The Fascination of Trail Running: Are Mountain Runners the More Complete Runners?

“At the end of the day, naturally trail runners are the more complete runners – they have to be able to do more and have more challenges.”  That is the thesis that’s being discussed in the great trail running debate on ISPO.com, along with the fascination of this trending sport.

ISPO.com surveyed five insiders:

• Denis Wischniewski is the editor of TRAIL Magazine – the magazine for trail running, mountain running, and outdoor 
• Holger Lapp, editor in chief of trampelpfadlauf.de – a website for trail running and outdoor sports
• Hendrik Auf’mkolk, editor of trailblog.de - a website with reports on tours, equipment, races, and more
• Lars Schweizer works in the Sports Management division at the Laufcampus Akademie (Running Campus Academy) and blogs at trailfieber.de   
• Andrea Löw, ASICS frontrunner, is the author of the trail book “Offroad – Mehr als Laufen” (Offroad – More than Running) and blogs on Runninghappy

Links to the other four parts of the Trail Running series on ISPO.com, with other expert theories, at the end of this text.

“Even street runners can become trail runners”

Denis Wischniewski, trail-magazin.de: “At the end of the day, naturally trail runners are the more complete runners – they have to be able to do more, have more challenges. But I would happily encourage every good street runner that they can quickly become good trail runners, too. It’s not rocket science, and people who run in the countryside will get used to uneven surfaces, inclines, and downhills right away. Our bodies recognize all of this and react to it. Supposedly, you just have to remind them.”

“Trail runners delve into nature”

Holger Lapp, trampelpfadlauf.de: “Trail runners are certainly not the more complete runners. Many don’t just run trails, but streets as well. But trail running is something for all of the sense. You delve into nature, and because you have to concentrate much on the course, you strike up a deeper relationship with your surroundings. You pause your run to enjoy views, or to observe animals. And in the end it was a good run if you enjoyed it in all respects, not if you achieved a certain pace.”

“Every runner benefits from training impulses”

Hendrik Auf’mkolk, trailblog.de: “What makes up that fascination? Clearly the allure of nature, and above all the mountains – you won’t discover and experience your surroundings in a more direct, intense way than trail running. Running in the countryside never gets boring for your head, either – it’s different running on the street, road, or treadmill, at least for me. Every runner can benefit from the variety and the training impulses in the countryside.”

“Alternating strain on the muscles”

Lars Schweizer, Laufcampus Akademie: “For me, trail running is the primary allure of nature. You plunge into a forest and discover wonderful new places. The alternating strain on my muscles is also a part of it for me. The subsoil requires constant attention and concentration. On the street or in the city you just trot forward, while with trail running you just always have direct contact with nature, at the latest if you overlook a root.”

“The feeling of pure freedom on the trail”

Andrea Löw, ultra runner and blogger at www.runninghappy.de/ : “I love just being on the move outside, in nature, and enjoying the landscape. There’s this magnificent feeling of pure freedom and independence on the trail, nothing matters anymore, just the view. You just live in the here and now, your mind becomes truly free. Sometimes it’s really strenuous, especially in the mountains. But then sometimes you’ll be standing at the summit, breathless and exhausted, and you’ll look around and remember just why you’re doing it here.”