Road or Trail Running?
Happy Monday friends! It has been a bit quiet around here but I am glad to be back. Just took a bit of a break but I’ve been keeping up with running and my workouts. We are in the midst of summer here in the South and I wanted to talk a bit about the two different types of running: road and trail.
It’s easy to think that all kind of running is the same and while there are some similarities, there’s also quite a bit of differences. Road and Trail running basically have two different kinds of communities. It’s not uncommon for people to do both types of running but there are usually a few things that will have you be mostly a road runner or a trail runner.
If you live in a major city, you’re most likely a road runner. Unless you’re making a trip out to the suburbs or a trail nearby, the road is what is easily available to you so that’s what you’ll specialize in. If you’re out in the country, you may favor spending time out in the trails and just enjoying nature. While I live in Houston, I can access both with easy and like to switch between the two.
When choosing which type of running to try out, take a look at your goals. What do you want to achieve? If speed is something you’re after, then road running is better suited for that. Flat roads with little obstacles will make it much easier for you to find your groove and take off. There’s also a chance that there are more road races available in your area which will give you something to work towards.
If you’re an endurance runner and don’t mind pulling back a bit on the speed to add on the miles, then give trail running a try. There’s a trail that runs near marshland that I love to explore. It’s not too technical but there are some changes in elevation and plenty of wildlife to see. Trail running can get challenging on technical trails and it’s common to see experienced runners walk up challenging slopes. Survival is the name of the game when it comes to trail running so while you may see some speedy runners out there, they’re usually a bit slower than their road counterparts.
As a runner, you don’t have to pigeonhole yourself into a category. You can easily switch between the two. Even though most of my races are road races, I’ll often take a few long runs out into the trails. These force me to slow down but I enjoy the change of scenery and the mental break they allow me. There’s something different about being out on the trail than running along city streets.
Do you lean more toward road or trail running? Why do you think you like one over the other?
