People often assume that trail and road running are very similar, which is far from the truth. Even though they certainly share some similarities, road and trail running are different sports that require different equipment and strength requirements. Here are some of the biggest differences between road and trail running.
Strength
Road running requires less endurance and strength because you’re running on a flat surface with no obstacles. On the other hand, running in remote areas means that you’ll constantly be challenged by uneven terrain, rocks, branches, and more. Even though running on the softer surface is easier on your joints, trail running is more challenging and requires more muscle power.
Scenery
The main reason why people fall in love with trail running is wonderful scenery. Running in the city can become quite boring after a while, and can even be unsafe if there is a lot of traffic. But if you choose to run in remote areas you’re guaranteed to enjoy amazing views and your runs will be more relaxing for sure.
Pacing
Since it requires more energy and effort, trail runners are usually slower than average road runners. Off-road running involves overcoming many obstacles and sometimes even running uphill, so it’s only normal that the running pace is slower.
