“The Bagginses had lived in the neighbourhood of The Hill for time out of mind, and people considered them very respectable, not only because most of them were rich, but also because they never had any adventures or did anything unexpected.… This is the story of how a Baggins had an adventure, and found himself doing and saying things altogether unexpected. He may have lost the neighbours’ respect, but he gained – well, you will see whether he gained anything in the end.” – J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

One thing about trail runners: They’re not like the old Bagginses. They have adventures. That was one thing I loved as I started running trails. The sense of adventure. Where does that dirt road lead? What’s on the other side of that hill? I wonder what the view is like from way up there? How far could I go on that singletrack? Well, the trails say, “Come find out.”

In the last issue of Run Utah, I listed a bunch of local trail races. Entering races like those is a great way to get introduced to some of our wonderful local trails, and can be very motivating. But one thing I’ve learned about trail runners is that many of them enjoy “adventure runs” of their own creation just as much as official, organized events. No registration form, no entry fee, no race bib or T-shirt or spectators. Just you and your friends. The wild. Something new and exciting.

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Nutritionally, it is important to make sure you fuel adequately for the time you will be running, not for the distance. Trail races can be significantly slower than road races. If possible, run the course before you race it. If you don’t have an opportunity to run it, look on-line for any course elevation profiles, photos, or descriptions that are available. Also look at race times from previous years to determine a realistic pace that you can expect to run. Race duration will determine whether a pre-race meal is sufficient to meet your energy needs, or if you need to bring something along for mid-race refueling. Refer to Debbie Perry’s article on pre-race nutrition for more details.

As for equipment, it’s important to be prepared for a variety of conditions. Just like any outdoor race, you should bring layered, synthetic clothing for hot or cold, wet or dry weather. Unlike the road or track, however, you also need to prepare for highly variable terrain. Trail conditions can deteriorate overnight with a sudden storm. Bring shoes for any scenario you can reasonably anticipate. Here in the Mountain West, trail racers or trail trainers are usually sufficient. But if you prefer a lighter, more flexible shoe, there’s nothing wrong with using a road trainer or even a road racing flat on the trails (ideally one with decent traction in the outsole). If you’re on grassy, soft trails like those typically found in the East or Pacific Northwest, it may even be appropriate to wear a cross country or track spike.

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