Did We Mention We Love Trail Running?
Take a great exercise like running, add some woods, streams and fields, and
you have a great outing. Remember, trail running even more than road running
can mean very different things to different folks. Try making a trail run a
half day or full day event. Pick a route that would take several hours, pack
snacks and water, study (and carry) the map, and work in some planned stops. We
never pass up a swimming hole when we trail run, and always stop to "smell the
flowers", or take in a breath-taking view.
Click here to learn about trails within 30 minutes of downtown Knoxville!
Trail Running Tips
- ALWAYS run with a buddy!
- Carry water and food. Hydration is even more important in the wilderness. There are many new comfortable ways to carry lots of water - up to 96 fluid oz.
- Watch for slips, trips and falls. Every experienced trail runners has his or her share of scraped palms and knees. Watch for roots, rocks and wet, slick areas (wooden bridges
and rocks are often slippery). Adjust your speed to the technical nature of the trail.
- Plan for the elevation gain. Adjust your plans based on elevation. Subtract about 2 miles for every 1000 feet elevation gain.
- Plan for drastic weather changes. This may or may not be an issue on any given day, but most trail runners have been caught in mountain storms. Most of the time you will just
get wet. However, there are real hazards to watch for, including lightening, fierce winds, dropping temperatures, falling trees, and swollen rivers. Know the forecast and plan accordingly.
Don't get too far out in unpredictable weather.
- Share the trail with the wilderness critters. It's their home. Remember there are bugs, snakes, deer, bear, skunks... that's why we love it. Don't challenge the wild life.
Walk away. Yield. Find a route around that snake. And back up (quickly) when you come across a skunk.
- Get the proper footwear (socks included). Trail shoes have come a long ways since the first big bulky inflexible-midsole shoes. Newer designs still have the great traction and
help protect the foot against objects on the trail, but allow for a more fun run. As always, fit is key.
Check out our trail shoes
here.
