This article about trail running in Purbeck, Dorset features my regular collaboration with adidas.
Last week I did something I’ve never done before. Ever. I packed my running gear so I could go for a jog while I was away from home. Who even am I?!
I drove down to Dorset for Comms Unplugged (more about that in my next weekly blog episode), and decided I didn’t want to miss my Thursday run. So, on top of all my camping gear (and ALL the blankets I could find… it was cold!), I packed my trail running shoes, so I could go for a short run from my temporary front door. My tent door, that is.
And let me tell you… While the monotonous pounding of pavement at home gets the job done in terms of improving my fitness, running on a trail offered a completely different dynamic. The scenery, the fresh air (no traffic!), the sounds of nature, and the almost unpredictable terrain kept me engaged and maybe even a little bit excited to be out.
I get all that from hiking, of course. But there was something else I got from trail running in Dorset. I felt weirdly free, somehow.
Running Away?! Who Even Am I?
I’m using the adidas running app to track my running at the moment. I quite like it. I didn’t want to go back and redo couch to 5k, and had a year of this app free thanks to buying so many pairs of trainers recently (!). Earlier this summer, I asked the app for a plan to help build up my fitness after having to take a break to let my back heal. I told it I wanted to run twice a week, for 12-weeks, and to gradually build up to 6km in one go.
I’m eight weeks in, and I do feel like the plan is doing its job. I have stuck to that two runs a week schedule without fail. I feel fitter than I was, and the plan seems the right level of challenging vs doable. Although, I can’t say I enjoy getting ready to go running, but feeling the benefit will do for now.
And I guess I just didn’t want to get behind! No-one likes being told off by their phone!!
With my running being all about improving my hiking fitness, it makes sense that I would want to take my jogs where I take my hikes – out into the wilds of Great Britain. Exploring on foot is my favourite, but the extra ground I can cover when jogging over walking feels like it might open up more and different opportunities. So far, though, I’ve stuck to little routes from my own front door, because that’s what is convenient before work on Mondays and Thursdays, my chosen running days.
Trail Running on Purbeck Heath
Comms Unplugged is based at Burnbake Forest Lodges and Campsite, surrounded by woodland and right on the edge of the beautiful Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve, and just three miles from Studland beach. In 2020, Purbeck was designated the UK’s first ‘super’ nature reserve, combining three smaller reserves into one expansive area. It spans over 8,231 acres, making it the largest lowland heathland nature reserve in the country.
The landscape is incredibly diverse, featuring a mix of lowland wet and dry heath, valley mires, acid grassland, woodland, coastal sand dunes, lakes, and saltmarsh. This variety supports a rich array of wildlife, including over 450 rare, threatened, or protected species. You might spot the Dartford warbler, sand lizard, or even the rare southern damselfly here.
I’ve walked in this area before – each year I go to Comms Unplugged I make sure I get out onto the heath for at least an hour or so. This meant I had a rough idea of how I could create a loop from the campsite without getting lost. My route included footpaths and bridleways across heathland and through woodland, including part of the waymarked Poole Harbour Trail (which maybe should have been walk ten in my recent long weekend hikes feature).
Not a bad place to go for a run, right?! It was genuinely a real treat.
Trail Running > Road Running
Do you know what happened? Running in the countryside made the minutes go faster, and meant I ran further. The app had scheduled a ‘long run’ for me (in inverted commas because I know ‘long’ is relative), which was a total of 44 minutes in three intervals with a couple of minutes walking in-between. In that time, I ran a little over 6.2km. Look, I know this is slow, and I know it’s not far, but this is progress for me – real progress.
I have no doubt that being surrounded by beautiful scenery, and with something slightly more interesting than tarmac under my feet, were responsible for my performance. The whole experience of jogging on this particular Thursday was much more pleasurable than ever before.
Of course, that slightly faster pace was completely undone by stopping regularly to take photos (I heard “your activity has been paused automatically” many times!). But it’s not like I’m trying to win a race, and hopefully you’re now also enjoying the scenery thanks to the images in this blog post.
I was fortunate to be staying on a campsite with on-foot access to these trails. Back at home, if I want to do a short 45-minute run in countryside anywhere near as pretty and rural as Purbeck, I would first have to drive for a bit. And while that is fine when you are designating a morning for a run, it’s not quite as convenient when you are squeezing in your jog before heading to work. Trail running in Dorset reminded me that it’s important to take opportunities to do something different when they present themselves.
Terrex Soulstride Flow Trail Running Shoes
You already know I love this pair of yellow trainers, as I included them in my recent Currently Loving article. These are the Terrex Soulstride Flow trail running shoes by adidas (gifted thanks to the voucher I got for being one of their blogger collaborators again this year), in a beautifully bright yellow and orange.
It’s this pair of trainers that have been getting me through all my runs recently; they are nicely cushioned, flexible but stable, light and breathable, have great grip, and very cheerful.
They are specifically designed for long trail runs, and I chose them because (apart from the fact look great and my other Terrex trail runners are very comfortable) I really do want to take my jogs to the trail more. They were exactly what I needed trail running in Dorset, I chose well.
Hiking Remains My Favourite
Going on these short jogs has been a game-changer for improving my hiking fitness. These quick bursts of activity have been making it possible for me to hike further and faster. Running also builds stamina as well as agility, which gives me better balance and stability on uneven trails.
But while trail running allows me to cover more ground in less time, the charm of hiking is hard to beat. Hiking allows me to fully immerse myself in nature, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells at a leisurely pace. I have no intention of becoming a runner instead of a hiker – but this happy realisation that trail running is actually enjoyable will surely only help me become a better hiker.
The next time I’m away from home, I will be packing my trail running shoes to hit the local footpaths once again. Not only is this a great way to make sure I don’t miss a workout, but I will also discover hidden gems and scenic spots that I might have otherwise missed. Trail running like this experience in Dorset turns regular exercise into a bit of an adventure, and I think that is what makes it so fun. Plus, it’s a wonderful way to break the monotony of your usual routine and make keeping fit exciting.
I hope to continue to embrace the trails – hiking and jogging – at home and away.
I am a member of the adidas blogger community. The trainers mentioned in this post are from the (fantastic) Terrex range – purchased with the gift vouchers which form the payment for this post.