Trail Running Is Different — That’s the Point
If you're coming to The Next Loop Endurance Series from road running, one of the first things you'll notice is that trail running plays by a different set of rules.
And that's part of what makes it so much fun.
On the road, we're accustomed to exact distances. A 5K is 3.1 miles. A half marathon is 13.1. A marathon is 26.2. Courses are measured and runners train to hit specific distances, splits and paces. The trail doesn't work that way.
The Trail Determines the Distance.
Our events are built around the trails available to us. If a great trail loop measures approximately 5K, that's our loop. We're not going to artificially add or remove a section of trail just to make the mileage land on a familiar road-racing number.
Run four loops and your GPS may not say exactly what you expected. That's okay.
Trail races have always had some variation. I've run plenty of trail races that turned out longer—or occasionally shorter—than the advertised distance. I never felt cheated because my watch didn't display the exact number. I came to run the trail.
That's the mindset we want to introduce at The Next Loop.
Trail Running Is About Adapting.
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Road running rewards rhythm and consistency.
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Trail running asks something different from you.
The terrain changes. The elevation changes. Your footing changes. Weather changes the trail. Rocks, roots, mud, water and hills become part of the experience.
You adjust. You shorten your stride. You slow down when the terrain demands it.
You power-hike a climb. You open your stride when the trail gives you room.
You learn when to push and when to conserve energy. Trail running is fluid. Your pace doesn't define your run.
How well you move through the environment becomes much more important.
Your Whole Body Gets Involved
Trail running isn't simply road running on dirt.
Uneven terrain continually asks your body to stabilize and adjust. You're using your legs, ankles and feet differently while your hips and core help control balance and movement.
You're stepping over roots, moving around rocks, climbing, descending and constantly making small adjustments.
Instead of repeating essentially the same stride thousands of times, you're interacting with the terrain.
Listen to the Trail
There's another difference that can be difficult to explain until you've experienced it.
Trail running asks you to pay attention. Listen to your footsteps. Hear what's around you. Watch the terrain ahead.
Notice the weather, the trees, the wildlife and the runners around you.
Your environment becomes part of the run.
Sometimes that means putting away the music and simply listening to the trail.
There's Freedom in It
This may be the biggest difference.
Trail running gives you permission to stop obsessing over pace, splits and exact mileage.Run the trail that's in front of you.
Walk the hill. Run the downhill. Stop at the aid station. Talk to another runner. Take in the view.
Then decide whether you've got One More Loop in you.
That's the freedom we want road runners to discover at The Next Loop.
We're Not Trying to Recreate a Road Race in the Woods.
We're introducing runners to a different way of running—one that's more adaptable, more unpredictable and, we believe, a whole lot more interesting.
The trail determines the distance. You determine how far you want to go.