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** '''Cold Weather Crossings''' Crossing streams in cold weather can introduce the risk of frostbite. In this situation, it may be worth trying to keep your feet dry, even though this is difficult. Using a waterproof sock is probably the best option (waterproof shoes will not be high enough). Something like 'seal skins' are waterproof and will seal against the legs so that they will keep your feet dry even on deep water crossings. My experience with them is that they are not very comfortable and introduce their own issues, so I would only use this option if frostbite was an issue.
* '''Twisting ankles''' Running on trails does put more stress on the feet and ankles than road running. I find that the key is lower leg strength, flexibility and mental ability. The mental ability is being able to adjust your balance when your foot turns and to relax that leg and what I can only describe as 'skip'. By reducing the forces on the foot that is turned, you can avoid serious damage.
* '''Dangerous Flora''' Learn what poison oak and poison ivy looks like, before squatting in it. (Thanks to John M[PNW])
* '''Dangerous Fauna''' Watch the sides of trails for large wildlife like moose and bears. (Thanks to AKTrail)
* '''Run by effort''' Figure out your effort levels, because pace is a useless concept. (Thanks to John M[PNW])
* '''Carry the 10 Essentials''' There are various lists of '10 essentials for the wilderness - mine is [[10 Trail Essentials]]. What you need will vary depending on your run - a couple of miles through a local park is going to be very different to 30 miles through remote wilderness. (Thanks to joerunner)
* '''Sunset''' Know when it gets dark - and it may get much darker than you are used to! (Thanks to John M[PNW])* '''Weather Patterns''' Learn to read clouds, wind directions and other patterns. Some areas have thunder storms in the afternoon for instance. (Thanks to John M[PNW])
* '''Starting Line Position''' In a trail race, it can be very important to get your position on the starting line right. If you are too far back, it can be hard to pass people on the trail, making it difficult to make up the time. Too far forward and you can lose time as you make way for people passing you. (Thanks to Charles W)
* '''The usual rules''' All of the thing you know about running in general still apply, including [[Practical Hydration|Hydration]], [[Cadence]], [[Running in the Dark]], [[Running in the Cold]], [[Running in the Rain]], [[Blister Prevention]], [[Walking Breaks]] etc.