Running is good for cardiovascular fitness. It’s meant to be great for improving bone density, muscle strength and all round toning. Running is accessible for pretty much all types of people and all ages. So, why, you wonder, aren’t we all out there pounding out the miles?

Well, some people reckon that running ruins your joints and causes unnecessary wear and tear on your body. Others say it’s woefully boring. And there are also people who just plain can’t be bothered.

So that’s why we’re blogging about the benefits of off-road and trail running. While street running is hard on a runner’s body, going off road offers a great deal more comfort and joy. Trail running usually means tracks, paths and grass and all of these are kinder to joints and muscles.

Off road running is less uniform, which means that your body is continually adjusting, balancing and re-adjusting itself, so you avoid a lot of the hassles and problems of more uniform pounding of streets. Added to this, the off-balance-ness of trail running aids a runner’s muscle tone and strength, especially around the core muscle and back area.

Trail running is much less boring

Getting out on trails usually means you’ll be running in more rural and scenic places. It might be an off-road trail along a city river or a town canal. Or it could be a fabulous route through high-level scenery. But being away form the roads and streets usually means there is much more to see while you run.

If you’re lucky the landscape will keep you mind busy while you run. And the chance to spot wildlife as you run has to be a major bonus. Just recently one of our bloggers glimpsed red squirrels, an otter and a buzzard during an off-road run of only four miles in Perthshire, Scotland.

Running off-road doesn’t have to mean hills. As we said, canals make great places for of-the-beaten-track routes. But if you do get the chance to run in hills or mountains then we recommend you give it a try. You could walk/run uphills and then run/fly downhills! The effort of running up and down hills will boost your stamina and strength much more quickly than running on the streets.

The different terrains also stop you from getting too bored and with many, many miles of off-road routes available you could easily run a different trail each time you go out. Yes, we know you can do this on the streets, but how many of us run pretty much the same on-road route every single time?!

What to wear for trail running

On shorter runs you’ll wear much the same running clothing as running on pavements. The big difference is the trail running shoes. Shoes need to be able to cope with rougher terrains so you’ll find off-road trainers to suit a range of terrains, from easy going trails, such as canal towpaths, to muddy and rocky mountains.

 Look, too, for waterproof materials if you plan to do a lot of muddy off-road running although some off-road runners reckon it's better to wear trainers that allow the water in, and out again so waterproof is not always vital.

There are also barefoot running trainers, which are ideal for off-road trails. If you new to barefoot trainers it’s a good idea to try them on softer off-road trails because this will be kinder to your feet, legs and muscles.

Extra running clothing for going off-road

If you start to extend your off-road running then you will require more running clothing and a running rucksack. It’s important to be aware of the dangers of running in more remote locations, in terms of changeable weather conditions. Always take a waterproof jacket and an extra layer with you if you’re running further than about eight miles. It’s a good idea to pop in a mobile phone, a map and compass or a GPS gadget too, in case you end up getting lost.

Why not run off-road with a pal?

Our recommendation is to take up trail running with a friend. This way you’ll keep up the running and you can also pass the time getting fit and chatting. Off-road running always seems so much more sociable than street running.

And once you’ve caught the bug? You’ll want to join a hill running club and enter a few off-road running challenges. The last few years have seen an explosion of off-road running events.

Go on, give trail running a go this summer and tell us how you go.