Coast Physiotherapist Tracy Murray shares her passion for trail running: its community, appreciation for nature, sense of adventure and lasting friendships. For Tracy it has become more than just exercise, but a state of flow in which she her entire being is immersed in the act of running.
How did you first get into trail running?
After going through a big weightlifting phase, I leaned back into my endurance roots after a back injury as I tolerated biking and running much better than lifting. I never dreamed of being an ultra runner, but after completing a half iron man post-Covid, my endurance was better than ever and my friend finally convinced me to join her out on the trails. She was super supportive & helped me build up my mileage and confidence in the mountains, and now it’s one of my favourite places to be!
What do you love most about the sport?
I love the flow state that you can achieve on the trails. It feels like more of a dance or an adventure than it does “exercise” which is very freeing. I have always loved snowboarding and surfing, but could never find something with the same flow state close to home…until I started running on the trails. I also love the social aspect and the trail running community. Trail friends quickly become your best friends! It also is very sustainability driven, races are often no waste and leave no trace, which I love. The connection to nature and community also helps my mental health, so it’s an overall win win!
How has it shaped your practice as a Physio?
Trail running has taught me to look deeper into running mechanics, proper fuelling, gait analysis and running shoes. It has also taught me about pacing and planning, properly ramping up mileage (or improperly and what those consequences are!!) and the importance of adequate recovery. Going through a full ultra training cycle helps you understand the demands of the sport on the body but also on a whole life, and allows me to prescribe realistic exercises instead of what we learn from a textbook- it is much easier to say than it is to do, so I learn so much by actually doing the thing!