Fact: Trail running is the new black. Just like mountain biking rode out of nowhere and knocked the wheels from under road cycling, trail running is enjoying the beginning of a golden age. It's the antidote to running on crowded, often hazardous roads, and a breath of fresh air for anyone who has been a runner for any length of time.
Trail magazine, published quarterly for 2012 and bi-monhtly in 2013 strives to both reflect this and innovate new trends within trail running.
The third issue builds on the second issue with longer, detailed articles on an eclectic mix of topics including:
• 14 practical and proven ways to improve uphill running, with tips from Jonathan Wyatt, Dion Middelkoop, Ryno Griesel and Scott Jurek
• Photo-essay of May's quad-busting Royal Raid over 80km in the rainforests of Mauritius
• Barefoot running: run lighter, smoother, float over danger, leave injury city forever
• Scorch in the desert with the Marathon des Sables brave hearts who tackled this year's gruelling edition
• A 27-model trail shop guide
Trail magazine's third issue is 100 pages thick and is loaded with training tips, news and product reviews. Expert guest writers include desert and stage running queen Mimi Anderson, lifestyle coach Chantel Nienaber and trail racer Leo Rust.
There will also be detailed shoe tests for Saucony Kinvara TR (women's shoe); Hi-Tec V-Lite Trail; and the Puma Faas 250 Trail and book reviews of
Running with the Kenyans by Adharanand Finn;
The Ultimate Guide to Trail Running by Adam W. Chase and Nancy Hobbs;
Ultramarathon man by Dean Karnazes; and
Born to Run by Christoper McDougall.
Photographic contributors for the issue include Kelvin Trautman, Craig Kolesky and Jacques Marais.
Trail retails for R39.95 and is available in one and two-year subscriptions (R120 for a year), with optional First Ascent product being offered for a limited time. For further information visit
www.trailmag.co.za.