Will trail running make me faster?

[juliahenry]

I'm running a lot on unpaved, rough trails. The kind where you have to scramble over rocks and jump across streams and climb up or down hills by grabbing trees beside the "trail." 

I love it, but I'm super-slow and I don't see myself getting much faster - the ground is so uneven that I sometimes have to stop to pick out the route ahead. Today, my trail speed ranged between 14:30 and 19:45 minutes per mile.

I'm never a fast runner, but I'm a lot faster on the road. There, I typically average 11-12 minute miles.

i want to get faster. I'm running a half in October and I would love to finish in under 2:30. I'm starting to think about training. Will the trails runs help me to improve in any way, or do I need to ditch them in favor of speed work etc on roads? 

Right now, I run 5-6 times a week,probably 4 of those runs are on my local trail routes. I'm planning to use the two road runs for my speed work and my long run each week between now and my half, is there any reason why I should not do this? Is there any reason why the trail runs won't help me to get stronger as I train?

[Deleted]

I would think so. Hills act as interval training which can make you faster so since you are tackling those, that will help. Also, you are using different body parts in different ways on trails which makes you stronger and more efficient which would translate into better endurance on flat courses.

At least, that's my take on it. ;-)

[Deleted]

Are you doing an interval workout? That's what helps me work on speed. Is your half on trails?

[ebeth]

I'd save the trails for easy/recovery runs honestly.

[clseale]

May 2, 2013 12:04:48 GMT -5 ebeth said:

I'd save the trails for easy/recovery runs honestly.

Ditto. I don't think trails are doing your speed any favors here, especially if your half is a road race. 

[Deleted]

According to this article, trail running can make you faster. beta.active.com/running/Articles/5-Reasons-to-Try-Trail-Running

[keweenawlove]

May 2, 2013 13:14:04 GMT -5 clseale said:

May 2, 2013 12:04:48 GMT -5 ebeth said:

I'd save the trails for easy/recovery runs honestly.

Ditto. I don't think trails are doing your speed any favors here, especially if your half is a road race. 

I agree with this too, unless your planning a trail race.

The article aswartzw posted does point out the benefits of trail running. It's a softer surface so it's easier on your body. It's a good mental break from the roads. I used to do probably 80% of my training on trails and I miss it. Even then, we did speedwork on either a smooth, relatively flat trail or the track.

[foundmylazybum]

I think trail running makes you stronger physically and mentally, and you can push yourself on trail runs to get faster there. If you know you are running 12 min miles on a certain trail then try to get to 11:30.

:::Shrug::


Do the majority of your speed work either on the flat or on areas that closely mimic the course you are running..

Strength helps speed.

[aurora]

For me, trail running is what makes me happy to be a runner. I love being out there in the woods. But, it definitely doesn't help make me faster! (Intervals are needed for that.)