EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS
You're a runner, which means you have the fitness to handle all sorts of healthy outdoor activities with ease. We found 12 that promise fresh air, a toned body, and all-around excitement.
By Bob Cooper
PUBLISHED 06/11/2003
DAY HIKES
Getting started: At first you may be tempted to break into a run, but you'll soon discover that a few hours of ambling is a relaxing treat. Find a trail, preferably on hills, plot a loop and start walking.
Cross-training benefits: As a low-impact activity, hiking provides a nice respite, but still burns calories.
Gear: Wear sturdy trail-running shoes or hiking boots. In a daypack, carry food, water, sunscreen, a hat, and a trail map. A hiking stick or pole, cell phone, first-aid kit, and camera are good too, but less critical.
Where: Anyplace that's pretty, and pretty close to home, will do.
Find out more: Sierra Club's 500 chapters and groups organize about 17,000 annual group hikes: (415) 977-5522; sierraclub.org/outings. Or visit trails.com.
BACKPACKING
Getting started: Spending two days traipsing through the woods can be an exhilarating break from your routine. The only hard part for most people is all that walking, but you're a runner. Piece o' cake. Take your time with the family, or "fastpack" with a running friend. Fastpacking, or ultralight backpacking, in-volves hiking long distances each day with a light pack. To prepare, do a long day hike with a pack at the weight you plan to carry.
Cross-training benefits: Same benefits as a day hike, multiplied by the number of days on the trail.
Gear: Pack food, water/filter/bottles, map, compass, extra clothes, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, sleeping bag, tarp, first-aid kit, pocket knife, waterproof matches, eating utensils, flashlight/headlamp, and insect repellent. You'll find more comprehensive gear lists at backpacker.com or backpacking.net.
Where: State and national parks are the gold standard.
Find out more: The Sierra Club organizes hundreds of backpacking trips: (415) 977-5522; sierraclub.org/outings. Other good sites: backpacker.com; backpacking.net; gorp.com.
ORIENTEERING
Getting started: Often called "the thinking sport," orienteering combines map reading with trail running on courses demarcated by widely spaced flags through forests, fields, and streams. At every event there's a brief orientation session for newcomers, who are welcome to try the novice course of 1 to 2 kilometers, or any of the longer courses.
Cross-training benefits: Develops strong ankles as you leap branches and traverse off-trail.
Gear: Wear sturdy running shoes (trail-running shoes are best). Maps are provided. Compasses are required, but they rent for a buck or less at races.
Where: Most events are in woodsy parks near suburbs, so if you get lost, you won't be too far from civilization, and organizers will find you.
Wanna race? You can choose from about 800 U.S. races.
Find out more: U.S. Orienteering Federation, www.us.orienteering.org.
