This may sound controversial, but I’ve been questioning the appeal of trail running over this past month. I mean, in all honesty, an off-road race can be an absolute killer. Right? Many runners often crave the scenic, calm and nature-filled experience – but we all know there’s more to it than a pretty view.

For the record, I do like trail running. You’ll often find me running through my local woodland before work, lapping up the peace and quiet of the untouched surroundings. But for all the joy it brings, there’s also a lot of added extras; something I found out while tackling the Glentress 11 a few weeks ago.

When asked if I fancied running the Scottish race, I couldn’t say yes quick enough. Apart from the painfully long train journey from London to Edinburgh, it ticked all the boxes. An 11km race through the beautiful Glentress Forest sounded awesome. And rather unsurprisingly, it was.

But unlike the nice and flat Leeds 10km trail race I took part in the week before, this route pushed my body to the very limit. And back. Over and over again. It was a real test of mental and physical strength, and any hope I had of finishing the race in around 45 minutes were dashed pretty quickly.

The views were great, the atmosphere was lively and the scenery was pretty amazing. But by the end of the race, I don’t think my legs were too bothered by the pretty surroundings. This race was tough, really tough. Uphill running, as it turns out, isn’t easy. And there was plenty of uphill running.

I understand that not all trail races are as hilly as the one I’ve been describing, but it reminded me just how hard running can be. The likes of Kilian Jornet, who scurries up mountains for fun, are immensely fit. The trail race really is a lot more than a road alternative, and a chance to update your Instagram profile.

It’s quite easy to forget that running should be testing. Training runs are great, and trying to beat personal bests are as well, but a lot of runners like to stick to what they know. It turns out that the appeal of trail running is that you don’t always know what you’re going to get.

The views can be great, but the hurdles can be even greater. And personally, I think that’s why it’s so appealing. The terrain is different, and so are the mental and physical challenges. So after some time spent pondering over the matter, I’ve come to a conclusion. Trail running really is as good as they say it is.