Trail or road

[annabanana19]

I'm a road runner (10k/HM) and I did my 1st trail this weekend.....and during it I hated every moment!! Wasn't what I expected (lots of steps) and I knew there would be hills etc but steps!?

But looking back at the event I think I enjoyed it & will enter again. I love in a very hilly area and hills are part of my runs.

Whey do we always say "never again" then look forward to the next one!?

Do you trail or stick to the road?

I love trail running. I hate the hills, but I love the mud and I love the fact that you have to watch your step all the time- you can't just tune out like you can sometimes on the road. Steps sound evil though, I think I would have hated that too.

I run on the roads too, because my trail runs are short and bloody slow. And I'd be missing out if I just stuck to one or the other.

I prefer trail running, even though I'm faster on road, but am less keen on mud, so I was road running last winter! Can you get your OS map out and find a route that avoids the steps?

I love trail running, it's the peace and tranquillity that lifts me so much. I love the feeling of connection with the natural world.

I run in the South Downs so get spectacular views of the sea too. I run on the roads too, especially in winter when the trails get really bad but I'm happiest off road.

I've not raced off road because I generally don't race at all but I have vague plans to do a marathon off road next year. The challenge is not getting disheartened that it will almost certainly take longer than my road marathon did.

I hate running on the road hate it hate it hate it hate it hate it and can only do it with other people, so with my proper running club or my informal 'jogging' group

I know it is technically easier and much less wear and tear on my elderly damaged self but am so scared of cars it's almost a joke, even if there is a pavement (there's never a pavement for long round here) but variety is definitely key as with so many things and am going to try and at least cycle on the roads a bit more

unfortunately my trails are mostly not smooth or grassy or proper paths, they are badly rutted from tractors with big holes from horse hooves and are either under water, thick gloopy mud or hard as concrete and it's difficult not to wrench an ankle even walking on parts of them

Agree Mitchy1nge - baked footpaths are fine but tractor ruts and bridleways are bad news, and the combination no fun at all, especially at the end of a long run.

I didn't explain well...my 1st trail run was infact a race!!!! lol!! I run on old rail tracks, bridleways & quarries where I live ....and I thought this what trail entails!!

But I ran a race.....PMSL!

that's great OP, and you are keen to do another? any particular events in mind?

I won't do another one Mitch. Too damn hard!! I prefer road 10ks/HM.

oh no, what changed your mind? You said in the OP you would enter again