Tips for starting trail running

With the days getting longer and the evenings warmer getting out to do some exercise is a great activity to start. Mr JibberJabber is a big fan of running and regularly goes out to get the miles in. If pounding the pavements doesn't appeal to you get out on your local trails to enjoy some varied terrain. Here are Mr JibberJabber's top tips to get going.

Start out with short distances – Don't think you are going to be running marathons within weeks of starting out. Even if you start out by going for 10 minutes and then upping it to 15 minutes you're still doing more than the person sitting on the sofa.

Get up to 5K – The first distance most people want to get to is 5 kilometres. One way to achieve this is taking part in the weekly Saturday morning parkrun events. They are free to take part in, you don't have to book a place or do it every week. Don't worry about running the whole way round as walking parts of it is done by many participants. Of course the best part is that they all take place around 336 different parks and fields of the UK.

Don't run alone – If you've caught the running bug get the encouragement and experience of others through joining a running club. They quite often have weekly events designed for runners at different stages and abilities.

Pick the right shoes – At first your usual running shoes will be fine but after a while invest in some proper trail running shoes. With their large studs to give better traction, toe bumpers and hard wearing fabric they are designed to deal with the harshest conditions.

Enjoy the scenery – Trail running is better than being stuck indoors on the treadmill and easier on the body than road running. Take in the view around you but watch out for uneven ground and overhanging branches.

Find new routes – Running the same route again and again will leave you bored and unmotivated. Research new trails with different terrains to give you something different to look forward to.

Respect other trail users – Many trails are multi-user paths. Listen and watch out for cyclists, walkers, dogs and horses.

Rest – If you're feeling rubbish, too tired or simply full of cold let your body recover. In the long term you'll be doing yourself a favour. Even Olympic athletes have to rest so this is perfectly acceptable! If you want to get out go for a walk instead.

Are you a trail runner? What is your favourite route?

This is a collaborative post. All the words, opinions and photographs are courtesy of the JibberJabberUK team.