Recently, during one of my morning trail runs, I experienced my first fall. Falling is sometimes unavoidable when running on exposed tree roots and rocks, therefore the odds of getting hurt on a trail run can be higher than road running so it’s only natural to worry about taking a tumble that leaves you bloody, bruised, and broken.

I’ve found trail running to be better for my body and mind. Since I started trail running, I experience less frustration and find myself having more feelings of calm. Likewise, I know I am just beginning to scratch the surface of my trail running potential as I extended my joy of running by moving off the pavement and developing a deeper appreciation for trail running.

While racing is awesome, it is not the sole purpose for running. Without any races on the calendar, I figured this could be a great time to begin making an unofficial shift away from road running to trail running as a way to becoming a more balanced, athletic runner and duathlete.