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REVIEW: Trail Running Illustrated: The Art of Running Free

This new trail running primer will make a fine addition to your bookshelf

Photo by: Sam Hill

Are you a road runner who’s curious about hitting the trails, but not sure if your body can take all that twisting and turning? Or maybe you’re just getting into running, you’ve heard that trail running is more “stoked,” and you’re not sure if “stoke” is for you. Either way, the new Trail Running Illustrated: The Art of Running Free, by Doug Mayer and Brian Metzler (Mountaineers Books, 2021) could be a very useful resource. It’s like a trail-running picture book for adults. It’s simple, straightforward and easy to read, covers all the basic info on how to get started in our favourite sport and has charming, cutout-style illustrations by graphic designer Marion Schreiber on almost every page. 

Trail Running Illustrated: The Art of Running Free, by Doug Mayer and Brian Metzler

The book is packed with solid info and tips for getting the hang of trail running; there’s even some instruction on how to fall properly to avoid serious injury. Chapter titles include everything from “Gearing Up” to “When 26.2 Miles Isn’t Enough: Running and Racing Ultra Distances,” in addition to extensive chapters on fuelling and hydration and what to do when you feel an injury developing.

We particularly liked the explanations of the differences between road running and trail running (and the impact of “vert”), the tips for trail running with your dog (including caring for their paws) and how to navigate river crossings in ultras. In every case, there is just enough information to whet your appetite without being overwhelming.

Brian Metzler on the trails

There is even a chapter on women in trail running, contributed by Colorado-based trail runner Yitka Winn, including running during and after pregnancy, safety, and some organizations that are doing a great job of supporting female trail runners. (One minor quibble is the discussion of the female athlete triad, a term that’s now considered outdated, since we know that low energy availability (LEA) can affect men as well as women.)

Some of the authors’ advice about training your body to become better fat-adapted, which includes things like eating a high-fat diet, doing some fasted runs and consuming fewer calories might also be considered questionable–but the authors are trail runners, not scientists, and overall, this is a very good, basic primer for getting comfortable in the sport.

Mayer is founder of Run the Alps, a trail-running tour company, and a contributing editor for Trail Runner magazine. His recent finishes include the 330 km Tor des Géants, Califoria’s Quad Dipsea and UTMB. Metzler is the founding editor and associate publisher of Trail Runner and Adventure Sports magazines who has raced iconic ultras like the Leadville Trail 100, Run Rabbit Run and UTMB’s CCC. Between them they have covered thousands of kilometres on the trails, and their book will make a fine addition to your bookshelf.

 

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