Training

Ensuring a Safe Trail Run: Advice from the Experts

SportsShoes recently caught up with adidas Terrex athletes and two of the best ultra trail runners in the UK, Holly Page and Tom Evans, to get the low down on everything you need to know about keeping safe on the trail. So, read on for these top tips from the pros.

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PREPARING FOR THE WEATHER

Never underestimate the weather and how quickly it can change, paticularly in the UK. Trail running is very different to running on the road; you are out in the hills and you may be miles from any settlements or roads, so it’s really important to make sure that you have got all the right gear with you. We know with the British weather it can rain at any moment, and what seems like a really nice day down in the valley could be horrendous up on the hills, with things being able to change very quickly. Make sure that you’ve always got a waterproof jacket and thermal layers in your bag, even it it looks sunny.

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FOOD AND WATER

Always make sure that you have enough food and water with you, even if you feel like you have got lots of energy. If something were to go wrong whilst running on the trails, then you need to make sure that you’re prepared and have got enough essentials with you.

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RUNNING ALONE

Some people are understandably afraid of going off running on their own, especially when they just start out, especially if they’re not used to being in the outdoors. But keep in mind that in time, confidence will grow. A great way to help build confidence is by running with other people. Joining a local running club can be a great idea, as most clubs will go out running in the hills in a group, which will then help to build the confidence you need to go out alone.

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GETTING LOST

It can be very daunting running on the trails when you may not know exactly where to go and it can feel like you might get lost. As professional trail runners, Tom and Holly are always travelling a lot and running on new trails, so tools are important. Tom uses the Garmin connect app, using the heatmap function to pull together different people’s routes or identify areas that people have run. A little bit of research goes a very long way. If you don’t use Garmin, try using Strava, komoot, other GPS watches or apps such as even Map My Run and Google Maps.

Even though there’s lots of different technology available, it is still important to learn how to read a traditional map. If your battery or signal goes then being able to read a map will ensure that you get home safely. There’s lots of different courses available that you can go on to learn navigational skills.

Looking for some training tips and advice? Then head over to our Training category where our athletes and experts explain everything you need to know.