# Trail Running Tips from Pros

> Experts share how to conquer trails without losing pace or energy.
- Title: Trail Running Tips from Pros · Men's Health | Shortify
- Summary: Experts share how to conquer trails without losing pace or energy. Trail runners should adjust pace, focus on terrain, and build muscle endurance to handle…
- Keywords: trail running, pace, cadence, uphill training, muscle endurance, v02 max, lactate threshold, weighted backpack, Trail, Running, Tips, Pros
- Source: Men's Health — https://menshealth.com/fitness/a73828042/trail-running-tips-from-pros-and-coaches
- Author: Marty Munson
- Published: 2026-10-10T13:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: trail running, pace, cadence, uphill training, muscle endurance, v02 max, lactate threshold, weighted backpack
## Trail Running Growth
More than a million more people ran trails last year than the year before, up 9.8 million since 2019.
## Rethink Pace
Trail running requires slower paces than roads; adjust heart rate monitoring to avoid overtraining.
## Focus on Cadence
Increase steps per minute on technical trails to maintain balance and avoid tripping.
## Uphill Training
Strengthen quads and glutes with steep inclines to handle trail terrain without injury.
## Downhill Caution
Downhills risk injury; slow descent to protect joints and muscles from excessive impact.
## V02 Max Focus
Avoid overemphasizing V02 max; prioritize lactate threshold for better endurance performance.
## Build Fatigue Resistance
Train with weighted backpacks to improve muscle endurance for trail running.
## Expert Recommendations
Trail runners should adjust pace, focus on terrain, and build muscle endurance to handle challenging trails effectively.
## What Happens Next
Runners who train with fatigue resistance improve their ability to maintain pace over long trail distances.
## Key takeaway

Trail runners should adjust pace, focus on terrain, and build muscle endurance to handle challenging trails effectively.