would be less serious
It's Arosa in Switzerland! Check out our Ultimate Running Destinations for more stunning scenery from there! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-g5W3RDuURAw.html
