Trailrunning Essentials

Trailrunning Essentials: What you need to run!

The sun is shining and finally, it‘s spring again. You want to get out there to move and to breathe the fresh air. Do you want to break your boundaries this year and run in more rugged terrain and up into the mountains? Then trail running may be just the right activity for you.  The fascination off the asphalt goes hand in hand with the immediate experience of nature, speed, and minimal – but preferably maximum performance-oriented—equipment.

 

Trail running offers different challenges for your body than the common jog. You have to be more cautious about irregular grounds, you run uphill and downhill and this puts more strain on your feet, ligaments, muscles, and knees. In order for you to be well-equipped for your first trail run, we have made a summary of the most essential knowledge for a beginner. 

 

If you are more of an advanced trail runner or want to know more about it, you can find further interesting articles on our blog.

 

Trailrunning Essentials

 

 

1. Trail Running Shoes


Special trail running shoes are more robust and generally more stiff than regular running shoes. Since you are running across bumpy terrain, the danger of spraining your ankle is significantly higher. So you need a good foothold within the shoe. Especially in spring, the paths are often slippery or muddy, so your shoe should have a good grip with a strong tread. There’s never the „one best“ model because each brand makes different shapes. So it is worth trying a couple of different ones.

 

 

Discover our selection of trail running shoes

 

 

 

2. Trail Running Apparel


Use breathable clothing. Uphill, you will get warm fast, but you don’t want to get too cold on the way down. We recommend layering. Merino wool is very breathable, but also keeps you warm and dries fast. A headband can help avoid sweat from running into your eyes. In the Alps, you should always take a light wind- and rainjacket too. Socks with a tight fit avoid chafing, which frequently leads to blisters.

 

 

Discover our selection of clothing

 

Trailrunning What do you need

 

 

3. The Weather


Definitely, take the time to check the weather before you head out for a trail run. Apart from the weather forecast, it makes sense to look up into the sky. Especially in the Alps, local thunderstorms can build up quite fast, and being surprised by a thunderstorm on a trail run can be seriously uncomfortable. With good weather, don’t forget to use sunscreen. Sunglasses offer important protection for your eyes. In summer, you might want to wear a hat, to protect yourself from sunstroke.

 

 

4. Route-selection and GPS


There are many websites to find nice routes in your surroundings. When running for the first couple of times, we recommend to chose routes that don‘t overstrain you with regard to speed, type of trail, and length. That may make it a frustrating experience for you with injuries that may even keep you from continuing for a while. A GPS program on your mobile or a sports watch can enable you to track your route and stay oriented in case you may lose your way. 

 

Discover our selection of fitness trackers

 

Trailrunning What do you need

 

 

5. Food and Hydration      


Enough hydration is vital for a healthy trail run. Drinking enough before, after an hour during, and when you are done also helps a quick regeneration of your body. If you run for a longer period and get hungry on your way, we recommend energy bars, that can give you extra energy on the go.

 

 

 

 

6. Backpacks with Hydration Systems


There are specific backpacks for trail running that are constructed ultra lightly while being tight at the body in order to avoid bumping around. The backpacks are made for different drinking systems. With a drinking system, you can drink directly from a tubby, without having to take your backpack off every time.

 

 

 

Find our selection of running backpacks here 

 

 

7. Trail Running Poles


Yes, poles do make sense for trail running. We admit, it is something you may have to get used to, but poles certainly relieve the strain on knees and leg muscles. Poles also increase surefootedness demonstrably, because they give you additional grip on the ground and you can avoid falling. But only if used correctly. It is certainly worth the practice.

 

 

All our running poles can be found here

 

 

8. Sunglasses 


On sunny days you should not do without sunglasses. Sunglasses not only offer you high UV protection and a large field of vision, which goes hand in hand with more safety on your run, but also protect your eyes from dirt. A good pair of sports glasses has the nose pads shaped so that they sit securely on your nose without pressing despite movement. Depending on the weather, you usually also have the option to change the lenses and adjust them to the conditions.

 

 

Trailrunning Essentials Sunglasses

 

 

OPEN THE DOOR, LACE UP YOUR SHOES AND GO…


If you find that trail running is fun for you, it is worth finding out more about technique, use of poles, and the physics preparation and posttraining activities. But for now, just get out there and run! We hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we do.

 

And if you are the ambitious type and need a goal, then go run at the Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival by Adidas Terrex or at the famous ZUT – Zugspitz Ultra Trail. You can pick your distance of choice and you’ll find one worth training for.

 

Trailrunning Essentials

 

 

Trailrunning is your passion? Keep informed about further topics like:

→ Trail running – The True Freedom of Running

→ The trail to happiness: 7 reasons why trail running makes you happy

→ How LEKI turned poles into a must-have in trail running

→ The ABC Of Trail Running Shoes: All You Need To Know

Run better and faster with BLACKROLL®

→ How to find the perfect GPS watches for trail runners?

→ Trailrunning rule book: What is there to know

→ Trail Running: Race Equipment Guide

 

© Dynafit / Scott