It's a huge misconception that you have to be particularly fit or bold or adventurous to get into it. Anybody, any age, of any athletic ability can start with just walking or hiking or going in a little bit.
Hixson resident Allen Binkley has had success endurance racing events such
as trail running and cycling for several years.Runners are oftentimes creatures of habit. They run the same routes, wear the same shoes, buy the same brands. That dedication to familiarity and routine can sometimes grow a bit… stale. So this year, why not switch things up?
While most runners already know that trail running can be easier on the joints than road running, many are still hesitant to go off-road for fear of unpredictable trails botching their pace and distance.
“It’s kind of hard to accept being that slow at first,” says local runner Megan Stimpson. When she started trail running in 2010, she found that she was often two minutes or more slower per mile due to the steep hills and uneven surfaces.
But the 33-year-old now knows that sometimes you have to slow down to speed up.