Trail Running/Walking

A upper legs exercise targeting the quadriceps.

Trail Running/Walking demonstration
Trail Running/Walking — demonstration

Body part

Upper Legs

Equipment

Other

Target muscles

Quadriceps

Secondary muscles

Calves, Glutes, Hamstrings

How to do Trail Running/Walking

  1. Running or hiking on trails will get the blood pumping and heart beating almost immediately. Make sure you have good shoes. While you use the muscles in your calves and buttocks to pull yourself up a hill, the knees, joints and ankles absorb the bulk of the pounding coming back down. Take smaller steps as you walk downhill, keep your knees bent to reduce the impact and slow down to avoid falling.

  2. A 150 lb person can burn over 200 calories for 30 minutes walking uphill, compared to 175 on a flat surface. If running the trail, a 150 lb person can burn well over 500 calories in 30 minutes.

Muscles worked

Primary (target)

Quadriceps

Secondary

CalvesGlutesHamstrings

Related exercises

All upper legs exercises →

Track Trail Running/Walking in NutriMind

Log your sets and the app does the rest — automatic PR detection, progression charts for every lift, and progressive overload that adjusts your next workout. Paired with AI nutrition coaching so your training and your plate pull in the same direction.

Planning your next heavy session? Estimate your max with the One Rep Max Calculator and build up to it with the Warm-up Calculator. More free tools →