Should my husband trail run

I love to trail run. I don't race or kill myself, I just love the outdoors and I always feel so great after a run. I find trail running to be far more interesting than road running and the trails are softer on my feet. I would love my husband to join me. We hike and bike a lot and we both work out at a gym, but he's worried because he developed shin splints in high school running cross country (they ran on the road.) There is a trainer at the gym who insists he shouldn't run because she says it's bad for the joints. Then how come I feel so great after years of running? I never had shin splints though. I do a lot of squats at the gym and wear proper shoes so I'm sure this helps. Also, our builds are completely different. I have shorter, muscular legs (well, muscular for a woman I suppose) and he has very long, lean legs (some would say skinny) Do our different builds make a huge difference as to what each of us is better suited too? Would trail running be bad for him? It seems to be common sense to me that if we warm up properly, stretch properly and don't overdo it, then trail running would be a great fitness activity. Perhaps he could be evaluated by a doctor to make sure he doesn't have certain limitations he should be concerned about.

Well, since shin splints are mostly a problem of over-use, particularly on hard surfaces, obviously he is not going to get shin splints from trying trail running a few times. One would hope that he would give it a try at least.

Body type means nothing- tall people, short people, whatever- anyone can get a repetive use injury. I ran 100 miles on trails this week, and I don't have shin splints. I did have shin splints when I played basketball and volleyball every day 15 years ago, but I have never had them again. Trails are one of the LEAST likely places to cause shin splints, unless you do very long runs downhill on roads. As for joints, trails are more easy on the joints than roads.

A couple more points:

Why do people listen to personal trainers in the gym as if these under-read morons are gurus? The average sports trainer in your gym knows nada about running on trails....or much of anything else. His goal is to keep your husband going to the gym and keep collecting money.

But- sadly,- if your husband decides not to even try trail running, there is little you can do. Every day when I run and see couples out there on the trail I feel a little pang (why won't MY wife try this?!), but some shared experiences are just not to be. If he won't run with you, try to find a friend or two who will run with you from time to time.

Nobody seems to agree with this trainer at the gym which is not surprising to me. I actually don't listen to this trainer. I've heard others who also say running is bad for your joints and so on. It doesn't mean that I'm going to stop running. There are things that are worse. My father in law ruined his knees from skiing and basketball for example. Anyhow, I just don't want my husband to listen to these trainers or whoever. I'm going to drag him along a few times and see what he thinks. We will probably alternate between running and walking which would be good for him to start. I think he may be worried about trying to keep up with me (you know, the male ego thing lol)

Oh, you made me chuckle at work! I suspect that the last sentence may be the gist of the problem!

Yeah, about the personal trainers in gyms, I am always surprised that people listen to these people for sports advice. Of course they can explain how to use a certain training machine, or design a gym workout, but as for endurance training or outdoor sports they know practically zilch. (For the record, I am a licensed ISSA trainer. Learned some stuff which is useful IN THE GYM, and a lot of bogus science and misinformation).

When I think about all the horrific injuries I had in 20 years of basketball, then compare it to trail running, this sport is rather nice on the body...and mind. Your husband's only potential injury may be to his ego! But I think that most wives know how to not show us up too overtly...even when they could.

I do promise to take it easy on my husband (at first, lol) and to not go too far ahead of him and let him know how well he's doing. Doesn't hurt to stroke that ego every once in awhile. He can kick my butt on the elliptical machine though, I think he's kind of proud of that. One of the reasons he started to work out at the gym is because he started to realize that he had trouble keeping up with me when we went cycling. He also has a touch of arthritis in his neck and the physical therapist suggested that he do strength training, cardio and stretching. He's gotten much better and he's in much better shape which is why I'd like to try trail runnning with him. Plus, we both love the outdoors. He's actually pretty fast, he has very long legs and he used to run cross country.

Did your husband try some trails with you in the end sr14225?

Unfortunately the weather has been cold and wet so the trails are sloppy right now. Well, that's Buffalo NY for you! However, we are going to Akumal Mexico (the Mayan Riviera part of Mexico on the Carribean side) and I plan on running on the beach every morning. The beach goes for miles and miles. I'll see if hubby wants to join me. We do plan on walking the beach, but maybe we can do a short run together here and there. Hopefully the weather will be decent soon for trail running. We tend to get a lot of rain here, so it takes awhile for the trails to dry out.

Buy him the book Born To Run by Christopher McDougall - it's a great read so even if it doesn't inspire him to hit the trails - he just may well enjoy it for the entertainment factor.
Good luck to you both!