It is this constant change that brings the trail-running experience to life. Some of the best trail runners hail from a background of alpine or freestyle skiing, or mountain biking. Trail runners also tend to run alone. Which explains why you seldom come across a pack of runners on the trail. Of course, there are more road runners than there are trail runners in this country, but the lack of trail clubs speaks more to the nature of trail runners rather than the number of trail runners.
Trail runners are hard to count.
Whereas road runners tend to flock together, trail runners maintain a solo spirit, which says something about the width of roads and narrowness of trails. Perhaps the road runner's desire for companionship is explained by a sense of boredom that comes from running on unvarying terrain. Trails offer the opportunity to retreat from the masses, and to escape to a place of tranquility where your mind may wander without any concern for traffic. The distraction of having to scout each footstep can lull you into a peacefulness that cannot be found in a paved and populated environment. Many more ultramarathons are run on trails than they are on roads.