Have a Safe Trail Run with These Tips From Steven Rindner

To say that trail running is one of Steven Rindner’s favorite activities is an understatement. If you’re new to the sport, you’re in for one huge adventure.

However, don’t let your excitement get ahead of you. Trail running, just like all other sports and all other activities in the great outdoors, requires preparation and knowledge.

Here are some trail running tips compiled by Steven Rindner from veteran trail runners. These tips will help you make your first experience a pleasant and, more importantly, safe one.

First off, read up on the trail you’ll be running. Avid runners like Steven Rindner always do their research on the trails. It would be best if you did this, too, especially the ones near your location.

Also, you may want to start with easier trails before heading into more technical ones. Technical trails often have more rocks and roots. You might also possibly need to engage in some climbing that involves utilizing your hands as well.

Still, on the subject of doing research, check the weather. The weather always tells Steven Rindner if he’ll go on a trail run or not.

The weather report also helps you dress accordingly. You need to wear layers for cooler days and a rain jacket for days with rain showers. Wear shoes that provide good traction for slippery and uneven surfaces.



Next up, if you can, invite a friend or two. Try to run with someone. Outdoor enthusiasts like Steven Rindner always feel safer when they are running within a group of people or with at least a companion on the trails.

Some people even buy a set of portable two-way radios just in case one of the people in the group gets too far ahead and they don’t have mobile phone service. Other people also bring a set of whistles that are attached to their hydration packs.

However, if you can’t find a companion for the run, leave word with your loved ones.

If you are running alone on the trails, be sure you check in with someone before heading out to the trails. You can send a chat message or a text to a loved one or a trusted friend. You can even leave a note at your house or apartment.

Trail runners like Steven Rindner also always have to stay on established and marked trails. In countless areas all over the world, established trails were made by older generations of settlers in the area.

These trails were then extended and expanded to other territories and lands. The areas also became bigger when trail makers transferred from one place to another to help hikers and runners stay safe from the elements, wildlife, or even other people.

Today, a lot of trails for trail running are what is called “single-track.” Those that became deeper and wider did so because of flash floods and raging waters that come down from the peak of mountains.

Seasoned runners like Steven Rindner make it a point to run on marked and established trails — mainly for safety reasons. Unexplored areas, while they may seem tempting to traverse, have a lot of potential dangers, which come in the form of wildlife and unpredictable weather.

It is indeed safer to run on trails that are often and usually used by locals, tourists, and seasoned trail runners. If one wants to explore further on, one must have appropriate land navigation equipment or map reading skills.

Lastly, don’t leave anything you brought in from outside the trail behind. It means all the things you have with you, from food to your trash. This rule not only means you have to dispose of your waste properly; it also means you should plan and prepare before hitting the trails.

You also have to leave whatever you see or find along the route and respect the wildlife, whether they are plants or animals. Never attempt to take home a plant or an animal. Always be considerate of other visitors or co-users of the trail.

Outdoor enthusiasts like Steven Rindner believe that nobody should alter or disturb what is thought of as the “cycle of nature” since you are only a guest or visitor of the area as a trail runner.

Steven Rindner is a passionate runner whose love for running knows no bounds. He fully immerses himself in the world of long-distance running and joins various competitions and adventures. Learn more about the sport of running by subscribing to this blog.