ELIZABETH HUFTON
Like many timid runners, my first efforts consisted of little loops. I’d run on footpaths around my local park, or circuits around local housing estates. As I began running further, while I knew soft ground would be better for my body, I still wouldn’t venture off road – it seemed too hard to find stable paths to plot routes on, and I had visions of being lost in a terrifying wilderness, despite living in one of the country’s tamest areas. When I moved to a small Wiltshire town in 2015, though, I decided to make a concerted effort to stay off the pavements. This was partly because the pavements in said town are about 18 inches wide and generally take me up very steep gradients. But also because the town has a very inviting canal towpath leading out into a stunning valley, with networks of lovely trails and bridleways. I’m not about to run a Skyrace any time soon, but my willingness to explore new routes off-road has expanded over the past few years – and here’s what it’s taught me about trail running.
A little curiosity can go a long way, discovers Liz