Insights from Quentin Meyleu: differences between trail running and road running

Quentin Meyleu, the 28-year-old ASICS trail ambassador, has been practicing trail running at a high level since 2018. With a passion for trails, nature, and the love of exertion, he recently altered his sporting routine. On December 31st, he put on a bib number for his very first 10 km road race at the Cursa de Nassos in Barcelona.

Preparing for a road race, first (but not the last)

For the first time in his life, at the end of 2024, Quentin Meyleu trained specifically for a road race: his first 10 kilometers. Looking for something different that stimulates without too much strain on the body, he spent over a month and a half training and running on pavement to be ready for the Cursa de Nassos in Barcelona, Spain, on December 31st. Used to trails and elevation, he set aside his love for trail running to focus on a few months of road running. 

This first bib number in Barcelona was promising as Quentin achieved his goal, clocking a time of 29:18, finishing in fourth place. During his preparation and effort, the native of Chambon-sur-Lac discovered and learned new things, noticing firsthand the differences between trail and road running.

Road running: a constant and linear effort

One of the major distinctions between trail and road running lies in the nature of the effort. In trail running, the effort is naturally irregular, characterized by steep ascents, technical descents, and numerous changes in pace. In contrast, road running tends to have a constant effort from start to finish, allowing runners to focus on maintaining a steady pace and controlling their speed. The main objective becomes keeping a uniform cadence throughout the race, symbolizing endurance and efficiency.

The Importance of Warm-Up

Warm-up is a crucial part of running. It can be much longer and demanding for road races. Quentin shared that he warmed up for 40 minutes before his first 10 km: jogging, drills, and sprints, unlike trail running, where 10 minutes usually suffice for him. 

The terrain and the environment

Trail running takes place in nature and forests, while road running is mostly conducted in urban settings. It’s a completely different environment, for sure, but the passion for running shoes is identical for everyone.

Accustomed to the varied landscapes of trails, Quentin sometimes finds road running much more monotonous. “An hour on flat asphalt isn’t very fun,” he comments. As he accurately points out, the lack of escapism on roads can sometimes make it feel more repetitive than trail running and even boring at times, according to him.

Despite these differences, this trail runner is determined to take on asphalt again in the spring, particularly eyeing the 10 km in Lille. After that, he’ll start his mountain season. In the longer term, Quentin also hopes to explore the half-marathon distance. Will we see him in a marathon in the coming years? He hasn’t ruled it out…