Five tips for muddy trails, as the snow melts and the trails thaw out, here are some ways to make muddy running fun

As the snow melts and the trails thaw out, sunshine, cool temps, birds twittering in the trees–what could be better than spring trail running?

Spring brings muddy, wet trails, with puddles and water flowing on the downhills. It can slow you down, affect your footing, comfort and (obviously) cleanliness. Mud’s a part of trail running, though, and with a few tips, you can make it fun.

1.- Choose the right shoes

For muddy runs, use your shoes with the deepest lugs on the outsole. Lace up tight, in case you end up fighting the suction power of deep mud. (And by the way, don’t wear white socks.)

2.- Shorten your stride

Take short, quick steps to prevent slipping. Pay attention to your shoulders, don’t slump or arch your back, and relax your body. All of this will help you be more aware of your surroundings. It will also be easier to recover your balance if you do slip, in which case you should slide with it until you slow down before correcting your direction of travel.

3.- Read the ground ahead

Trails on south-facing hills or in the sun dry out more quickly. The same goes for higher, more exposed trails, or rocky ground. Your favourite midsummer trail may be a mud pit. Once out on the trail, keep your eye on the terrain ahead and anticipate how it will affect your footing.

4.- Embrace the mud

Well, not literally, but don’t avoid every puddle or a muddy section, which widens trails–a significant problem in trail maintenance everywhere. You won’t be setting any PBs, so just slow down and enjoy the kid-like fun of splashing in puddles.

5.- Après-mud basics

You will be quite, well, muddy, so bring a towel to wipe off before you get in the car, fresh socks and a place where you can put your muddy shoes. Dirty shoes wear out faster than clean ones, so hose down your shoes when you get home, or clean them in a bucket before you use them again.

posted Wednesday April 27th
by David Smart