How to Get Started

Trail running is a great way to enjoy nature, get exercise and explore beyond the roads. While there is an abundance of specialized trail running gear & footwear, you can use standard running equipment to get started. Click the button below to read our "8 Trail Running Tips: How to get started" article!

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Accident Insurance

The American Trail Running Association has partnered with Adventure Advocates to provide low cost accident medical insurance for trail runners:

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Diversity & Inclusion Links

• OUTrun
• Black Trail Runners (UK)
• Diversity Outdoors
• Greening Youth Foundation
• Outdoor Afro
• Lost N Portland
• Black Girls Run
• OUT There Adventures
• Latino Outdoors
• Natives Outdoors

Running Organizations

• Runners for Public Lands – Advocating for runner interests and mobilizing running communities to both protect and restore local lands and rivers, the places we love to run.
• Trail Sisters – A community of women inspiring others to lead healthy lifestyles while adventuring outdoors and protecting Earth’s playgrounds.
• Trail Running Association (United Kingdom) – The Trail Running Association (TRA) is an associate member of UK Athletics (UKA) and arranges the UK Trail Running Championships.
• World Mountain Running Association – Recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the WMRA is the official international governing body of mountain running.
• Collegiate Running Association – Mountain & Trail Championship's for college students
• International Trail Running Association – Founded in July 2013, ITRA evaluates & certifies trail races, ranks international elite trail runners and promotes trail running worldwide.
• Road Runners Club of America – Dedicated to the promotion and grass roots support of long distance running
• Skyrunning.com (International Skyrunning Federation)
• American Ultrarunning Association – US ultrarunning stats and records
• Fifty States HALF Marathon Club – A National running club catered toward half marathon runners, also known for their 50 States Challenge and 100 Half Anywhere Challenge
• Half2Run – Run a Half Marathon in half the states

USA Track & Field's Mountain, Ultra & Trail Links

• USATF MUT Council
(The Mountain, Ultra and Trail (MUT) Sport Council's main charge is to give the runners it represents a voice within USATF, our sport's national governing body.)
• US Mountain Running Team
(Competing each September at the WMRA World Mountain Running Championships)
• USA Ultrarunning
(Website for US teams competing in the IAU 100k & 24 Hour World Championships)
• USA 24 Hour Running Team
(Facebook Page)
• USATF New England MUT
(Home of the New England Mountain Running Circuit)
• USATF-Pacific Ultra Running
(Ultra Running Grand Prix Series in Northern California & Northern Nevada)
• USATF Southern California
(Home of the So Cal Ultra Runners Grand Prix Series)
• USATF Pacific Northwest
(MUT programs in Washington State)
• USATF Niagara
(Ultra trail series in Upstate New York)
• USATF Minnesota
(Association trail & ultra championship races)
• USATF Long Island
(Home of the USA 50K Championships)

View full article archive »

Magazine links

• Trail Runner Magazine
• Ultrarunning Magazine
• Runner's World
• Competitor Magazine
• Youth Runner
• Snowshoe Magazine

Ultrarunning

• iRunFar.com (Mud, mountains, miles & more)
• Ultra-Trail World Tour
• Ultra Runner Podcast (Ultramarathon News, Interviews & Reviews)
• Ultra168.com (The ultra & trail running community)
• Talk Ultra (Hosted by Ian Corless)
• Journey Film (YouTube)
• Trail & Ultra Running (Gear reviews, race reports & more)
• Trail Running Review (Gear reviews from Spain)
• Ultramarathonrunning.com
(Ultramarathon running races, training & information for ultra running enthusiasts!)
• Australian Ultra Runners Association
• Trail Runner Nation
• Skyrunner.com – (Matt Carpenter's blog)
• New York Ultra Running
• Multidays.com
(News & events from the world of ultra running)

Trail Running Blogs

• Adventures in Thumbholes
• Appalachian Mountain Club
• Joe Gray (Hoka One One)
• Alex Varner (Nike Trail Elite)
• Scott Dunlap (Inov-8)
• Jennilyn Eaton (La Sportiva)
• Central Mass Striders
• DES BOSSES ET DES BULLES (French)
• Dax Ross - Dirty Running
• Dave Dunham (Mountain Running Legend)
• Jim Johnson (Double J Running)
• Trail Running in the French Alps
• Justin Houck
• Ellie Greenwood (Salomon)
• Ultra Cassie
• Jim Pawlicki (Good Clean Run)
• Jill Homer (Jill Outside)
• Ian Torrence
• Michael Owen (Owen Running)
• Maria Dalzot (La Sportiva)
• Mario Mendoza (Sketchers)
• Patrick Rich
• Alicia Eno
• Run Norman
• John Burton
• Sage Canaday (Hoka One One)
• Scott Jurek (Eat & Run)
• Ian Sharman (Sharman Ultra)
• Sam Robinson (The Gaunt Life)
• Pam Smith (The Turtle Path)
• Buzz Burrell (Ultimate Direction)
• Trail Porn
• Ultra Pedestrian Ras
• Ultra Runner Girl
• Where East Turns West
• Candice Burt
• Kevin Tilton
• David Roche (Hoka One One)
• Boulder Running Company (Adidas)
• Craig Thornley (Conduct The Juices)
• Paul Stofko (Crazy Legs Adventures)
• Devon Yanko (Fast Foodie)
• Michele Yates (Rugged Running)
• Everywhere Without Delay (England)
• Josh Arthur (Altra / VFuel)
• Josh Spector
• Larisa Dannis (Hoka One One)
• Jason Bryant (La Sportiva)
• Eric MacKnight (Mac The Knight)
• Dominic Grossman (New Balance)
• Scott Jaime (Team Fast Eddy)
• Tim Olson (adidas Terrex)
• New England Mountain Running Circuit