TRAIL SPOTTING

The idea of bounding over beautiful moorland, miles from anywhere, is the stuff of dreams for aspiring trail runners. If fear is preventing you fulfilling that fantasy, here’s how to take your first trail steps with confidence

WORDS: JENNIFERBOZON

There’s something so idyllic about the thought of exploring the countryside’s beautifully vast and remote-feeling spaces in your trainers – particularly here in the UK, which has such spectacular scenery. And doing so is as life-affirming and mentally relaxing as you might imagine. Not to mention the fact it will make you a stronger runner and reduce your long-term risk of injury…

You may have flirted with the idea of taking your running off-road before but concluded it’s for a certain ‘type’ of runner – the gritty type that “know what they’re doing”. And you wouldn’t be the only one. A survey by Salomon found that 60 per cent of runners would like to run more on trails if they knew where and how to do it.

But, actually, finding a trail and planning an off-road run in this country isn’t all that difficult. In fact, any level of runner can do it – you just need to know how to spot a few things. “No matter what part of the country you are in, there is always a trail pretty close, it just needs seeking out,” says Matt Ward, Salomon Trail Team community manager. “Many runners are daunted by making that move from running in their familiar urban surroundings onto something less familiar. However, heading onto the trails is easier than you think.”