First Trail Running Experience
Throughout my ten year running career, i’ve heard the term “trail running” over and over again. Apparently you’re not a real runner until you’ve experienced and love trail running. I must not be a real runner because I enjoy the pavement, thank you. Trail running has always daunted me because I just imagine myself thrusting my foot oddly against a protruding root, spending the next year in the hospital for ankle or knee surgery after surgery to piece my poor appendages back together and thus completely ending my career as a runner altogether. I can’t even keep my ankles straight on flat pavement and you expect me to successfully run on the uneven, rocky, rooty trail!!??
Yesterday I finally did it. I set out and experienced my first “trail run.” we have a local park that is made up of several trails that cater to walkers, runners, and mountain bikers. I’ve been wanting to check it out as a change of scenery and running terrain and it’s been highly recommended to me as both beautiful and peaceful. I would rate my experience a 7 out of 10. I will return, but the park isn’t large enough and the trails I’ve found so far long enough that I don’t have to repeat the route several times to make up the mileage I normally would do. I did appreciate its tranquility and the fact that I had to really concentrate on my footing helped make the minutes go by quickly. So there. I’m a trail runner. Congratulations to me.
Out like a Lamb
March came in with a gusty force and is now graciously leaving with sunshiny splendidness. I haven’t been able to run in three days due to a hectic weekend full of running the audio/visual for my church’s annual women’s conference, my dad’s birthday, my mother-in-law’s big 50th birthday bash, an invitation to join several other young couples for lunch after church, and somehow squeezing in a run to shop for presents inbetween. It’s been a long time since i’ve been decidedly too busy for several days consecutively to get in a run. However, I’m all about a rebound this week as the forecast is promising and I am ready to work up my weekly mileage from averaging about 23 to 30 miles. Still working on that posture…
Welcome Running Season
Ok, well it may be a little premature but we’re experiencing a couple of unusually warm and eagerly accepted days so I’m all gung-ho about the time of year when it’s not hard to take running seriously. I had a week off and yesterday went for a great seven miles. My mp3 player died on me about 1/4 through the run but against all odds I didn’t mind so much. I enjoyed taking in the twittering of birds, throttling motorcycles, ferocious barking dogs (oh wait, that’s everyday) the rumbling of cars not swerving quite far enough away from me as they pass and small children playing in backyards. I enjoyed every bit of the “I’m back with a vengeance” run and then today I felt my body telling me that although I’m excited and yes, it is nice, I probably overdid it a little during a normally easy follow-up four miler. Oh spring and summer, how I love thee. And how my running benefits from thee and my winter lethargicism (look, i just made up a word) dies with your awakening…
