Why I started trail running?

I have run since a young age, had a weird enjoyment of school cross country races and love sport so I was starting from a good place. I ran my first marathon in New York in 2023 and loved the whole experience but subsequently suffered from years of injuries and niggles which I did nothing about for years. Whilst I continued running regularly on roads I was lacking enjoyment from the monotony of it and picking up more injuries as time went on. Following the arrival of kids I had fallen out of the routine, was putting on weight and realised I was not as fit as I thought. I decided running in the countryside would be easier on my body and a lightbulb moment occurred when I started joined a local group of runners on Ashdown Forest and realised the mental benefits of running in beautiful surroundings and how time flew in such an environment, it was not a chore but a pleasure!

Image shot at Ashdown Forest, UK

Whilst I will talk in another blog about the benefits of group running, I knew immediately this was something I needed in my life. The benefits of trail running became apparent in terms of my fitness, body resilience, enjoyment of the great outdoors, making friends and challenging myself with races & events.