Prathima's Miles & Milestones

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Designing products for the long run — on screens and on trails

My First Unofficial Trail Run

One of the joys of trail running is immersing yourself in nature. Take the time to appreciate the scenery, enjoy the fresh air, and listen to the sounds of the trail. It’s a great way to relax and reduce stress while staying active.
Download offline maps on your phone & smartwatch as well. This helps you navigate in case you feel lost.
Slow down if your heart rate rises during the uphill as health comes first, then the race.
Observe the cyclists on the path & wave. Always helpful to have an eye on the onlookers training in the same geography & terrain.

Always observe & plan to place the position of your foot. Heel first or the toe first? In monsoons, as the boulders & rocks are slippery, the heel first saves you from a fall.

Always observe if there’s a fortification or a wall & blindly follow it as that works as a trail & you are not lost. Have an eye ahead & behind you as well. It’s always nice to look back to know how far you have come to pat your back. Plus, it’s a safety precaution.

A trail usually has gravel. The running shoes may not be the right one for the grip. Use trail running shoes specifically to run on trails.

Observe & enjoy nature. Also, be mindful of the now, the present. This helps you save yourself from animal attacks moving ahead.
Only the trial & error method help you manoeuvre over the gravel, spotted a lot of peacocks, could feel a flavour in the breeze because of a lot of Eucalyptus trees surrounding, learnt how to traverse when the trail is slippery during monsoons or on a rainy day, safety measure, offline maps on the smartwatch, road running v/s trail shoes with spikes, on animal encounter, overcome injuries during the run, monitoring the heart rate, & so much more.
There was a lake close by where we enjoyed feeding the fishes, & spotting the ducks.
Lastly, don’t forget to switch to trail run mode on Strava. Enjoy your run.