Ran 30 easy minutes on the treadmill and lifted upper-body weights with Karrie this morning.
There is a 30k trail run this weekend . . . I’m not sure if I’m ready for that distance, but it would be an awesome training run . . . hmmm. I’ve never done a trail race. Should I try it?
I say do it. But, be prepared to be very sore afterward. Running on trails KILLS my ankles and knees. But, I am a wuss, too so YMMV. 🙂
It’s a great race on a tough trail (I’ve done the 50k the last two years, but I’m not doing it this year). Running the trails is great; you won’t regret it, although it will stress your body in new and unexpected ways, so expect some physical discomforts you might have had before.
The 15k is full and the 50k is almost full, so I would register soon if you want to do it.
The sponsors (North Texas Trail Runners – I’m a member) are awesome and the race support is great, so this would be a great introduction to trail running.
Anyway, I’m rambling. Go for it, take it easy and enjoy the day. It will be great, I assure you.
YES!!!!!!!!!
Do it for training. It should be fun. But yeah, you’ll be sore in different places.
Go for it!
Trails are awesome but 30k might be a bit much for the first time out…if it is relatively rootless and rockless I say go for it!
30K seems like a really long distance right now. Maybe you could register so you are legit and just do part of it? Or, maybe you could find a trail running buddy and do a non-race. Trying to cover 18 miles on your first time out on trails seems a wee bit ambitious to me. Of course you can always turn it into a hike if you hurt too much.
As an ultra runner who gradually took on the greater distances… you wont know.. unless you go. Trail racing is awewome, the folks are great, it’s a little more laid back and of course, way more scenic.
I’d say do it… enjoy the journey
happy trails
GP in Montana
HA! Everytime I log onto your site you have a new header…MARTINIS???? and the spiritual thing cracked me up!
Trail races are great…I think easier on the body in the long run as you are working so many different muscles instead of the same ones with the continuous pounding…good luck and have fun!
Oh my, YES!
You won’t regret it! Running on trails is ten times easier on your body than running on the road. And it is ten times more fun! Heck I can’t run for over a week after a marathon. After a 50 mile trail run I can run the next day!
The people on the trail are awesome. We cheer each other on no matter what. And the volunteers are second to none.
A good way to complete a longer run is to walk the uphills and run anything that is flat or downhill. That way you are assured to finish with a smile on your face.
Have fun first and formost. That is why we do this right?
tom riley
(I have been lurking for a long time but I had to interject on this topic!)
I say go for it! I’ve done 3 trail races this past summer (although all half-marathons) and they were all very fun. My advice, though, is when you start to get tired…. pay even more attention to your footing. I fell hard on mile 11 of my last trail race. I finished but I was out of commission for a week… almost prevented me from running the marathon I had been training for. 🙂 Good luck!
Man, everyone’s had a makeover… Like the new header.
Trail races are a blast – all the fun of a regular race PLUS faceplants. 30K is somewhat steep, but if it’s a distance you’ve been running regularly, it shouldn’t be much of an issue.
Sure you can do it and enjoy!
Nice half!
I’m going to be a damp pork pie and say No. The trail race will be a nice diversion from normal running, but my sense is that you want to run faster marathons at this point in time – you have the endurance to last the marathon. Now work on the speedwork.
With due respect to the anonymous commentator preceding this post, I think doing the 18 mile trail run is OK; but be prepared to make a day of it. Walk when you want to, jog when you want to, and run as if your shoes were on fire if you feel like it. After following you for a long while, I think ultras are in your future. Once you get fully recovered from your Half-Marathon you can consider changing your training to focus more on speed; but first try to 30K.
Didn’t you just run a half? (duh; yeah) If you’re not creaky from that, then go ahead. Just be ready to be more sore.
i like phil’s take on this susan. do it and make a day of it and have fun. how are your blisters? go put some mileage on those trail shoes.
Eeeks…. Don’t listen to me complain. But I did a 5K nasty trail race through the badlands….that I could have sworn wa more like an 8K, and felt it for a few days… I was definitely not prepared for that trail!
Yeah, I’d skip it and let yourself recover. If you run it and get injured then you’ll just have to drink until your body heals. Wait, is that such a bad thing?
I say go for it but be ok with walking…in fact I insist on it!! Trail running is a whole other animal!
Yeah, go for it. Walk up the steep hills, it’s no good spending all your biccies on one hill when you’ve got several more to go.
trail running sounds like lots of fun! I think it’d be enjoyable. Dooo it. 🙂
ps: this is my favorite masthead of yours yet! It’s so…angular. I love it.
Do it! Trail runs are to celebrate your running experience, just take it easy and enjoy it.
GO!
you will love it!
take it easy walk plenty take GU’s and you will have an awesome time!
Cheers R2B
Yes!
obviously a trick question ….. like “does my bum look big in this?”
i think you’re cute!
first of all, not only will you have fun on a trail run, it’s very slimming and will make you look leggy and chesty and give you bee-stung pouty lips.
I say no don’t do it. You just ran the half, recover from it and tackle a smaller trail run first.
I think you risk injury.
Trail runs are such different animals that you might be surprised at how slowly the miles go by — but also how quickly with so much to focus on. You should do it, Soozie Q.