Planning a trail run in alpine terrain
Careful planning
Trail running in the mountains is much more than a challenging form of running. It’s about being fully immersed in nature, and in a unique way. And more often than not, the journey with trail running is within. Careful planning ahead of the time and being well-versed in how to move across stony terrain will make the whole experience much better. From fitness levels, navigation, route selection and gear, to running technique and emergency protocols, the deuter Basecamp Trail Running pages offer comprehensive information and handy checklists. So whether you’ll be running solo, or with a group of people, we’ve got tons of information to help you make the best of it.
Planning is essential for having a good trail running experience. And it’s a good idea to stick to an established routine for this: from targeted training to route selection and checking the weather or safety measures on the trail. This will help you avoid any nasty surprises and minimize risks — both for you and others. We’ve compiled the most important elements for planning a trail run.
The 3x3 planning model for trail runners
If you’re familiar with ski touring, then you’ve probably heard of Werner Munter’s 3x3 model. It divides the whole planning process into three distinct steps with three factors. This strategy can also be used for trail running. Because just like ski touring, or mountain biking, trail running is a dynamic activity.
The factors that influence your choices are constantly changing: the terrain switches from smooth, flowing paths, to steep scree or a root-strewn trails; the weather changes; your fellow runners get tired; a section of trail is blocked/ closed — to name just a few. Effective planning takes all of these eventualities into consideration before you even start and makes allowances and adjustments to suit changes in circumstances and conditions.
Using the 3x3 model, you will look at each of the three factors:
- Planning from home
- Localized assessment, just before the start of the tour
- Regular checks of conditions and the group during the run
And then three further variables come into play:
- PEOPLE: fitness levels, technical ability, schedule, group size, responsibilities within the group, group members’ expectations
- EQUIPMENT: appropriate gear for the activity, packing lists, first aid tips
- CONDITIONS: weather forecast, actual weather conditions, season, trail conditions, crux sections, type of run, nature preservation, planning & navigation This will help rule out many potential issues or nasty surprises. And if things still don’t quite go to plan, you’ll be better prepared to deal with it.
At first, the 3x3 model may seem a little abstract. But in practice, it’s a really useful tool. It’s an effective and comprehensive way to systematically prepare for your trail runs.
Using the 3x3 model, you will look at each of the three factors:
- Planning from home
- Localized assessment, just before the start of the tour
- Regular checks of conditions and the group during the run
And then three further variables come into play:
- PEOPLE: fitness levels, technical ability, schedule, group size, responsibilities within the group, group members’ expectations
- EQUIPMENT: appropriate gear for the activity, packing lists, first aid tips
- CONDITIONS: weather forecast, actual weather conditions, season, trail conditions, crux sections, type of run, nature preservation, planning & navigation This will help rule out many potential issues or nasty surprises. And if things still don’t quite go to plan, you’ll be better prepared to deal with it.
At first, the 3x3 model may seem a little abstract. But in practice, it’s a really useful tool. It’s an effective and comprehensive way to systematically prepare for your trail runs.
