LITTLE ROCK — Not all runners hit the streets for their workout. Trail runners take to the dirt, working legs and building endurance while getting a big dose of nature.
“All you know is that here are the mountains, and there’s a deer and you’re smelling the flowers and you don’t think at all about your problems,” says Stan Swartz, chairman of the 175-member Los Angeles based Trail Runners Club.
Waxing rhapsodic about the sport isn’t unusual in this crowd. “This is the most time-efficient and effective way of eliminating stress and refreshing your mind,” says Elinor Fish, managing editor of Trail Runner magazine. “That is definitely a big draw of the sport.”
An infusion of younger runners and more races has invigorated the sport in recent years. Although trail running requires no special skills, there is a bit of a learning curve, even for experienced runners. Trails are often hilly, making for slower but more heart- and lung-taxing workouts. Running on soft dirt puts less stress on joints, but traversing uneven terrain - even streams - can make for a wobbly gait and ups the ante for injuries. Fish recommends that beginners not only work on strengthening their legs but also add balance training on a wobble board or balance ball to increase coordination.
Legs do the bulk of the work - and what a workout it is, as hamstrings, quadriceps, gluteus and calf muscles engage on the ascents and descents. The core works to stabilize the body as the arms continuously pump.
Trail-running gear is straightforward. Fish recommends getting shoes specifically for trail running, with treads designed to better grip the ground and more reinforcement on top to provide extra stability for the foot.
ActiveStyle, Pages 25 on 02/28/2011