Tired of pounding the pavement? Bored with running on a treadmill? You've come to the right place. And while trail running may seem intimidating at first, just think of it as hiking with some extra pep in your step. However, there are a few things to know before you go.

A good trail run can't be replicated by darting through city streets or hoofing it on the hamster wheel. The crunch of earth underfoot, the quiet of the air overhead…you get the picture.

Finding your happy place takes some advance scouting. Search online for options near you and tap into the tight-knit trail running community by asking around at running events and your local running/outdoor store. In addition, runner-friendly social networks like Strava allow you to post, follow, and get insights from like-minded locals.

Trail finders like the AllTrails app and the American Hiking Society's "Hikes Near You" search feature can also help. Just know that while many hiking trails double as running trails, not all are created equal and a modest hike can easily translate into a difficult run.

Unlike road, track, or treadmill, a trail run is more about how long you want to go, not how far, so be prepared to trade miles for minutes. Here's a quick primer to choose the run for you:

• SHORT BURST (30 minutes): A brisk run of about 1.5-3.5 miles round trip with some elevation gain/decline on mostly groomed trails.

• IN THE ZONE (30-60 minutes): Roughly 3-6 miles round trip with moderate elevation gain/decline across varied terrain with some obstacles (rocks, trees, etc.).

• AROUND THE BEND (60-90 minutes): This could be a longer run (say, 6-10 miles round trip) on moderate terrain or a run/hike mix for shorter but more rugged routes.

Depending on conditions, terrain, fitness, and other factors, it generally takes longer to run a mile on the trail. While some trails are groomed and sedate, others are uneven and wild. Adjust your stride to the conditions and your comfort level knowing that you may need to power hike more than run at times.

While you don't want to run looking directly at your feet, you do want to continually assess what's a stride or three ahead. While some find trail running more forgiving on ankles, knees, and joints, it can require dynamic movement to navigate obstacles and uneven ground. Keep your ambitions in check as you're likely to discover you're using some muscles while trail running that you didn't even realize you had.

You're getting out into nature for a reason. Embrace it. The Japanese concept of shinrin-yoku, or "forest bathing," has an application in trail running whether you're scampering among trees or not. Let the setting around you be your motivation in place of watching a cooking show on the treadmill screen or having headphones thumping to your Maximum Effort Playlist. Plus, there's a safety benefit to being tuned in to what's around you on the trail.