Advice from Trail Runners?

You should definitely do a fair bit of running on trails before doing a half on them. I personally LOVE trail running but it does affect your body differently... less jarring impact on knees and ankles (yay) but also requires more strength/stability from your ankles and calves, as well as just using different muscles for particularly hilly parts.

And I agree with PP - "technical" means there will be a fair bit of roots and rocks that you will need to keep an eye on.

Hard to speak to the cold issue, but I can't imagine Georgia is that cold in November?? I live in Wyoming though so a slightly different perspective, lol. In general, I always start a run underdressed when it's chilly... running tights and a short sleeved shirt, even if I would normally be wearing a longsleeved shirt or hoody if I was just standing around. You immediately warm up and don't want to have to carry a bunch of layers.

In general though, it sounds like a great challenge! And trail running is SO FUN. Beautiful scenery, keeps you engaged because the trail is always changing, etc.

SonicDeathMonkey80 wrote: »

Here's what you can expect:

"technical" means roots, rocks, creek crossings, and other crap on the course that make footing difficult

"single track mountain bike and running trails" means you're gonna need to give space to people in front of you, and there is no avoidance zone

"through densely wooded pine forest with moderate elevation changes" well, "moderate" is subjective to who you ask, and to me, would mean ~100ft/mi of climbing.

I agree with most of this. It sounds like a lot based on what you are accustomed to, but I say go for it and allow yourself to walk as needed. Going into it with the expectation that you can run it start to finish, at your typical run pace, with no problem would well lead to disaster.

Trail runs are AWESOME, and one of my favorite things to do... but trail running is soooo much harder on the body than road running (IME).

You should try it bc why not. As for mileage concerns, I would look more at this as trying to just run it rather than race it and you should be just fine.

That said, expect your pace to be much MUCH slower than it would be with the road with the same effort. A minute or two slower shouldn't be a shock to you. AND that perfectly OK.

Don't be afraid to slow down and power walk up steep or really technical trail grades. Not face planting into a rock or blowing your legs up at mile 3 is very important.

Expect a few aches and pains from places you never felt from road running. You should do some trails once or twice a week until then to give your body a heads up about whats about to go down.

With the description you gave = no headphones. For realsies. It is dangerous not only for you but for others out there. You need to spend your time in the here and now so you are constantly surveying the terrain and placing your footing. The second you get distracted is the same time where you foot catches a tree root and you go down to pound town.

Check and know the races aid stations. Many trail races do not have much so you may be carrying water and nutrition with you. May also need T.P. ...just saying be prepared.

Enjoy the scenery. You will get to see things that most people will never by doing these runs. If you can hit a runners high while on the run in the woods then it is a special kind of ecstasy. I got hooked on trails through a similar situation and so glad I did.

I did a technical trail race (15K) for my first race longer than a 5K. I wasn't really prepared... hadn't trained on trails, hadn't run many hills, etc. But I tell you I LOVED IT. I personally think that the more technical a course is (i.e. the more stuff for you to wade through and trip over), the faster the time goes. For me, even though I'm running slower than I would on the road, the time just flies by because I'm so hyper-focused on not tripping.

So I say you should go for it. You'll be a bit sore, but probably not incapacitated if you have 9.3 mile runs under your belt. JMO.

dharkan wrote: »

If a mountain bike can pass through the trail, then it's not that technical!

Lol, as a mountain biker, I beg to differ. "Technical" singletrack mountain bike trails can be CRAZY. That's what the "technical" denotes. As we say, you're not really biking if you're not walking your bike at least some of the time...

e.g.: https://www.google.com/search?q=technical+singletrack&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=LHNFVLPYGqqCigLWjIG4CA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg&biw=997&bih=617

Go for it. That's the beauty of running...but I would at least get some decent trail shoes and be prepared to be sore. Trail runs have a way of finding things to make sore that road runs miss.

I would get out and try a trail run near you just to give you an idea. I love it and when I am running thru the woods I always think of Daniel Day Lewis in Last of the Mohicans! Lol
I wouldn't expect a fast race but try it closer to your home and if you like it (beware it is addicting) then give it a shot. Get some good shoes and have some fun!