Trail running has gained significant prominence across the world due to the many benefits it provides. As Steven Rindner points out, trail running enables people to spend more time outside and breath in fresh air, making it an ideal activity for modern individuals who largely lead a sedentary lifestyle. Trail running is way more than just a fantastic physical workout. It is good for mental health, and can even be therapeutic for many. Engaging in trail running can even be a great cross-training for swimming, hiking, cross country skiing and several other activities.
Steven Rindner Provides Insight Into a Few Advantageous Aspects of Trail Running
Trail running is an excellent way to stay fit and healthy. There are many physical benefits associated with this activity, starting from improved balance and agility to increased strength and better cardiovascular health. Trail running can help runners to build stronger muscles, as well as improve strength throughout the body. After all, it is an activity that engages most of the muscles in the body, including legs, torso, and arms. One does not have to go for intense, long trail runs to reap its benefits. Simply going on a trail run for about 20-30 minutes a day would be enough.
One of the biggest reasons why an increasing number of people are attracted to trail running is because this running style tends to reduce the risk of injuries that road runners commonly struggle with. This is because every foot strike on the trail surface would be different, unlike the repetitive motion of running on flat and rigid pavement. As the surfaces in trail running are often softer than the pavement, they can help in reducing the shock felt by the body with each foot strike.
Trail running can have quite a positive impact on one’s mental well-being, and is especially a great form of stress relief. Spending more time in nature can improve one’s mood, and provide them with a sense of connection with the natural world. For people who spend a lot of time working in urban environments, escaping for a run in nature can especially be quite advantageous. It allows the runners to get away from the noise and chaos of city life, and immerse themselves in the activity. Trail running is an activity that helps runners to practice how to be truly present in the moment. It is easy to zone out when running on a treadmill or road running. However, trail running keeps the runners mentally engaged, as they have to pay attention to obstacles on the trail. Even though there is a level of zen and a meditative value in trail running, largely coming from being in nature, the runners still would be tackling challenges that require active thought.
When it comes to running, many people set personal goals in order to observe improvements over time. Pace, especially, is an easy data set to observe improvement in. In the opinion of Steven Rindner, however, many trail runners choose to let pace expectations go. Due to the varied terrain, trail running may involve a lot of walking, particularly when going uphill. To make up for it, runners may go a bit fast on the flat sections and downhills. Trail running is about enjoying the moment, instead of worrying about speed.
