My Prediction For This Year’s Hottest Fitness Trend

Now that the spring weather is here, most of us are feeling the push to go outside and get some exercise (sorry for those of you who have allergies!). During the pandemic, more people have been exploring the outdoors, which has translated to more people hitting the trails to go hiking.

As an acupuncturist, whose profession revolves around nature and how it reveals itself in our bodies, minds, and spirits, I am ALL about this new trend. Hiking trails is amazing, and fun for the whole family if there are no mobility or accessibility concerns. What my prediction is for this spring’s fitness trend, and certainly continuing through the fall, is not just hiking, but trail running.

Trail running has gotten much less attention than running overall, yet it deserves the spotlight. Here’s why:

1. You get to be outside in nature, in some of the most beautiful places on earth.
2. You need to practice mindfulness when doing trail running, as the path can be rocky or uneven, so it helps you to stay in the present moment.
3. You can go at a slower pace since you have to be more mindful, and this can make it feel more accessible to those who struggle to feel like they’re “good enough” to call themselves a runner (hint: you ARE good enough, it’s all in your head, just saying this might help you get over that if you’re feeling that way!).
4. You are breathing in clean, fresh air, which is rejuvenating compared to typical indoor air quality, especially at a gym.
5. While I wouldn’t recommend it for kids under 6 years old, you can get your older kids to try it out and see what they think! If they are not be able to run as far as you can, try alternating trail running and hiking.

So what do you need to get started? Here are my suggestions:

• A local park or trail– now’s the time to explore state parks, local parks, national parks, beachside or bayside trails, and more!
• Trail map– make sure you know where you are going and the terrain. If you need help understanding the challenge of a particular trail, find resources on Google or ask the park ranger which trail would be a good beginner’s level trail to run.
• Good running shoes– while you can buy shoes designed for trail running, if you’re a beginner, just make sure to have good running shoes and start on an easy trail where you will not necessarily need as much support or traction, which trail running shoes tend to provide more of. As you get more experienced, then you can invest in some good trail running shoes.
• Emergency supplies– Take it from this Girl Scout Leader and former Girl Scout…always be prepared! There are great lightweight hiking backpacks that you can use to carry water, a trail map, a jacket, a snack or other emergency supplies. While it may feel burdensome to run with a backpack, I’d recommend it unless you’re on a very short trail with no chance of getting lost. For a lighter weight solution on shorter trails, consider a fanny pack to store an energy bar or other snack, your keys and phone, and gel packs if you aren’t going to run with a water bottle.
• A sense of adventure! Get out there and have fun!
• Nature game– If you’re bringing smaller kids, when they get tired of running and start to complain that they want to go home or ask how much longer it will be until you are back at the car (I’m guessing it’s not just my kids that do this…lol), one of the tried and true games that my kids love is nature bingo. Challenge them to find as many animals, bugs, and plants that they can. Things like hawks, crows, squirrels, deer, foxes, sparrows, acorns, raspberries, oak leaves, maple leaves, and more are turned into a fun game or competition that they’ll want to play over and over again.

One last tip- any time you go on a hike or trail run, that you should remember safety first. Try not to go alone, tell someone where you are going and what trail you will be on, and carry a fully charged cell phone in case of emergency (beyond what is suggested above). If you have a dog, take your dog with you. Remember that in many areas of the country, we have venomous snakes and spiders, as well as ticks and other bugs that you must watch out for. Most trails will be cleared regularly and are frequently traversed, so most of the time, you won’t see snakes sunning themselves in the middle of the trail. So I say this just in case, because it’s always possible. I’ve personally never seen a snake on any of my adventures on trails, but I have been lucky enough to have a gray fox run right up close to me and my husband, and pause before running away. On another trip with the kids, we reached the top of a large hill to see deer 20′ away as they paused their grazing to see us before bounding away. The latest hiking trip with my kids had us walking down a trail that looked like someone had dumped silver glitter all over the trail and rocks due to all the mica that shone in the sun.

Hiking and trail running can be truly magical. I hope you feel inspired to give trail running a try. If you do, comment below and let me know how it goes!