The first time I went trail running it was completely by accident.
I lived walking distance from a multi-city reservation with miles of hiking trails. It was my go-to place to de-stress.
I headed out on the trail after one particularly horrific day at work—I was teaching high school, think how much it sucked to be a student in high school and fill in the blank here. It was September and unseasonably warm and at 4 pm the sun was still shining. I had no idea how soon the woods would turn into a set for the Blair Witch Project.
By 5:30, I was miles into a trail I’d never taken before and completely unprepared for the darkness—I had no flashlight, no cold weather clothes, and no sense of direction. So, I did what anyone would do: I panicked. And started running.
My body broke through spider webs. Thorns tore at my bare legs. Every snapping twig and dark shadow was something about to kill me—bobcat in New England, why not?
I was terrified, but I was also exhilarated. I felt downright badass running through the woods after dark.
Turns out, you can run through the woods in daylight and get the same adrenaline rush, without the afraid-of-the-dark I’m-lost-and-about-to-be-eaten terror.
Today, I go trail running more often than I run on the road. Here’s why:
1. Less impact—running on dirt is softer than concrete, which means less impact on your joints.
2. More focus—when you run on trails, you have to constantly watch out for roots and rocks. It’s easy to roll an ankle, especially since trails tend to be uneven. You have to be alert. The bonus: paying so much attention to the trail, you’ll forgot how hard it is to run. Trail running is one of the best ways to take your mind off running while running.
3. Better scenery—even if you don’t live in a place as beautiful as Western North Carolina (that might be a bit of a brag), most trails are bound to offer better views than street running. You’ll trade cars, traffic, and buildings if you’re in the city and houses and grass if you’re in the suburbs, for views of trees and other plant life. If you’re lucky, the trail might also lead to an overlook with a great view.
4. Build stronger muscles—true, you’ll build muscle no matter where you run, but trail running works more muscles than street running. Running on an uneven and unpredictable surface will engage your core. If you choose a trail with hills, your glutes, quads, and calves will be engaged.
After hitting the trails consistently, you’ll notice your road runs feel easier.
5. Burn more calories—lots of people on the internet say trail running burns 10% more calories than road running, so it must be true.
6. Being one with nature—okay, I know this one is pretty airy fairy, but it’s also true. Back in the day—way back in the day—humans ran through the woods to escape predators and find food. They were connected to the land in ways we aren’t today (air-conditioned supermarkets stocked with out-of-season food from hundreds of miles away aren’t quite the same.) Running through the woods is one way to reconnect with the natural world and our natural instincts.
7. Phytoncides—unless you’re a scientist or a biologist, you’re probably wondering, “What the f—is that?” Phytoncides are naturally occurring compounds in plants and trees that prevent disease. They are released into the air, sort of like essential oils but without the electronic infuser. When you go into the woods and inhale—and when you run through the woods there are plenty of inhales—you breathe in phytoncides.
The human body has several “natural killer” substances—I promise I’m not making this up, read a research article about it here—that boost immunity, reduce stress, and fight tumors.
Breathing in phytoncides will increase your natural killer capacity.
Have you tried trail running? Let me know how it went in the comments below.
