BTC Trail Sessions - Gear and Clothing

Shoes:

While normal road-running shoes can be used we strongly recommend trail runners.  These will provide better grip on loose soil and rocks.  They also provide better protection and are more resistant to dirt and abrasion.  The shoes must fit well.  If they are too big, your athlete will get “toe bang” as their feet slide forward on downhills.  And if they are too small, their feet won’t be able to flex and conform to uneven surfaces. This is not a time to try a new style!  So, we recommend a brand which has fit them well in the past.

Here is an article about the differences between road and trail shoes: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/road-running-vs-trail-running-shoes.html

Clothing:

Trail running in the mountains typically requires warmer clothes than in the valley or lower areas.  The athletes should be prepared with flexible clothing options so they can adjust to the environment as needed.  It’s better to send them with extra layers they can take off, than not enough and have them be cold!  Since this program will start in the late spring, we could get any type of weather including rain and snow.  So, please ensure your athlete has a rain jacket and light knit cap in case we get a sudden rain or snow squall!

The clothing material is very important.  We strongly recommend synthetic clothing because it dries more quickly than cotton.  These materials are also smoother and less likely to chafe or cause blisters.  This is especially important for base layers like socks and t-shirts!

Hydration and Nutrition:

This is a topic we will discuss on several of our workouts.  While it’s probably not physiologically necessary to have water and nutrition for runs lasting less than an hour, it makes the run much more comfortable, especially if the temperature rises.  So, we are asking all the athletes to have a way to bring hydration with them while running.  It can be as simple as a plastic water bottle, but there are bottles specifically made for running.  While not necessary, a hydration vest is great because it allows them to carry other items like clothing and snacks.

Watch:

We need every athlete to have a watch.  It doesn’t have to be fancy, just some way to know when they’ve run the required duration or check the length of their intervals.  They can certainly use GPS watches if they have them.  While GPS watches can be very informative about pacing, cadence, distance, and effort, they are not needed.  We want the kids to have fun, not be wrapped up in their Strava stats!