Ultimate Guide to Trail Running, by Adam W. Chase and Nancy Hobbs. Falcon, 2023. Reviewed by trail runner Laura Clark. Laura is an avid mountain, trail, and snowshoe runner who lives in Saratoga Springs, NY, where she is a children’s librarian. You can read more about Laura on page 15 of this book.
Now in its 3rd edition, the Ultimate Guide to Trail Running reads like an entirely new book, with enhanced information, increased awareness of environmental and sustainability issues, attention to diversity considerations for both two-legged and four-legged participants, and advice for race directors. For Adam Chase, author, international competitor and president of American Trail Running Association (ATRA), “The essence of trail running is the ability to deal with constant change.” Not only are no two steps the same but the same trail on different days may require a different sequence of steps. For Nancy Hobbs, author, ATRA founder, and mountain running advocate, every run on a trail is an adventure unto itself, one where you can open yourself to the possibilities of your surroundings.
There is a folksy, approachable appeal to this book, replete with quotes from everyday runners woven into the chapters, with athletes from all geographic areas of the country represented. You might even recognize some friends –I was thrilled to hear from two of mine! Other features include brief essay asides highlighting personal advice and reflections. One that was particularly meaningful to me was how many of us seem to search out “pain.” One endurance athlete commented, “If pain feels good, if pain = pleasure, then is it really pain?” Another commented, “It’s not the pain that’s enjoyable, it’s the feeling of accomplishment…” For my part, it always amazes me that when I am struggling mightily, just a few minutes after finishing, I miraculously feel so much better.
Many of us come to trail running from a roadie background. We are used to larger crowds, wide roads, and plenty of teammates to turn to for advice. But even though COVID has increased the popularity of a back-to-nature experience, trail runners are still a solo minority in need of the specifically-tailored gear advice that Case and Hobbs offer. As roadies, we think we know all about how to dress, but do we really? What about gaiters to keep out rocks and mud, poles to help with steep climbs, as well as hydration systems, and snacks where there are no gas stations to be found? And how do you navigate when there are no street signs waving hello and spotty GPS signals? One of my initial eye-openers was the concept that I can and should eat during a long run, and that chips and cookies can occasionally be more powerful than gels!
As a race director, I am now attracted to casual, family-style trail and snowshoe events, and personally have no desire to solicit major sponsors. Still, I try to institute smaller sustainability practices, like insisting runners carry their own water. With the array of LGBTQ+ categories, I know I cannot include all of them in a smaller event, so I have drifted toward raffles for random awards. Still, I puzzle—is an “other” category equitable or just insulting? For those directing larger events, the authors provide an invaluable checklist of items to consider.
Nancy Hobbs and Adam Chase
Tag-teamed together, Hobbs and Chase exhibit a depth of knowledge and an irrepressible enthusiasm that make you want to bookmark the page you are reading and head outdoors for a run – right Now! But it is in their casual openness that the true value of their words are experienced, making beginner and skilled runner alike re-assess their capabilities and adjust their goals.
The Ultimate Guide to Trail Running is available on Amazon.
