For me, sport has always been about growth, challenge… and adventure!
The Collins dictionary defines an adventurer as: a person who enjoys going to new, unusual, and exciting places.
Over the last three years, I have gone from being a ‘runner’ to an ‘adventurer’!
If you too want to be an adventurer, or have a go at a new sport, here are my top three tips for starting trail running, mountain biking, and mountaineering – as well as my opinion on the pros and cons.
I have gone from being a ‘runner’ to an ‘adventurer’!
Trail Running
Oh, the places your feet can take you!
Trail running will always be my first love. It has taught me so many lessons about myself, and life. No other sport for me offers the same feelings of freedom, joy, and limitlessness.
For me, simply donning a small backpack and a pair of shoes to explore forests, summit mountains, and become fully immersed in nature, is simply the most special thing in the world. My two feet have taken me to the most breathtaking and spectacular places.
Trail running will always be my first love.
Top tips to get started:
- Find a local trail running group or directory for local knowledge
- Start small, and work your way up
- Invest in quality gear. It lasts, and provides a much better experience
Pros:
- Easy to get started
- Minimal gear required
- Great community vibe and friendly people
Cons:
- Injuries are common when people do too much, too soon
- As your body adapts, running can initially feel strenuous
- Not all communities have accessible trails; travel is required
The biggest lesson I’ve learned from trail and ultra-running is that our bodies are precious and deserve to be treated with respect. If we treat our bodies well, they will serve us by growing and developing beyond our wildest dreams. If we ignore them, however, they will break. We need to find the space where we both push and revere our bodies in balance.
Trail running is a sport for everyone, and it can offer the most expansive experiences. But, like all good things, should be done in moderation.
Trail running offers a great community of friendly people.
Mountain Biking
Do the hard work to get to the top, and enjoy coasting down the other side!
What I discovered when I got on the bike and on the trails was that many of the things I loved about running were present in mountain biking. I could be free in nature, I could move fast down hills, and I could feel the burn of muscles working just as I could when I was climbing.
I also discovered a way to cover distance without breaking my body.
Mountain biking is a good way to cover distance without breaking my body.
Top tips to get started:
- Find yourself a good quality bike, new or used. The most important thing is that it’s the right size.
- Check the grade of your local tracks; start easy, and work your way up
- Just get out and do it. Practice makes perfect.
Pros:
- Great for any fitness level
- Gentle on the body
- You can cover a lot of ground in a short time
Cons:
- Initial start-up costs
- Risky when riding on roads
- Punctures etc. while out and about
My biggest lesson from mountain biking is that obstacles and bumps can be fun and challenging – it’s all in the way you see them.
Mountain biking is a sport that is accessible to everyone – no matter your age – and electric bikes have made it more inclusive than ever. It’s an amazing way to get out in nature, and feel the freedom and joy of moving your body.
Mountain biking is an amazing way to feel the freedom and joy of moving your body!
Mountaineering
There is something about that place where beauty, fear, and achievement meet; it is indescribable.
I would like to say that mountaineering is only for the brave; but that’s not completely true. Mountaineering is for those who are prepared to walk with fear and learn the skills. Mountaineering makes my armpits damp, my throat tight, and is the only sport guaranteed to cause tears on every single trip…at least to date.
So why do it, you might ask? Remember that my values are growth, challenge, and adventure. Well, as far as I know, no-one said living your values would be easy or comfortable – and my values by their very nature are such that I am often living outside my comfort zone.
No-one said living your values would be easy or comfortable!
Top tips to get started:
- Learn from the experts, and take courses
- Take your time to build the skills
- Learn to read weather forecasts and avalanche advisories, and plan well
Pros:
- You will visit the most spectacular places
- You will learn valuable skills and knowledge
- There is a great sense of achievement in planning and executing an objective
Cons:
- High cost of entry; a lot of high-value gear is required
- Risk: there is an inherently higher risk in high-alpine terrain
- Time commitment – both to learn and execute objectives
The biggest lesson I have learned from mountaineering is patience, and the ability to say no and turn around if conditions aren’t favourable. It is human nature to push and strive. Mountaineering requires a balance of drive to complete, and drive to survive. It is said that there are bold mountaineers, and old mountaineers – but not both.
Mountaineering is truly a unique sport, and not for the faint-hearted. However, if you are prepared to put in the time, skills, and effort, the return is something quite phenomenal. Keep in mind too that mountaineering doesn’t have to be all high peaks and summits; there is room in the sport for us risk-averse people too!
There are bold mountaineers, and old mountaineers – but not both!
Mountaineering requires a balance of drive to complete, and drive to survive.
Wrapping Up
There are so many sports to choose from, and to help me decide, I like to ask myself these five questions:
- If I say ‘yes’ to this, what am I saying ‘no’ to?
- Does what I’m doing align with my values?
- Who is the person I get to become by doing this sport? Brave, strong, confident?
- Is the reward worth the effort?
- Who can I ask to find out more?
In answering these questions, you can be more intentional around your choices. A sport then becomes more than just a sport – it becomes a life-changing experience!
A sport can be more than just a sport – it can be a life-changing experience.
What adventure sport have you always wanted to try?