Trail Run
likitisplit
Posts: 9,420 Member
I did my first trail run today. In a way it was awesome - out there in nature, no music. Just me, my breath, my body and the whole world around me. The terrain was a challenge and I could feel all the different muscles getting stronger as I had to balance and reach in a whole new way. It was tremendous.
And, in a way, it sucked. I could only find my way around the first two miles of a six mile run, so I did it multiple times. And I fell down. And I scraped my knee on a log and it bled. And it was my long run combined with a new way of running so I was drained by the end. After I fell down, I totally thought "this sucks. Why am I doing this? Why don't I just quit?" But I was just a little scrapped up, it wasn't like pavement and there was nothing really holding me back. So I ran on. And I got tired and wanted to quit, but I still ran on. And I felt old and awkward and slow. But that didn't stop me. I let myself be an old, awkward and slow runner.
There's something about those long, challenging runs where you push through all your excuses and doubts to achieve a moment or two of purity: where intention is met by ability and that is all that exists in the world. That is why I run.
And, in a way, it sucked. I could only find my way around the first two miles of a six mile run, so I did it multiple times. And I fell down. And I scraped my knee on a log and it bled. And it was my long run combined with a new way of running so I was drained by the end. After I fell down, I totally thought "this sucks. Why am I doing this? Why don't I just quit?" But I was just a little scrapped up, it wasn't like pavement and there was nothing really holding me back. So I ran on. And I got tired and wanted to quit, but I still ran on. And I felt old and awkward and slow. But that didn't stop me. I let myself be an old, awkward and slow runner.
There's something about those long, challenging runs where you push through all your excuses and doubts to achieve a moment or two of purity: where intention is met by ability and that is all that exists in the world. That is why I run.
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You are a brave woman. Holy cow! How far did you run?? 2 miles...multiple times?!?!?!
I'd like to run some trails, but I'm too afraid I will twist my ankle.
for your knee. Is it OK now? 0 -
I love trail running. I prefer it over pavement, mainly because it is so much easier on the knees. But, I will admit. If you are not used to it, then it can quite the experience. And the probability of getting hurt is much higher. You have a bigger chance at twisting an ankle, or falling and getting hurt, or worse yet getting attacked by a herd of thundering animals.
But, trail running makes you do so much more than just run. You have to dodge, twist, jump, zig zag your way around the trail. My trail run pace is bare minimum. I average about a 5 mph pace on pavement, but my trail pace is maybe 4.5, sometimes less.0 -
Good post, but sorry to hear about your knee. My wife & I went out last Sunday in the rain for a trail run and she fell and scraped her knee up. She was bleeding, hurt, and a bit embarrassed (slipping near the road with cars passing by) but she got up and kept going. That happened right after I stopped - I was only running one 4-mile loop of the trail but she was running 2 loops. By that time the rain was really pouring down and she ran another 4 miles for a total of 8. I was impressed!
I must say I was getting a little bored with running the same old pavement until I tried trail running. Now I'm hooked! I was also worried about twisting my ankle but so far I haven't come close to doing that. I love the softer ground - so much easier on my joints. And all the hills and twists & turns will make my legs even stronger. I have already signed up for two trail races, one of them is next weekend. I'm sure I will do several more this year, including a 15K trail run on my birthday in September.0 -
I still twist my ankles if I am not careful. And that is mainly due to having developed weak ones because of softball (sliding is bad for ankles). But my weight lifting has been getting much better. If you are worried about twisting ankles and stuff, maybe it is time to bring in some strength training. Something simple such as lunges or step ups. Things that will help with developing strong support muscles for your legs.0
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I fell onto my hand and knee and rolled onto my hip. It actually was a good thing because I stopped being afraid of falling. It was such a soft landing on pine needles and leaves. I scraped myself up more on the log and that was just because I got confused about the trail
It was my 5 mile "long run" so combining that with the trail was a stretch, but it turned out great. I'm a bit sore today - I can definitely feel it in my obliques (!)
As an FYI, the trails around Lake Lanier are absolutely gorgeous and a nice clear path, if you don't mind a little "evidence" that horses have been there. The full circuit around the lake is 6.5 miles.0 -
As an FYI, the trails around Lake Lanier are absolutely gorgeous and a nice clear path, if you don't mind a little "evidence" that horses have been there. The full circuit around the lake is 6.5 miles.
