The Mercury E-dition

Why trail running should be on your agenda this year

VIWE NDONGENI-NTLEBI viwe.ndongeni@inl.co.za

WE ALL know running is good for us. It improves the way we feel and look. Our hearts get stronger, our minds clearer and it’s great for weight control. Its benefits, however, go far beyond the obvious.

If you haven’t discovered the magic of trail running, 2021 may be the best year to start.

Mia Goslett, brand manager for Saucony, says that sales of trail running shoes have grown dramatically over the past year.

“Running, in general, has grown in popularity with the closure of gyms. We are also seeing road runners moving over to trails more than ever before,” she says.

Numerous studies have shown that running increases lifespan

A 2018 meta-analysis of research on running and longevity found that runners have about a 25 to 30% lower rate of all-cause mortality than non-runners. It concluded: “Any amount of running, even once a week, is better than no running.”

Fedhealth Magalies Monster MTB & Platinum Trail Run organisers share more reasons to try trail running in 2021:

Get away from the crowds

We’ve all been spending less time working out indoors due to the pandemic, and this has seen many of us choose to exercise outside, rather than in the gym or the studio. Luckily, with South Africa’s temperate climate, working up a sweat in the great outdoors can be done all year round.

It’s about the journey, not the outcome

Unlike road running where most runners want to stick to a 5km loop, or a 21km distance, for example, trail running is not at all about the end result. It’s not about time constraints and being dictated to by a device on your wrist.

Writer Laura Miller especially enjoys the variety of trail running: “The thrill of the downhill, the burn of the uphill, skipping over a root or ducking under a branch … this change of pace makes the time just fly by”.

Fewer injuries, more calorie burning

Trail runners are less prone to repetitive injuries as the variety of the terrain means that you’re always changing your pace and how your body and feet respond to it. Over time, your balance improves, and your ankles adjust and strengthen.

Goslett also says that “trail running burns more calories than road running and the enjoyment one gets from the adventure in nature boosts the runner’s high significantly”.

A safe way to socialise

Miller enjoys how independent you can be with trail running, bringing your own refreshments along and only having to rely on yourself and your team. “I find it a great way to bond with friends or family, while we commune with nature.”

Goslett comments that “it’s a social sport but allows one to social distance while still being amongst friends”.

LIFESTYLE

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2021-05-14T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-05-14T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://themercury.pressreader.com/article/281848646487977

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