I was talking to a coworker who went hiking on some trails over the weekend. There were some very steep hills, but he seemed to enjoy it nonetheless. I usually run a few trail races a year, definitely not as often as I run road races, but that may just be because the latter take place more often and are more popular. But if I had the choice between a trail race and a road race, 9 times out of 10, I’d choose a trail race. Here is a quick list of some of the benefits of trail races that I usually tell others to try and get them into running a trail race:
- More scenic – trees, nature, wildlife vs houses, bike paths, highway roads
- Less crowded – race day bib pickup, no congestion at the start of races
- More adventurous / challenging – rocks, cracks, various terrain, creeks/rivers, up/downhills
- Less worried about pace and time – trail races make it hard to hit a consistent pace, so overall time isn’t as big of a deal
- Less $$$ – trail races are almost always cheaper than road races.
A few drawbacks to trail races is that there usually aren’t as many water stations throughout the race (more of a logistical issue than anything) and races are up in mountains and canyons, which means it’s hotter during these races. But these aren’t necessarily deal breakers, you just need to come prepared if you do participate in a trail race. Gear Zone offers plenty of outdoor running gear to help you get ready for your first/next trail race. Some things you may need include outdoor or trail shoes, a running hat, hydration belt or backpack. That’s pretty much the same gear you would need if you were to run in a road race anyways, but as I’ve mentioned before, I highly recommend trying out a trail race for a change, you won’t regret it!