Ahhh trails. I love to take my marathon training to shady trails on summer days when the heat and humidity are unbearable. The beauty and solitude of trails in autumn with the crunch of leaves and brilliant foliage is simply unparalleled. Honestly any day I get to head off and hit the trails is a good day. Did you know trail running benefits mind, body and spirit? It’s true.
Trails take you away from traffic and closer to nature. There’s something so relaxing about hitting the trails. Fresh air and birdsong trump pollution and traffic noise any day. It’s as if I’ve disconnected from the daily grind and took a “recess” for grownups. Because I need to focus on the trail and where I’m putting my feet, I don’t have time to dwell on the problems and petty annoyances of daily life.
Trails reinforce a spiritual connection. Being outside in nature reminds me that I’m part of something much bigger than myself. Hitting the trails is very grounding. It’s a great time to decompress and clear my mind.
Changing terrain challenges the body. Whether you’re climbing, descending, cornering or negotiating uneven surfaces, no two trail runs are ever exactly alike. The varying nature of trails keeps your body guessing and gives it the best workout.
Softer surfaces are kinder to the body. Face it running pounds the body. Anytime I can escape to gravel, wood chips or dirt, I do it. Forces that typically transmit up from pavement to the ankles, shins, knees and hips are dissipated thanks to softer, more forgiving ground.
Trail Shoes. Recently I was sent the TrailRoc 285 trail shoes from Inov8 for testing purposes. Right out of the box they had me at purple. The fit seemed snug at first, to the extent I wondered if they’d be too small. Turns out they’re just right. So right they feel almost glove-like on my feet. The longer I wore them the more I loved them. I tested them on forest and prairie trails, some of them muddy because that’s the kind of summer it’s been. The treads on the soles are, in a word, awesome. They really bit in to hilly trails and gave me confidence on treacherous uphills. No slipping here! Turns out the soles are made from three different rubber compounds: The hardest is at the heel, the softest rubber runs up the center for superb traction and a medium rubber runs along the edges for security with every foot strike. Love, love and LOVE!
The tough treads and water-repellent upper are going to make this an ideal winter shoe as well. Trail shoes give me extra peace of mind in snowy/icy conditions.
The Verdict: The TrailRoc 285 Trail shoe is well worth checking out. They’re designed for neutral runners and the cushioning in the soles make them ideal for hard, rocky trails. I will definitely be keeping them in my shoe rotation.
Which do you prefer: Trails or pavement? What is your favorite season to go trail running?
I wish I was able to run on trials more often! I just tend to go with the convenience of starting my run from my front door rather than driving 20 minutes to run.
I don’t ever do trail running … it intimidates me and is out of my comfort zone. Plus then I’d have to go out of my way to find some trails! But you do make it sound prettt nice. And your pictures are amazing!
Thanks Melissa! If I didn’t have some really close by, I probably wouldn’t run them as much either. I do need to drive to the ones where I can bang out 20 miles. When it’s desperately hot I I do but the ones I can reach from my front door are super convenient.
Those shoes will be great for winter running. I love the way they look!
I LOVE running on trails. But I admit, I don’t love technical trails. Those shoes look awesome. I’m currently in the Newton BOCO but I’m looking to expand my trail shoe collection. I’ll have to check these out!
I really didn’t start trying it til we moved to Colorado and now I agree it’s total love and a great way to switch up my running after so many years!!
Love that they’re purple! I agree with Wendy that those would be great for winter running.
I like trail running in training because like you said, its usually cooler, and I dont have to worry about traffic. Also, I feel more relaxed on the trail and am not so worried about pace. I do prefer running road races though.
I had no idea that Inov-8 made trail running shoes! I have the F-Lite 240s for CrossFit and I love them! And yeah, I’d be all over those just because of the purple, too! I definitely need to start doing more trail running, too. There’s a park nearby that I run to and through – I wish I didn’t have to drive to get to the longer trails. :/
Jennifer I agree with you: Driving to trails is a PIA if you’re not in the habit. I’ll drive to them if I want to run long but I’m lucky enough to have some shorter ones really close by.
I LOVE trail running! It’s way better than roads
I wish I had shaded trails where I live. Boulder has a great trail, but I can’t always drive up there to run it. I have trails near my home, but they’re not shaded at all. It’s all open space, which is nice, but shade would be better.
I’ve been falling in love with trails lately- my body keeps giving me signs that it would like a break from road running!
I love running on trails for the same reasons! I have to admit I’ve only run my trail shoes once or twice…I’m still getting used to them. Your purple Inov8’s look amazing!!
Unfortunately the trails I run on are mostly sand – although I suppose that gives you more of a workout! And while you do connect with nature, it’s actually within town and by a couple of major roads — so you don’t really quite get away from it all.
But it’s close, and they had actually groomed it more recently, so it wasn’t quite as annoying as the last time I ran there.
I wish they had some wood chip trails close to us! They always look so awesome in other people’s photos.
Trail running is the best! So true, it really does work different muscle groups and I feel like time flies when I’m running a great trail 🙂
I miss trail running! It was always so nice to not have to worry about cars and enjoy the tranquility of nature. The trails here just go up, up, up the mountains. Haha!
I would like to do more trail running myself but it is harder to find! It has to be easier on the body than the pavement!
I really wish I like running on trails. I’ve fallen twice on a trail race and twisted my ankle on hidden branches. I am afraid to try again!
I wish I could really give in and love trail running, but I’m one of those people who is terrified at all times that she is going to break her ankle. I don’t mind a paved/tamped down path, but I”m not cut out for the real thing!
If I could assure myself that I wouldn’t fall and bust my butt, I would try trail running, lol
I love all things underfoot for running because I crave variety. Like you said, trail running is a great alternative to the constant pounding of the pavement, and the varied terrain is great for all parts of the body to get some work done. Those shoes are looking pretty sweet! Too bad they aren’t for my high-arched, over-pronating feet ;-(…..I need me some major stability & support. #myreality
I haven’t been trail running in so long. Reading this makes me wanna lace up and go!
I like the look of the shoe! I enjoy trail running, but i have to drive to access one and that has been holding me back this summer, when it gets cooler I’ll get the itch to get out there some 🙂