Trail Running may seem pretty simple—just step off the pavement and onto a path and technically you’re doing it. But as writer Bethany Gompers points out on DICK’s Sporting Goods’ “453 and a Half” blog, there are four things you should know before you lace up and head off-road. Don’t be intimidated. The activity is far more accessible than people think. And it might even be more beneficial to your health than running on asphalt. “Natural surfaces are easier on the body and the joints,” says Lisa Jhung, author of Trailhead: The Dirt On All Things Trail Running.

To learn more about how and why you should try trail running, and to see the perfect shoes to help you get started, check out “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Trail Running.”