What I Learned From 30 Years of Trail Running?
After decades of moving through forests, hills, and winding paths, I’ve learned that trail running isn’t just a sport—it’s a way of life
These are my biggest takeaways
from 30 years on the trail.
Inner-calm
Whenever I step into a forest or nature reserve, it feels like an enormous weight is being lifted from my shoulders. I always take a moment to savour that feeling, and to thoroughly enjoy nature in that moment, marvelling at its calming grace.
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This is where the noise fades.
There's something deeply primordial about stepping onto an epic trail, knowing that through the millennia, countless people have taken the same steps, history has been made, civilisations thrived and lost, and relief from everyday stress granted.
Similar to the feeling of driving a car or riding a bike, when the vehicle, the road and the action of driving or riding becomes one, so that it's just the journey and in that moment you cannot distinguish its individual components but rather just experience the "ride".
With trail running this flow state of feeling is greatly magnified, as you feel the trail, you're connected through your feet, you become an extension of the trail, part of the experience of nature that surrounds you.
You become part of nature, and the concrete and glass world is left far behind. I believe that we're not meant to be surrounded by concrete and glass, but rather by trees and grass, rocks and meadows.
This is the feeling of inner-calm that trail runners often talk about, it's an inner-calm that comes from surrendering or giving yourself up to the nature that surrounds you.
Holism
In popular Chinese philosophy, there's a belief that we're something that grows out of the world, much the same as trees and rocks, and that we're not here to tame and conquer nature, but rather to live in harmony with nature. To balance and take our place amongst the trees and rocks.
If you think about the sense of inner-calm we explored, then this philosophy starts to have credence, it may be closer to the truth than we know. Perhaps the real nirvana or enlightenment, comes not from hours of meditation, but from simply living in harmony with nature.
When we consider this, in the context of our own lives, our bodies and minds, our wellbeing and our health, then we come to appreciate holism as a way to live in balance with our lives.
Like the trails we run on and the nature we run through and experience, our bodies and minds need to achieve a balance, without it we cannot live balanced and meaningful lives.
Nature doesn’t push. It just is.
We struggle with addictions and distractions that create imbalances in our lives, causing stresses and tensions that burden us to the point of breaking. Vicious circles or loops we get stuck in for years, that pull us away from our true nature.
To continue in motion or to progress at all, we must seek balance, balance with our bodies and minds and balance with our environments and ecosystems that sustain us.
This is all part of the holism I speak about, and when we combine our sense of inner-calm, balance, and holism, in body, mind and nature, then I believe we are living our best life.
Longevity
I spoke about the primordial experience and connection we can experience when stepping onto an epic trail, with this comes an obligation to treat the trail respectfully, not so much out of reverence for its past, but for the sake of its future sustainability.
We want all our future generations to enjoy trails in pristine condition and in perfect balance with nature. So too, we want our bodies and minds to sustain us, to last long so that we can live full and healthy lives.
While I say 30 years of trail running, the truth is it’s been an off-and-on journey—sometimes on foot, sometimes on two wheels. But the trail has always been there, calling me back, even when there've been gaps and distractions along the way.
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Still standing, still running.
People often ask me about the long-term effect running, and in particular trail running, has on your body. I'm no physician and I am in no way qualified to answer this question, but I can share some personal insights, based on what I’ve seen and felt in my own body over the years.
After 30 years of trail running, I can say that my body feels amazing, I feel much stronger and able than I have ever felt in my life, and I'm very much looking forward to the next 30 years of trail running. I honestly cannot find any adverse effects of trail running, only positive effects, which I've outlined herein.
Running on regularly uneven surfaces has been surprisingly satisfying—and strengthening—for my knees, ankles, and feet. Rocky trails can feel harsh underfoot at first, but thanks to the way our muscles and joints work, the impact gets absorbed in multiple directions.
The hardness sort of spreads out. On the flip side, when I hit stretches of pavement (door-to-trail transitions or the occasional asphalt section), I feel the difference immediately. Over time, that single-direction stress adds up. Honestly? Give me a hard, rocky trail any day.
It's true what people say about strength, full body and resistance exercises, and for longevity in running and generally for life, I have developed and honed my own strength program that works for me. I'm constantly tuning into my body and listening out for what it needs, adjusting my strength exercises accordingly to keep a strong and healthy balance.
So longevity comes down to finding balance, ensuring that what we do is sustainable and respectful of the systems that support us. Regardless of whether those systems are within our bodies, or are indeed the ecosystems of nature we so love to enjoy.
Finding the balance, listening to the needs and nurturing all systems is the key. Giving back to ourselves and to nature, and not taking, pushing or receiving.
Inner-calm, holism, and longevity. These are the lessons the trail taught me—step by step, year by year. Now it’s your turn. Lace up, find your flow, and let the trail do its work. What's next? Trail running 101: Find your Wild!
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