Safety & risk awareness

Make sure to tell someone where you are going, even if you're only planning to do a short trail run. This is especially important when it comes to the North Shore as the trail system here is extensive and includes a broad range of difficulty. Whenever you're planning to head out into the trails, it's important that someone knows where you are so that if something should happen, rescue crews have reliable information on where to begin a search if necessary.

Knowing where a trail goes and what the possible risks are along that trail are incredibly important things to be aware of before you head out. Staying within your limits is also important. There can be a lot of pressure to try trails that are a little bit outside of your comfort zone but you should still know your limits and how far you are willing to push yourself.

There's a balance between not weighing yourself down with excess gear when going out for a hike or a trail run and making sure you're prepared. It's important to bring some essentials with you, especially if there's a possibility of being out on the trails for a few hours. You can find a list of those essentials here.