Hel
lo Runners!
During these long, hot days of summer, many of us skip the pavement and choose to run and hike on dirt. We all love the beauty of Colorado’s extensive trail network, and while most runners don’t abuse their privilege to use the trails, here’s advice worth reminding everyone.
Stay on established trails. Creating your own or taking shortcuts can cause erosion, widen the trail and destroy the surrounding vegetation. These are also the reasons why it’s important to skip the trails when it’s muddy.
Know the rules of the trail. Most trails have posted signs about whether the trail is open to dogs, bikers, horseback riders, etc. Also, some agencies have rules about who must yield to whom. But despite the guidelines, remember to be respectful of everyone. You may be trying to run hard, but that doesn’t mean you have to slam into the slower runner in front of you or play chicken with the mountain biker riding down the hill.
Keep control of your dog. Runners don’t appreciate confrontations with aggressive dogs. You may think Fang is a gentle Rottweiler, but other runners and hikers might not appreciate his friendliness. Also, pick up after your dog. Do I need to explain why?
Don’t litter. Not only does it look ugly, but plastic gum, candy and energy bars wrappers can be eaten by some animals, causing them to choke.
Don’t run through closed trails. Some areas protect grazing elk, nesting raptors or growing vegetation. If it says, “Keep Out!” then there’s probably a good reason why.
Have fun training! Jessica