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Trail runners....lend me your ears (eyes?) and brains for a moment please.....<br><br>
I'd been benched for more than two years with injury after injury from running-stress fractures, a mysterious hip injury which turned out to be spinal misalignment, ankle problems, PF, you name it, I probably had it. Add to this that I used to be a good 50+ pounds heavier when I started running (jenna and the old gang will remember that--ugghh) and had NO self esteem about my ability as a runner because I was "slow and fat" that the constant injuries eventually became an excuse to give up something I had grown to hate because of the mental beating I would take from myself on every training run. Grizz and I have had many conversations about that part over the years and I never could come to terms with it, so I basically gave up.<br><br>
I never really ran on "real" trails like you guys....Meri probably knows the one I like the best, the Pawlings Road side at VF park....flat and easy but a great 6-mile out and back, and the scenery was always pretty. Once when I was running there a baby deer popped out next to the trail and was close enough when I ran by to pat him on the nose if I wanted to. The look on his face wasn't one of fear, it was like "what's this, Mommy?" That moved me to tears and I think I cried the whole rest of the run. The deer there are so socialized that most of them aren't afraid of us anymore.<br><br>
Anyway, I digress (big surprise there!). I miss parts of running tremendously but have been having a hell of a time mentally getting back out there because I'll basically have to start over. I'm wondering if perhaps trail running would be a better option.....I love being in the woods, I don't mind getting dirty or wet, the scenery is much better than on the road, and the surfaces are still a little softer than concrete and asphalt. Despite its non-challenging status, I used to love that trail and some of my best, most peaceful runs were on it. And I've always wanted to do Ron's Pretzel City races, one of which altoids and Turtle just did. I know those trails are way more challenging than what I am used to, but that race report sounded like SO much fun! Plus, I secretly always harbored a dream to do an ultra someday, especially since my slow pace is more the norm than the exception in a long trail run. I've read meri's race report more times than I can count, and something in it just spoke to me. Eventually being able to do a race like Umstead someday would be probably one of the hugest accomplishments I could ever make.<br><br>
What made you guys pick trail running? What do you like most about it?<br><br>
(I'll save all the annoying questions about trail running shoes, waterproof socks and tougher trails to train on for later <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif"> Right now I'm just exploring whether I'd like that better than road running & racing. Opinions??
I'd been benched for more than two years with injury after injury from running-stress fractures, a mysterious hip injury which turned out to be spinal misalignment, ankle problems, PF, you name it, I probably had it. Add to this that I used to be a good 50+ pounds heavier when I started running (jenna and the old gang will remember that--ugghh) and had NO self esteem about my ability as a runner because I was "slow and fat" that the constant injuries eventually became an excuse to give up something I had grown to hate because of the mental beating I would take from myself on every training run. Grizz and I have had many conversations about that part over the years and I never could come to terms with it, so I basically gave up.<br><br>
I never really ran on "real" trails like you guys....Meri probably knows the one I like the best, the Pawlings Road side at VF park....flat and easy but a great 6-mile out and back, and the scenery was always pretty. Once when I was running there a baby deer popped out next to the trail and was close enough when I ran by to pat him on the nose if I wanted to. The look on his face wasn't one of fear, it was like "what's this, Mommy?" That moved me to tears and I think I cried the whole rest of the run. The deer there are so socialized that most of them aren't afraid of us anymore.<br><br>
Anyway, I digress (big surprise there!). I miss parts of running tremendously but have been having a hell of a time mentally getting back out there because I'll basically have to start over. I'm wondering if perhaps trail running would be a better option.....I love being in the woods, I don't mind getting dirty or wet, the scenery is much better than on the road, and the surfaces are still a little softer than concrete and asphalt. Despite its non-challenging status, I used to love that trail and some of my best, most peaceful runs were on it. And I've always wanted to do Ron's Pretzel City races, one of which altoids and Turtle just did. I know those trails are way more challenging than what I am used to, but that race report sounded like SO much fun! Plus, I secretly always harbored a dream to do an ultra someday, especially since my slow pace is more the norm than the exception in a long trail run. I've read meri's race report more times than I can count, and something in it just spoke to me. Eventually being able to do a race like Umstead someday would be probably one of the hugest accomplishments I could ever make.<br><br>
What made you guys pick trail running? What do you like most about it?<br><br>
(I'll save all the annoying questions about trail running shoes, waterproof socks and tougher trails to train on for later <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif"> Right now I'm just exploring whether I'd like that better than road running & racing. Opinions??
