When I started running (for the fun of running) 22+ years ago I worried about my knees. After a several years of fun on the gridiron and the basketball hardwood my knees were a little worse for the wear.
When I started running I was in constant quest for the best shoes for a big guy running on his toes after 7 knee surgeries. I had better than average success with that but found running on roads and sidewalks to be abusive. I would have loved to run of clean groomed grassy trails but could not imagine running on the trails I hiked.
The varied and technical surfaces filled me with fear that all the twists and strains would tear up my already weakened knees. I WAS WRONG. Hanging out with Gill and Frannie and other trail runners I learned that careful buildup on the trails actually strengthened my abused joints. The greatest buzzword in the popular fitness media is Core Training and running on a wide variety of trails has increased core strength and flexibility in my knees (and my ankle with screw/staples).
I am going to spend as much time on trails and enjoy the Real World – smell the woods, hear the animals and if I continue to be lucky- Commune with beautiful furry, feathered or scaled creatures.
I will participate in the Bad to the Bone trail races and other events put on by Charlottesville Running Company www.badtothebone.biz and www.charlottesvillerunningcompany.com
