Information AboutTrail Running |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT TRAIL RUNNING | |
| types of running | |
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Trail running or '''sky running''' is a variant on Running that differs markedly from Road Running and Track Running . Trail running generally takes place on hiking trails, most commonly single track trails, although fire roads are not uncommon. A distinguishing characteristic of the trails is that they are often inaccessible by road except at the trail heads. The trails tend to traverse varying terrain; hills, mountains, deserts, forests, and narrow passages are common. Likewise, steep inclines or rough terrain sometimes may require hiking or scrambling. Runners participating in trail runs must often descend these same steep grades. It is not atypical for trail runs to ascend and descend thousands of feet. Trail running is growing in popularity and is enjoyed throughout the world. As of 2006, there are over 6.7 million regular trail runners in the United States, and over 40 million worldwide. {Link without Title} It has a particularly heavy following in the Mountain States, the Western US, and California . EQUIPMENT Most runners participating in trail running use specially designed , Saucony , Brooks , and Nike also produce trail running shoes. Over 580,000 pairs of trail running shoes were sold in 2005. {Link without Title} Other commonly used equipment include wicking garments, water bottles, sunscreen, sunglasses, gaiters, and ivy block. Some trail runners prefer to use hydration packs to carry their water, which consist of a bladder, a suck tube, and a small low profile Backpack . TRAINING AND EVENTS Trail running takes place in both organized trail races, and as a recreational activity. Trail running is usually an individual sport, although training is commonly done in groups. Common distances in races are 5 and the Skyrun are two events staged in the southern Drakensberg mountains of South Africa . Trail races differ considerably from other races, since runners enjoy the solitude of nature for the bulk of these runs. In addition due to the smaller number of participants, the odds of running with no other participants in sight are very good. Similarly, runners in these events must rely on their own inner resolve, since crowd support is very limited given the inaccessibility of the courses. Trail races are commonly equipped with aid stations supplying food and beverages every 5 to 10 kilometers. Nevertheless, runners in trail races, particularly longer ones, usually carry their own water and food along the course. During training runs, carrying one's own beverages is a necessity. Additionally, navigational skills are much more important during training runs, where one invents the course oneself, compared to organized races where the courses are very well marked. Carrying maps when training in unfamiliar areas is highly recommended, as runners cover large distances and veering off course is not uncommon, especially in areas where signage is limited. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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