Trail run
The trail running (from English trail = path 'or' path '; also trail running or Waldlauf ) is a form of long distance running , the offroad takes place. The World Athletics Federation (IAAF) recognized trail running as an IAAF discipline in 2015.
overview
The term trail running can be used to summarize all forms of running away from the streets, from jogging in the park on flat surfaces to ultra runs in several stages across the Alps.
Running on trails is felt to be particularly close to nature. Rough ground and obstacles train the runner's ability to coordinate and concentrate in addition to physical endurance. Since the entire body needs to be stabilized, more muscle groups are used than when running on the street.
Typical surfaces of the running routes are gravel, forest and meadow paths through forests or parks, single trails, stone and scree paths in alpine terrain, fitness trails, Finnish tracks or sand.
Similarities and differences to other forms of long-distance running
Closely related to trail running is cross-country running, which is also about moving continuously through profiled terrain with natural obstacles. However, cross-country runs are usually completed on a specially marked course of 1 to 2 km, while existing paths and paths are used for trail runs. In addition, trail runs are usually carried out over longer distances than cross-country runs, often with route lengths that are also popular in road running ( half marathon , marathon , 100 km, etc.). As a rule, however, unlike road runs, trail runs are not officially measured, on the one hand because the terrain does not allow the use of a Jones counter , on the other hand because the profile of the route and the nature of the ground mean that the times achieved are far too slow to be used Leaderboards to be used. A few road runs, however, lead partly over trails. Examples of this are the Ho Chi Minh Trail at 100 km from Biel and the Egmond Half Marathon , which partly runs over a beach and dune paths.
Most mountain runs run on gravel, meadow and scree paths and can therefore be viewed as a special form of trail run.
Similarities with the outside of the track and settled orienteering , in which also the adaptation plays a major role to constantly changing terrain. In contrast to orienteering, however, in trail running competitions the running route is given by markings so that the participant does not need to concentrate excessively in this regard.
Must be distinguished is the trail running against a form of urban-modern obstacle course for which the term "Obstacle Race" or as a generic term extreme obstacle course seems to establish, but which often carries a specific operator name, for example. B. StrongmanRun . It is usually an outdoor running event, usually between approx. 5 km and 20 km in length, on which the participants have to overcome a large number of natural and specially created obstacles at irregular intervals. The obstacles predominantly have an urban and non-natural character due to the use of scrap trucks, car tires, nets, containers, stairs, pallets, sand or mud etc.
Characterization and categorization
Cross-Running (Urban Trail Running / Citytrail)
Probably the simplest and most common form of trail running takes place on gravel, meadow or forest floors without major obstacles. Many runners prefer to start directly from home and therefore often cover a certain distance on asphalt before they turn on their standard lap in the forest or city park. Often this type are with changing surfaces on scenic routes country races held.
Cross-Trail (On Trail)
On the cross-trail, you run only off paved roads, often in difficult terrain with uphill and downhill slopes (see mountain run ), but without leaving the existing paths and trails .
Trail Adventure (Off Trail)
Adventure describes the most extreme, sporty, most demanding form of trail running. Many are looking for adventure in alpine terrain or off the beaten track. The ground (stone, scree, rock ...) requires maximum attention, and extreme inclines or declines and sometimes even natural obstacles (trees, branches, streams ...) have to be overcome.
Ultra running
Runs that are longer than the marathon distance are called ultra trails or ultra runs, see ultra marathon .
equipment
The equipment required for trail running depends very much on the difficulty of the terrain, the weather and the duration of the run. Shoes for easy terrain (urban trail running) only require slightly more grip and stability than road running shoes. However, more difficult terrain makes greater demands. In addition to a good profile and good stability, a low center of gravity, the lowest possible weight, robustness and weather protection are often seen as important. The low center of gravity has a positive effect on stability and the weight of the shoes influences the runner's oxygen consumption, 100 g on each foot increases oxygen consumption by around one percent. The shoe should be adapted to both the runner's running style and the terrain in terms of cushioning and stiffness. In addition, the shoe must protect the foot from the ground, such as sharp stones.
The running clothes are breathable and light. Running backpacks with important luggage such as water, food, compass and map, headlamp, weatherproof clothing, mobile phone, first aid kit and rescue blanket are often taken for longer tours. The water is kept mostly either in a bottle in his hand, or by hydration system taken in a backpack or in a drinking belt. At many longer events, some of this equipment is mandatory. In addition, some runners use lightweight trekking poles to support the leg muscles.
Shoes after running through muddy terrain
Shoes with a low profile sole for better stability
Events
Probably the most popular trail event in Germany is the GutsMuths Rennsteiglauf , which has been taking place since 1973. It consists of a super marathon of 72.7 km, a marathon of 43.5 km and a half marathon. The most demanding run in Austria is the Pitztal Glacier Trail Maniak with around 95 km and an altitude of approx. 6500 meters .
The German Ultramarathon Association (DUV) has been organizing German championships in ultratrail since 2001 (until 2011: German championships in cross and landscape running ). In 2007 the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) launched the World Trail Challenge , later renamed the IAU Trail World Championships .
One of the most demanding trail runs in the world is the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), which leads around the Mont-Blanc massif with a route length of approx. 168 km, more than 9,000 meters of altitude to be overcome and a time limit of 46 hours. The Transalpine Run , a stage run in which teams of two conquer 260 km and 15,000 meters in altitude in eight days , also takes place in high alpine terrain . The oldest trail run in the United States is the Dipsea Race , which - intermittently - has been held in Mill Valley , California since 1905 . Small family runs such as the Bilstein Marathon are also becoming increasingly popular .
Meanwhile there are also running cups that include series of trail runs, e.g. B. the Ultra-Trail World Tour , for which 12 events worldwide are rated (including the UTMB), the European Cup of Ultramarathons or the Skyrunning series. For Germany z. B. the Active Trailrunning Cup with six runs in Ostwestfalen-Lippe .
literature
- John Foden: A Guide to Organizing Trail Races. With some hints for competitors. Trail Running Association, 2001 ( PDF; 1.27 MB )
Web links
Footnotes
- ↑ Trail running recognized as an official discipline of the IAAF ( Memento of the original from April 22, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , at: run247.com, August 21, 2015, accessed April 21, 2017
- ↑ Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: Metabolic Cost of Running Barefoot versus Shod: Is Lighter Better? ( Memento of the original from April 10, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ German Ultramarathon Association: List of German champions in landscape running
- ^ German Ultramarathon Association: IAU Trail WC
- ^ Website of the Transalpine-Run
- ↑ Ultra-Trail World Tour: Ultra-Trail World Tour 2016
- ↑ Skyrunning: 2016 Skyrunner World Series
- ↑ Studiolog.de: Active Trailrunning-Cup 2015/2016 ( Memento of the original from February 19, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
