tips

In most parts of South Africa, winter is the most beautiful time to hit the trails. Waterfalls, storm chasing, abundant plant life and good old puddle jumping are usually all the motivation we need to head to our favourite trail heads. But for those who are new to the idea of training through the cold months, here's some advice and inspiration to nail the season ahead.

Shorter, Faster

Our summer trails are alive with epic displays of flora, and teeming with bird and insect life. With sunrise around 5am in peak season, we have more hours to spend racking up the miles in our trail shoes, and can even squeeze in a decent session before the confines of an office.

So what should we all consider before lacing up in the heat of summer?

Hydration

The hardest part about running in winter is getting out the front door. Once you’ve conquered that hurdle, the rest is easy(ish). Here are our top 5 tips on how to turn the chilly months in to your favourite running months.

1.The Buddy System

Motivation is everything, as is accountability. Arrange to meet a group or a like-minded friend and you’ll be less likely to flick snooze and hide below the duvet. Tell yourself that you just need to be out there for 5 minutes, you can always turn back. Most times, we keep going.

There are very few trail runners who don’t geek out a bit over gear. It is a fiercely competitive arena, with manufacturers taking giant leaps in terms of technology and design over the past few years. Fabrics, finishes, waterproofing, breathability, weight, ergonomics… you name it, they are improving it. And let’s face it, for all that we love to run light and free, gear will make or break our mountain time.

Heading out into the mountains for a day of technical trails is a recipe for never ending enjoyment but if you hit a downhill unprepared a small slip can lead to a twisted ankle or worse. Lisa Jhung has 4 helpful pieces of advice to help you get comfortable on the downhills.

Most people have tried to ‘choose your line’ (take the path of least resistance). Others have tried looking where they want to run rather than where they don’t. Others still have tried the masterful wide arm swing for extra balance. This is what Lisa Jhung recommends.

Everyone starts as a beginner says David Roche. If you stick with it though, the rewards are great. “If you stick with it, what is hard becomes second nature and what is impossible becomes merely difficult” says Roche. Invest your time and training and the result will be life-affirming trail runs. Here’s how to become a true trail runner.

1. Focus on Form

David Roche from Trail Runner Magazine knows how difficult to pound away on the treadmill and has found a way to combat this. Try out these training techniques to break up the monotony of treadmill running. These are only 6 of his 9 recommended techniques, to read the full article click here.

Aerobic Workouts:

Tips for keeping perspective and enjoying a happy, healthy relationship with training, David Roche tells us more.

Many of us are crazy. And that is O.K.

Doug Hay takes a look at how to improve your downhill running style, and thus your speed, in “The Trail Runner’s Guide to Fast Downhill Running”

The Lost Art of Downhill Running

Ever heard of that saying, ‘all the gear and no idea”? It’s usually aimed at trail runners who arrive at the start line with every single piece of gear known to mankind. You know the ones; compression socks, arm warmers, multi-layered tops, elite tights, a cap with a Buff securing it in place, the trendiest hydration pack, GPS watches, slow-release magnesium patches. You name it, they’re sporting it. Generally speaking, they’re overtaken by the majority of the field in the first few kays (who are wearing far less gear I might add).