Maybe I’m getting clumsy in my old age, but I have tripped a number of times in the past 6 weeks.
I also think it could be a byproduct of taking wide births around people and pulling up my mask due to COVID. It’s just that momentary lapse of concentration. Changing my line and going on to loose rocks doesn’t help either.
Nothing serious just annoying cuts and scrapes.
My arm coolers have done an okay job protecting me from cuts to my forearms and palms of my hands.
Made me wonder about my knees. Does anybody run with anything?
I see some compression sleeves. I don’t want anything too bulky, but do think some of the basketball ones with a bit of padding look interesting. I also see some obstacle course or tough muddier ones advertised.
I haven’t done much running with cycling enduro pads - mine work great while pedaling a bike, but don’t stay up too well when jogging etc.
Might not directly address your tripping issues, but for summer running where there’s any overgrowth on the trail, I just wear summer-weight full tights. Prevents abrasion from branches, foliage and whatnot and also helps with bug bites. It would be better than nothing if you hit the deck. Salomon makes the ones I use, but I can’t find the model name.
As I’m just a dude, so you may wish to dismiss my suggestion.
A physio may be able provide specific exercises to address your stability while trail running, if it is compromised from the laxity of your hip and pelvic ligaments after so many wide births.
I too am to having a tripping problem. My hands seem to get the most damage so I wear cycling gloves when running. Long tights help the knees.
I had a gait analysis - no issues.
My podiatrist suggested balance exercises. Stand on one leg and close your eyes. It is much harder than it sounds.
Beach running has helped. It forces me to lift my feet higher.
I too am to having a tripping problem. My hands seem to get the most damage so I wear cycling gloves when running. Long tights help the knees.
**I had a gait analysis - no issues. **
My podiatrist suggested balance exercises. Stand on one leg and close your eyes. It is much harder than it sounds.
Beach running has helped. It forces me to lift my feet higher.
Where did you have your gait analysis done? If it was on a treadmill, it will probably tell you SFA about what you’re doing on trails.
I too am to having a tripping problem. My hands seem to get the most damage so I wear cycling gloves when running. Long tights help the knees.
I had a gait analysis - no issues.
My podiatrist suggested balance exercises. Stand on one leg and close your eyes. It is much harder than it sounds.
Beach running has helped. It forces me to lift my feet higher.
I am pretty sure I shuffle and don’t get my feet too high off the ground unless I’m at tempo or faster. I don’t typically run the trails at that type of pace.
It might also be that there is more lateral movements on the trails. Maybe with more time on them these issues will go away.
Going to add some hip openers and lateral squats before I hit the trails as some form of activating the muscles. I am hopeful that this goes away with more time on the trails.
Here and there, I kick around the soccer ball a bit, whether by myself dribbling and doing some drills or in a non-serious game. I played a lot as a kid and always felt it helped with foot coordination, awareness and lateral movement. I have run trails once a week pre-pandemic and now, I am almost all trail and haven’t fallen while running in years. Absolutely no science on that, just a feeling. Plus, soccer is fun!
The Charge armor is not much more than a glorified knee warmer (from a mountain biking perspective) but should have enough impact protection for running while mitigating shredded knees on the bike. I only wear them on the bike but do think that they’d be comfortable enough for running and imagine that they would stay up, especially if your shorts have grip in the thigh as well. As for heat, that depends on where you are, but I have worn them on some hot rides and they were fine.
knee pads will never stay up, they will be around your ankles in minutes. i tried running a Du in cycling knee warmers and they were down in less than a mile. not sure what the root cause of your falling is, but the mask probably isn’t helping at all, and giving people a wide berth when passing also won’t affect your covid risk at all ( unless the other runner hacks directly in your mouth!)
so maybe just go back to running as normal, pre covid and see if you still have the problem.
If you’re “biffing” too much on uneven surfaces, you probably need to work on getting your feet up, and shuffling less.
I’d recommend uphill repeats - or just integrating more hills into your weekly runs. That will teach you to get your knees up, and consequently get you better ground clearance. Switchbacks would be ideal, since your issue is of a lateral nature.
You answered your own question. It’s the momentary lapse of concentration, moving your arms, and changing your line all at once that are causing you to stumble.
As much as your conscientious anti- COVID actions are appreciated, you snapping an ankle 5 miles from the trailhead puts everyone around you in danger, because now they have to get right up beside you to help carry your limping body down trail.
Even causal trail running is a skill honed through practice and time on trails. I trail run in the mountains most every day, and stumble quite a bit. It just happens. Give yourself some time and you’ll get better at it
If you’re “biffing” too much on uneven surfaces, you probably need to work on getting your feet up, and shuffling less.
I’d recommend uphill repeats - or just integrating more hills into your weekly runs. That will teach you to get your knees up, and consequently get you better ground clearance. Switchbacks would be ideal, since your issue is of a lateral nature.
Thanks for the advice - I think this makes a lot of sense!
