It has been said time and time again that trail running is good for your joints. The softer surfaces found on trails including dirt, gravel, and wood chips, soften the blow dealt to commonly injured running joints like the ankles, knees, and hips. Avid trail runners will also tell you that the uneven surfaces found in trail running can strengthen the stabilizer muscles required for more injury-free running. Trail running has a large following in San Diego with hundreds of miles of trails throughout the county. Currently, there are two well-known trail race series that take place in various locations throughout the year to test your trail running prowess.
The Dirt Devil Racing series hosted by the San Diego Running Institute, a running retailer located in Mission Valley, consists of four races ranging in distance from a 5K (3.1 miles) to a half marathon (13.1 miles). The events run from January through October and runners who complete all four will earn the "Grand Slam" Dirt Devil medal.
If you are looking for more than four races, the San Diego Track Club's Dirt Dog series starts in late August with the Wild Duck 5K in Guajome Park and finishes on November 6 with the USATF San Diego Cross Country 4 Mile Championship. The longest of the eight total races in this series is the San Diego City College 10K (6.2 miles) held at Rohr Park in Bonita.
With so many great events so close to home, trail running can be a great way to take your running to the next level. Try mixing up your regular runs with going off road every now and again. Your legs just might feel a little better and your eyes will definitely enjoy the new scenery.
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