Wilderness running can be done anywhere in publicly owned natural areas, preserves or other permanent open spaces that have not been farmed, logged, mined, grazed or otherwise disturbed for at least 100 years. Within these areas, avoid seeing jeep trails, roads, fences, signs, houses or other manmade features. Yes. Flat is good. All engagement with nature is good. Terrain is better, ridges are best. Bodily stress of hiking/running up and down steep ridge sides and rolling valleys intensifies engagement. Start when conditions are wet (not snow-covered). Find wooded or meadow hillsides offering least obstacle to your decent. Run faster and faster until you stumble. Do not slow down or your upper body will take you down like a stone. Just think about your upper body in space, your center of gravity perched above where your legs are, think about getting that steady and control will return, while your feet flail about with a life of their own. A seasoned ridge runner can go over a year without a fall. When skill sets are high enough, knowing what caused the fall allows corrective action.
Real falls are always the same. The runner is airborne with no part of the body in contact with the ground. If it’s a really good fall, you start off looking at the sky. First thought is, “If I live to a billion, I will never know what tripped me up.” The second thought is, “This is really going to hurt!” And it does, typically scrapes, bruises here and there, all the way up to broken fingers, hands, ribs and this and that, but you are always able to get back to the car, very likely running.
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