Welcome to another edition of Tuesday Topics! Today’s topic is trail running – yes or no?
I’ll be honest that trail running is a topic that I know little to nothing about since I’ve only done one trail race. Actually the race was half trail and half pavement but I guess that still counts right? I don’t have anything against train running because I think it has it perks (better scenery, easier on your joints) but it’s not for me.
Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida and the bottom of this post!
I’m a Klutz
While I don’t fall too often running on the pavement (knock on wood), I am a bit of a klutz. I’ve been know to num into things (walls, furniture, etc). I just don’t feel like I should tempt fate and run on the trails. I would no doubt trip over a tree root or a rock, LOL.
I’m Scared of Animals
I know this might sound silly, but I’m terrified of coming across an animal, like a bear, or possibly a crazy squirrel. I’ve been startled by a squirrel popping out of a dumpster during a run so I can only imagine what I would do if I was startled by an animal while out on the trails.
Trail running – yes or no?
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Topic for next week – What do you think about when you’re running? Feel free to write about this or any running related topic.
I love trail running, although when it gets too technical, I slow down a lot.
Haha, I was hiking on Friday with a friend who is terrified of animals. She screamed quite a lot during the hike because we saw so many snakes, lizards and squirrels!
I like hiking but every time I’ve done it I always see animals – deer, squirrels, racoons, etc. But luckily those animals don’t scare me haha.
I have only done a handful of trail events (maybe 5 or 6?), but it is a different ball game than road running. I’m rather klutzy, too, so I find myself looking down more than looking “ahead” when I’m on a true trail. The grass is slippery (if it’s early in the morning) and the mud will be sticky. There’s all kinds of tree roots and debris to watch out for. And the terrain is constantly sloping. That said, it makes for a great full-body challenge 😉
Same for me. During the semi-trail race that I did, I was so focused on looking down that I didn’t take in the nice scenery.
I did a trail race on Saturday and there were baboons so I don’t think you would have been too impressed! LOL. I love road running – I love the hard predictable surface and how confident road running makes me feel. I really feel out of my comfort zone on trail. I’m a bit of a klutz too but something keeps drawing me to trails because of the scenery and just how different it is I guess. I’ve felt very uncomfortable on many trails but Saturday’s race was probably the most comfortable (and happy) I’ve ever been on trail.
LOL I’ve never seen a baboon so that would have been a new one!
I have to admit to LOL at your fear of squirrels! We have so many here! I’ve seen a few snakes and there was something else once. I think the scariest part was the fact that there’s a pistol range nearby (which I didn’t know initially) and hearing shots while running trails is scary — especially since some people hunt back there!
It’s the craziest thing because I love squirrels when I’m not running. They just seem to pop outta nowhere when I am running and they always startle me
Yeah, I feel the same about trail running. I’ve enjoyed it the few times I’ve done it but I’m a klutz too and so worried about falling that I’m pretty much just walking the whole time. I really should just go hiking instead.
or me, trail running would probably be the fastest way for me to break something, lol
I’ve fallen only once on the trail, and I was running very fast down a hill. I have fallen many times on the road, though.
I’ve fallen a few times on the road, and usually over my own foot, lol.
In my mind, I would love to be a trail runner. In reality, I have fallen twice on a trail and sprained my ankle. Like you, I am afraid of animals and falling. Alas, not sure it’s in my future
Yeah, I just think I’m going to stick to the road for now.
I am LOVING my trail runs! So much so, that I feel like I’ve unleashed my inner child. I grew up in the country, adjacent to my grandparents farm and as kids, we spent so much time playing in the back woods-my mom didn’t see us until dinner time. We even created our own trails! I can’t get enough now. What took me so long?
I love this story! I didn’t know that you grew up in the country. I’m sure that the trails probably feel like you’re going back home to your roots.
I’m with you Kim, I just haven’t done much trail running and the risk of tripping or falling is just a little too high for my liking. And plus all I have to do is step out my front door to run on pavement, trail running would be a commute for me. But never say never, there’s no telling where the running journey will take us.
Same here – we do not have any trails that are within running or walking distance to my house so I just run on the pavement.
So since I started out in obstacle racing you could say i started as a trail runner. But when I became more serious about road racing and marathons I took a step back from all that. I’m just afraid of getting injured. I ended up injured after an OCR last year though that wasn’t due to the terrain. But yeah it’s a risk I really don’t wanna take right now since I have big goals.
I can totally understand that!
So late in reading everyone’s link up! I also get freaked out when I see a squirrel or rabbit surprise me while out running.
Haha I do like squirrels but sometimes they pop up outta no where and scare me!!