Trail Running: A Tour

-Photos by Jonathan Meyer

Exercise should be a part of our daily lives and it has been for many people since the beginning of the New Year. But will it stay that way?

In the Daily Evergreen recently I saw an article concerning the high increase in the amount of people going to the Recreation Center to run, swim, bike or workout. This is good news and seems to have come at the right time. In my earlier post I addreseed the fact students often do not get enough exercise due to their busy schedules. This seems to all be on the mend according to the Evergreen's report, or is it? Deeper into the article there was an interview with someone working at the Rec. Center who said essentially that every year they see the same increase, presumably because of new years resolutions, and then it all goes back to normal in early February. They see the same peak and fall around Spring Break as well.

So what happens that makes all of these people change? It's quite simple; they get bored! Everything starts out fine, people go to the Rec. Center every day, they start to lose weight and they feel great. But after a while they find a reason not to go one day, then two days. Pretty soon that one day turns into the rest of the semester and they're wearing sweaters in the summer to cover that unsigthtly bulge. It's not that these people lack motivation, but rather that they got tired of doing the same exact thing every day, staring at the same spot on the wall. Exercising on an indoor track or on a machine has its advantages, but eventually you get tired of the repitition.

That's why for today I've posted a great alternative for anyone who's eager to get outside and get some variety into their program, so it doesn't crash and burn like last year's resolution. Here in Pullman there is a paved seven-mile trail designed specifically for walking, running, biking, or any other non-motorized activity. The Bill Chipman Palouse Trail has no repitition, is very flat and provides an awesome training ground for students as it's located very near campus.

Follow the slide show to determine if trail running is for you. If you don't have access to this trail or something like it at home, I suggest you find a dead-end road or sidewalk you can use somewhere. Variety is one of the keys to keeping an athlete fresh and interested, so training outside is very useful even if it's just a little too cold to start doing yet. Keep trails in mind when the weather improves this spring.