Trailrunning: How to get into it

Faster, higher, further... who isn't fascinated by it?
It doesn't actually take much to get started, mainly motivation and suitable shoes.

When I fell in love with the mountains by chance in 2017, I never thought I would start running in the mountains. The further the tours got, the more tedious I found the descents, because so much time was wasted, so what could be more obvious than running?

I've always been an ambitious person and easily inspired by new challenges, so when I had been running regularly in the mountains for about a year, I spontaneously signed up for a mammoth 100km run in Munich and finished. I got talking to so many other participants who told me about all kinds of running events, especially ultra runs and trail running events.
Unfortunately, corona intervened and most of the events were postponed, my training was similarly chaotic. At the Chiemgau Trailrun, I at least somehow made it to the finish line after 21km.

Until the next summer, I looked for easy trails, often forest roads, where I just wanted to run as far as possible, no matter how slow I was. By now it was really fun, but I could never bring myself to do intervals and I never drew up a proper training plan. On the Glacier World Trail, the 37km route of the GGUT in Kaprun, I was fascinated by the landscape and the atmosphere among the runners was great.

For myself, I realized that longer distances at a slower pace suit me better and that I have more fun.

My favorite event is now the Karwendelmarsch, where you can start either as a runner or as a hiker. There are lots of refreshment stations, the landscape is beautiful, the trails are varied and even though I started alone, I didn't finish alone either time.

Last year, I started from scratch again when, after a paragliding accident in March, the doctors said that I would be lucky if I could even walk in the mountains again. After three months in a wheelchair, I was allowed to take my first steps, after six months I had climbed several 4,000m peaks and after seven months I started running again.

Now, 1.5 years later, I'm registered for another ultramarathon and I'm happy about every single run, even if the times were definitely better. What I have learned from this is that I need to listen to my body much more, not put too much pressure on myself and not let others impose limits on me.

I think that the most important thing in trail running is to find your own motivation and try out lots of things. My biggest passion is alpine tours, but that also has an absolutely positive effect on each other by making me more sure-footed and fitter. The only disadvantage is sometimes the stress of having several hobbies in my free time.

What I enjoy most about trail running is when you get into the “flow” and one foot automatically puts itself in front of the other, your mind can really switch off and time becomes a minor matter.

Don't get stressed and have fun!

Only certain gear is made to enhance your performance and as for the perfect trailrunning clothes we recommend ultra lightweight und breathable pieces such as the GYR Performance Colorblock T-Shirt, the CARACU Superlight Shorts and for sudden weather changes the JAVARI Goretex 3L Jacket.