Trail running places huge demands on the body. Uneven terrain, steep climbs, tricky descents, mud, rocks and constantly changing footing all require far more than just cardiovascular fitness. Strength work helps build the durability, stability and resilience needed to cope with those demands. It also mixes up your training so it's a lot more varied than pounding out miles and miles on tarmac which I got sick of when I was road running!

A stronger body is also a more efficient body. Good strength training can improve climbing power, getting back downhill (which is often even harder that going up), posture, balance and running economy, helping you move better for longer — especially when fatigue starts to set in.

Perhaps most importantly, strength work helps reduce injury risk. Trail runners place repeated stress through the ankles, knees, hips and lower back, particularly on technical terrain and downhill sections. Building strength around those areas helps the body absorb impact more effectively and stay more robust over time.

And strength work doesn’t need to mean hours in a gym or lifting huge weights. Simple, consistent exercises done well can make a massive difference out on the trails.