In the past number of years trail running events have
experienced a significant rise in participation all across Australia. Evidently
the idea of undulating, winding, scenic tracks is becoming more appealing to
runners than the bustling city footpaths. As the Salomon Trail Series slogan
states, “Bitumen is Boring”. At Footpro we are continuing to expand our knowledge of trail equipment and growing our range of products accordingly. In the following blog we aim to give you a good understanding of the importance of trail running gear and to steer you in the right direction.
Trail Running Events
Whether you are new to running or a seasoned veteran you can be sure there is a place for you within the vast array of running events available today. Trail running events have attributed strongly to the increased interest in trail running in Victoria in recent years. The Salomon Trail Running Series is a prime example of such. This series has been a major success in 2013 selling out 1,500 entries to each of the four races at Kew, Studley Park, Silvan and the culmination of the series at Anglesea this Sunday September 22nd. The aim of this series was to encourage and accommodate for the increased interest in trail running and to facilitate this with a number of race distance options across picturesque Victorian trails. The variety of races available ensures that every athlete’s age group and abilities are catered for. Rapid Ascent has been responsible for putting this series together and they have done so with great success for the past 3 years. In conjunction with expert support from Salomon, Optimus Health, Hydralyte, and of course all of our team at Footpro, these events have helped to create a community of trail running enthusiasts across Victoria. For many, these races are an excellent way to keep fit while enjoying the scenery surrounding them. For others they are a social occasion where they can meet up with friends whom share their passion for trail running. For the more dedicated and driven athletes these races serve as a stepping stone to long distance trail races such as the upcoming SurfCoast Century 100km trail run ultra marathon this Saturday 21 September. This race is a prime example of the upsurge of ultra trail marathon races with double the amount of athletes (200) signed up for the full 100km distance while a further 400 athletes will complete the event as part of a team. Many of Australia’s elite distance athletes will be participating in this event and the competition promises to serve up some exciting racing. The North Face 100 is another world renowned ultra trail race which has attracted some of the world’s most elite ultra distance runners since it’s inauguration in 2008.Technical Trail Gear
Finding
appropriate running equipment can be a daunting challenge at times and this is
even more true with respect to trail running due to a lack of specialist
retailers. It is therefore paramount to seek out advice from experts on all
aspects of trail running equipment. At Footpro, our aims are to ensure that athletes
get the best possible advice on all aspects of trail running equipment as well
as passing on the feedback which we receive some top quality trail runners
which we have had the pleasure of dealing with. Trail running footwear is quite
different from road running shoes in many key features. Firstly there is a need
for increased underfoot traction for running off-road and the shoe selection is
often dependent on the level of grip required for one’s preferred trails. Another key criterion to consider is cushioning, specifically the amount of foam and the difference in it’s height from the heel-to-toe of the shoes. Similarly to road running shoes, trail running shoes range from thinly cushioned (minimalist) to thickly cushioned (maximalist) and everything in between. For those whom prefer lighter-weight shoes and increased feeling underfoot, minimalist shoes are the category of choice. For many others whom prefer cushioned and supportive shoes there are a plethora of options. Our advice would be to try out a number of different options in a specialist store and choose the best fitting shoe based on sizing, cushioning and support.
Aside from footwear, clothing, accessories and nutritional items can greatly improve your experience of trail running. Trail running clothing will need to be more weather resistant than road running apparel as the conditions tend to be more demanding off-road. Salomon dedicates a whole scientific lab team to develop these products in conjunction with elite athletes like Kilian Jornet and Ryan Sandes, the results of which compile their S-Lab range. This equipment ranges from specialist compressive clothing, footwear, backpacks, hydration storage and fuel belts. These are some of the most technical items of running equipment on the market and they are available for purchase at Footpro. The Salomon Advanced Skin running backpacks are ultra lightweight and comfortable while also allowing for 12 litres of overall capacity and 1.5L soft reservoir. They are the item of choice for more and more trail runners as they fulfill the requirements for ultra races. If you prefer not to running with a backpack then the Salomon Sense Hydro Set would have you covered. A neat little hand held soft flask which is barely noticeable while running. Alternatively the Salomon S-Lab belt allows you to carry all you little necessities like phone, wallet, keys and nutrition comfortably around your waist with minimal movement.
Whether a tech expert or a complete novice, Suunto has something to match your needs with regards to performance monitoring. Features such as heart rate, GPS, compass, navigation, altimeter, barometer not to mention a world of downloadable apps ensure Suunto leads the way when it comes to monitoring outdoor activities. Their range includes the flagship model the Ambit 2, the Ambit 2S, Core Crush, Quest, M5 and M2 models. More information on all these watches is available here.
Diet & Nutrition
While technical equipment is very important, it will be redundant unless one's body is capable of the physical requirements for trail running. This refers to strength and conditioning, flexibility and diet, all of which play a vital role in the success of an athlete. As trail running is strenuous and vigorous in nature and requires endurance it is fundamental that the body is fueled adequately before, during and after training bouts. The importance of hydration needs to be highlighted first. It is paramount we hydrate ourselves with water however, the requirements vary depending on the individual, activity and climate. Providing the body with sufficient nutrition assists with fueling for upcoming training sessions and aiding recovery.
Carbohydrates are the body’s primary and preferred fuel source. Carbohydrates can be fast-acting (high glycaemic index (GI)) or be slow-acting (low glycaemic index (GI)). Within these paradigms is where supplements integrate into the mix. Supplements come in many shapes and forms including gels, chews, tablets and drinks. Supplements promote balanced and sustained energy, hydration and assist with maintaining and replacing electrolytes lost during activity. Supplements are categorised into their ideal ingestion period; whether that be pre-, during- or post-event. Depending on the desired timing to be ingested will influence the composition of the supplement and its corresponding GI. Primarily, low GI supplements are ideally utilised prior to an event to promote a sustained and prolonged energy release. Some products have implemented a lower GI fuel source into their supplements to be ingested during an event, targeted at those events that are extensive and enduring in nature. High GI supplements play a significant role when consumed during an event as they allow for a rapid energy intake that is shorter lived in comparison to supplements that are low GI in nature. High GI supplements are becoming increasingly popular when ingested immediately after finishing to help promote recovery. At Footpro we have a number of products on hand that can assist with supplementing your nutritional needs. We stock a range of products from Dextro and 32Gi which the staff are more than happy to talk through any requirements and provide the appropriate recommendations.
At Footpro we are constantly trying to expand our knowledge to ensure we can offer the best possible service to our customers. We have grown our range of footwear and clothing in response to the growing market and we endeavor to fulfill every customers wishes. We have had the fortune to deal with some amazing athletes in the past five years and hope to do so for many years to come. If you have anything you would like to see at Footpro in the future then please let us know. Similarly if you would like any further details on the discussed topics then feel free to contact us at your convenience. Comments below would be much appreciated.
Happy running everyone,
Team Footpro
