Introducing Trail Running to Young Athletes

Abstract

Beginning at about the turn of the century, the running community has experienced a second running boom. In 2006, a book by Christopher McDougal titled Born to Run helped inspire a new generation of trail runners and has been quoted as one of the most influential pieces ever written about running. The new wave of inspired trail runners, men and women, were emboldened to tackle longer and longer challenges not solely in racing efforts, but more frequently either solo or with friends for no other reason than they now believed their bodies capable. Hulteen and colleagues (2017) reported an increase in running participation through school sports throughout adolescent populations elevating it to among the top three chosen extracurricular activities across various regions. Due to this increased participation, research has begun to focus on the safety of such extreme terrain and distance and what a young, growing body can handle.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Eleanor Pell

Eleanor Pell was an undergraduate student in the Department of Kinesiology at SUNY Brockport, Brockport, NY at the time of authorship. She is now a graduate student in the School of Health Sciences and Human Performances at Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY.

Pamela Beach

Pamela Beach ([email protected]) is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at SUNY Brockport, Brockport, NY.