Why I Switched To Trail Running

Running is a fantastic sport because it is cheap, accessible and good for you physically and mentally. It comes in all different forms, from sprinting 100 metres to ultramarathons of 100+ miles. However, does the surface you run on really matter? Can trail running be better for the human body than traditional road running?

Sarah Doherty is a runner who has recently transitioned from a long-distance road runner to a trail runner. After initially starting out as a sprinter as a child, she gradually started doing longer distances, but after having two children, she found herself not running as much as she wanted.

“After my second child turned two, I decided to run my first marathon.  I knew the training would give me the much-needed time to myself and a fresh challenge outside of a busy family life” she said.

“I had raced a couple of half marathons, but I wanted push myself further; so I chose Dublin Marathon, followed a training plan, raced well and got the bug for running once again!

“I then joined a running club and that took me on a road running journey.  I was racing 5K, 10K and Half Marathons, doing reasonably well at local races and setting new running club records for my age category and this really spurred me on.