Right now we are running the Laurel Ridge Trail next to Buford Dam. That's where our race is next weekend. It's a shame that I live 10 minutes from the dam and never went to that trail until a couple of months ago. It's a great trail with a big elevation change as you go from the upper road level down to the Chattahoochee River and back up. Lots of different types of surfaces like sand, rocks, roots, soft pine straw, wetlands with wooden decks, a few bridges, and several parking lot crossings. The trail is 3.75 miles but the race will make it 4 with a little loop by the river.
Next I'll start training at Haw Creek near Cumming for a 6-mile trail race in June. I'll have to check out some of the other trails around Lake Lanier. I live pretty close to the lake but really haven't explored the area that much. We usually end up going to the north GA mountains for most of our hiking.0 -
I think I was out there a few years ago with my birding group. That's the other great thing about the Atlanta area (besides the fall, winter and spring weather) - we have an abundance of local trails.0
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I'm sorry you fell and hurt yourself, Varda. Trail running sounds challenging and interesting at the same time. I went jogging yesterday, first day in some heat and had a horrible run because I got so hot. Trails, with their overhang, sound like a solution to hot summer jogs.
Has anyone run through a summer yet? How do you cope with the heat?0 -
When I racewalked, I'd do it really early in the morning. If I had to do it in the afternoon, I'd just go slower and bring water. There is a paved multipurpose trail near my house that is nice and shady through the day, so I'd use that a lot.0
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Has anyone run through a summer yet? How do you cope with the heat?
I just started running over the winter so I am dreading the Georgia summer. I go to work very early so mornings are no good for me. Right now I run in the afternoon but may have to switch that to evening as the weather gets hotter.0 -
Like Timeasterday, I go to work really early, which makes morning runs out of the question. That's unfortunate since I went for a morning run on Sunday and it was a great run. It could have been because I was more rested, too, having not gotten up so early.
Summer is going to prove a challenge and it doesn't get as hot here as I imagine it does in Georgia. I'm on the lookout for a shady trail or jogging path.0 -
Just did a 5.35 mile trail run in the rain (again). My longest run yet of any kind! Part of the trail borders a retention pond and with several inches of rain this weekend, the pond was well over the trail and up to my knees! The hills really killed me today. But I should be in good shape for next week's 4-mile race at the same trail. Hopefully the flooding goes down by then, and I hope my shoes dry out too.0
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Take out the sock liners and stuff them with newspaper.0
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After every trail run I've noticed that the arch pain and tendon pain that always nags me actually is reduced quite a bit. It's the soft surface, the shoes, or a combination of the two. I was pretty surprised today how well my feet and legs feel after my longest run ever. Last time I ran 5 miles was on a road and I was sore for a couple of days after that.
When my trail shoes dry out I'm going to take them for a run in the neighborhood.0 -
Finished my first trail race in 2nd place overall. My wife was first! It was supposed to be 4 miles but came out to 4.39 miles. I finished in a little over 40 minutes. Their official time is messed up for just about everyone (I won't even go into how unorganized the event was). I'm happy to be done and very proud of my wife. The last mile included a brutal uphill climb and I was pretty spent by then. I started the race a bit too fast and lost steam later. My data with lap time below:
Summary Total time: 40:10.0 Distance: 4.39 Average Pace: 9:05
Mile 1 Pace: 8:08.6
Mile 2 Pace: 9:17.1
Mile 3 Pace: 9:07.3
Mile 4 Pace: 11:01.40 -
Holy crap, Tim! You have wings. Great win (like, literally).0
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Holy crap, Tim! You have wings. Great win (like, literally).
Thanks! I'm thankful that my wife was ahead of me or else I would not have run that well. I had no idea we were 1 & 2 because there was also a bigger group doing a 10-mile race. A bunch of them went way ahead of us at the start and the rest were far behind me. On some of the more twisty parts I felt like I was all alone but occasionally I would catch a glimpse of my wife's hot pink hat and that would keep me going.
Now I need to start getting ready for next month's 6-mile trail race. It will be a much flatter trail this time, and I expect a huge turnout. It will be a nice preparation for the Peachtree Race.0
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