I headed out around 6:00 AM – the weather was a perfect 55 degrees with a high of 76. I’ve never done trail running before, so why not try it the day of my first 20-mile run of the season? Only 6 weeks until San Diego – so let’s get this run over with. A soft dirt trail and easy jaunt around the lake would be a refreshing change to the concrete I pound every day. Dear sweet mother of God were my expectations so, so wrong.
A half-mile into my run I stop. Oh look, it’s a rock. No, it’s a giant rock. A giant rock that is blocking my trail. Hmm, how the hell am I supposed to get around that? Well Damn – I have to climb it. Watching my footing and taking it slow, I continued my run through mud, creeks, rocks and switches. I saw boats, deer, herons, lizards and thankfully no snakes.
Garmina wasn’t functioning properly . . . the canopy of trees and change of scenery fooled her. I’m pretty sure I only ran 18.5 miles – but I was in constant motion for 4.5 hours. I’m okay with that. I returned to my car covered in mud and exhausted, but with a smile on my face.
Nice. Just the way a trail run should be…we did one this morning too (only for an hour) and mostly had to dodge giant mud puddles and blackberry vines. Did you like it enough to go again?
Susan, Susan, Susan. As much as I love trail running I am not sure I would advise it for your first 20 miler leading up to your marathon. Others might disagree, and probably will. Try the trail runs on shorter days when it calls for an easy run to break up the monotony of the roads. I think trail running is good at all times, but technical trails with lots of switchbacks and jumping over things definitely work some different muscles that you might not have known you actually had.
Good for you for getting out on the trails. That time on your feet will pay off nonetheless (I have always wondered if this is supposed to be one word).
I did one trail run…and it wasn’t really a trail but a combination of hills, rocks, and steps up to an overpass on the highway. And I swore never again. So good for you!!
some may call that ‘trail running’…
i would call that adventure racing.
oh, but regardless, 18.5 miles — props to Runner Susan!
yay! The trails are so great! Just make sure you don’t neglect the roads since you will be running them in San Diego!
On the bright side, it surely worked some new muscles, and sounds like a lot more fun than pounding on the concrete. I’ve really got to find some trails around here.
Yay for trail runs!! They do pose some different challenges though 🙂
What a fantastic effort Susan…..just converting miles to km’s – that’s nearly 30km’s. Excellent!
Nice job on the rock, Rock Climber Susan! That’s one way to do cross training.
Sounds like a change of scenery, anyhow. And you did it! Way to go!
neither wind nor rain nor giant rock…wait, wrong motto…i meant Look! On the trail! It’s a bird! It’s a rock! It’s SuperSusan!
WOW! 4.5 hours of movin’!!! You are a rock star.
Ditto Sara’s thoughts- 4.5hrs on your feet- 4.5!! That is impressive!!
What took you so long to discover trail running? I don’t think I could live without it. Most of my marathon training runs are on the dirt.
Garmina? My Garmin 301 is named Pedro.
oooh, think how prepared you’ll be to hurdle and climb over the bodies that fall before you. you’ll be the Steven Bradbury (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Bradbury) of Dallath and Than Diego!
‘never done trail running before’!! Susan… you have been deprived of one of the great joys of running. How sad!
What grade was that rock climb?
Glad you were on trails! Don’t listen to Rob, he just doesn’t want to share this gem with anymore people:) It will pay off, marathon or not. Besides, who needs road marathon where there are are races on dirt WITH switchbacks and rocks to hop over?
That is a tough way to try out the trails for the first time….20 miles!! Hardcore!
Great job! It does help to run on trails from time to time…if you can find a run that is part trails and part road, that would be the best balance…
A 4.5 hour workout. Wow! That’s hardcore!
Sounds like you had a good time, though. Maybe there will be more rock climbi… er, trail running in your future. 🙂
Sounds more like an adventure than a run :0…glad u made it out alive 😀
4.5 hours of constant motion sounds like a normal outing at the mall for you, Susan.
is it weird that i’m jealous of your long run? vacation this past weekend pushed my 20 back to this coming weekend… and i long for it to already be done.
one month. thats friggin nuts.
anyway, good job out there! yay mud! 😉
20 miles for your first trail? You go girl! What an awesome effort, well done. Just be careful – it’s v. easy to roll an ankle on a trail. Just what you don’t want right now 🙂
I’m proud of you, Susan. You are now a TRAIL RUNNER!
good job!!!
Wow, 4.5 hours on a trail, you’re really putting the effort in, I’m impressed. You’ll be competing with Olga soon.