From Zero to Your First Trail Race
Trail and road are not the same sport
Trail and road are not the same sport: pace breaks down, fuelling is on you, and gear gets checked. This guide lays out the traps first-timers fall into, one by one — read it, then pick your race.
First Steps
Understand how trail differs from road running before you pick a race.
How to Choose Your First Trail Race Trail races are measured in climbing, not kilometers The same 20 km with 500 m of climbing and with 2,000 m are two completely different races. This guide covers how to pick your first distance, how entry requirements work, and four terms you must understand before you register. About 6 min read · Beginner · choosing a race first trail race Trail vs Road Running: More Than Just Hills Pace breaks down in the mountains: heart rate stays constant while speed keeps changing Pace as a concept fails on mountain terrain — your heart rate stays nearly constant while your speed swings wildly. Understand these three differences and your training will point the right way. About 4 min read · Beginner · fundamentals trainingRace Prep
Mandatory gear, cutoff times, and what to do in the week before the race.
Preparing Mandatory Gear So You Pass the Check First Time One item missing, no start Mandatory gear is not a suggestion list — miss one item and you do not start. Why the list is different for every race, which items most often fail inspection, and when checks actually happen. About 5 min read · Beginner · mandatory gear gear check Cutoff Times Are Math, Not Difficulty Cutoffs are clock times, not "hours given to you" "13-hour cutoff" is actually the rare form; more often it is "this aid station closes at this time". How to estimate your finish time, compute your buffer, and the three classic ways runners miss a cutoff. About 3 min read · Beginner · cutoff times race strategyGear Guide
How to read the specs, where the money should go, and what is hype.
What "10,000 mm Waterproof" Actually Means Waterproof fabric does not equal a waterproof jacket That number is a hydrostatic head, in millimeters. But waterproof fabric alone is far from enough — seams are where water gets in. Water-column ratings, seam taping and breathability, explained in one pass. About 6 min read · Advanced · waterproof jacket waterproofing specs How to Choose Trail Shoes: Outsole, Drop, Fit First the terrain, then your feet, then the budget Road shoes on a mountain are not "making do" — they are dangerous. In that order — terrain, feet, budget — this guide covers lug depth, rubber, drop, sizing and two counter-intuitive traps. About 5 min read · Beginner · trail shoes buying guide