There is an adventure waiting for you if you just get out there. If you ever thought about trying something new with your running or perhaps you are thinking about becoming a runner. Maybe getting out of your comfort zone is where you should start. Trail running offers just that for most of us. But where do you start? Simply find a trail near where you live, you don’t always have to go the mountains to find a trail. Most cities have bike/running paths that can offer a place to start working on your adventure. Learning to run on paths can be a little different compared to road running. To begin with, dirt offers less impact than the road. However, the surface is not always level and may require more monitoring of your foot placement then your used too. And your pace will probably be about a minute or so longer than normal. If you are fortunate to live near hills or mountain trails, there are probably more grade changes than you are used to. Additionally, there could be altitude changes that make running a little more challenging. There is no law that says you have to run the whole time, take time to absorb nature’s glory. But once you start on the adventure, you certainly will not regret it.

For me, running trails has allowed me to see things that I would never have imagined. Sometimes it’s just so peaceful running in solitude and taking in the beauty that nature offers. Other times the satisfaction of knowing that you were able to dig a little deeper in your grit and conquer the “Mountain”. Other times, running with friends might make a great story when talking about the adversity the trail threw at you but you teamed up through the tough part and won it over.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in doing, there is only one thing to do; Get out there and make it happen!  You will quite glad you did.