Trail Running

paulocon

Hi,

Looking to get into trail running non-competively. Recently got back into running and as an avid hill-walker, I would like to try and combine both.

Looking for any advice/good links on trail running from anyone that might have some experience of it.

Also, any suggestions on where to get trail runners or what kind to go for.

Thanks in advance,
Paul

earlyevening

http://www.imra.ie is the website for the Irish mountain running association. Pretty much everything you need to know is on there.
I'm in a rush at the mo so cant post too much but there are loads of IMRA people on here who will heartily recommend hill/mountain/trail runnning with IMRA.

donothoponpop

+1 to www.imra.ie .Lots of trail runners on these boards. The race season is over now, and starting up again in January. These Inov8 Roclite are very popular for beginners, and will stand the test of time, under multiple terrain. I bought mine in Amphibian King in Bray. Best of luck!

pkumohideeile

I would suggest buying a Harveys map (http://www.harveymaps.co.uk/) from the Great Outdoors. Find yourself a carpark and just run from there. Just go out and find the ones you like for yourself. I could recommend some for you if you want. But you could even go to imra.ie and see the results page of past races - they post the route up on that page and you could mark it down on your map and go out and find it yourself.

Without being specific, 3rock / Hellfire club / Pine forest / Cruagh wood, are all places that you should start your trail running on. They're easy to get to.

I run trails in Asics, but i have to be very careful when i go over wet or slippy parts of the trail. Inov8s are what you should wear. I've had problems with the heel before wearing out way too fast.

paulocon

Thanks all for the help.

Those Roclites look the business!

As pkumohideeile says, probably best just to give it a go and see how I get on. I've done quite a good bit of hillwalking so am ok on map reading etc although I'm nearer Cooley/Mourne than the Dublin hills so will have a look for somewhere up there to get started.

Thanks again for the help,
Paul

groovyg

If you are up near the cooleys and the mournes you should look up http://www.nimra.org.uk/ there are tonnes of trails up near the kilbroney forest park, you could run out along the mourne way trail as well.
These guys are organising some races up in Rostrevor http://26extreme.com/winter-race-series/ some at night and some on a saturday which you could try out.

Enduro

The are plenty of great runs available in the Cooleys. Pretty much the entire place is runnable and there are trails all over the place. You'll find the black mountain race route on the IMRA site to get you started.

paulocon

Thanks for all the advice. I'm going to get myself a pair of Inov8 Roclites.

When I get them, I'll try taking a run up Barnavave which is across the shoulder from Slieve Foye in the Cooleys and hopefully will be something of a gentler introduction!