The scheduled trail run went better than expected. It was a fairly tame trail--many parts are used for cross-country skiing in the winter and they are nice, well-defined, and well maintained. I was expecting lots of leaves covering the trails, although compacted with the recent rains, but obviously some little tractor came through with a leaf-blower and blew the leaves in a wide berth to the right and left of the trail. Geez...this was too easy. All the debris was cleared away too. My trail running partners and I went 8 miles. It was pretty hilly in spots and the mud up and down my legs made me feel really good. That was one of the mysteries I was pondering during the run. Roger, a 60-something year old fairly new runner (he just started running last spring--he's a distance junkie for sure!) was running right in front of me wearing shorts and he had no mud splattered up and down his legs like I did. Hmmmm.....I'm a messy dirty trail runner and I can't quite figure why!! My kids get a real kick at their mother when I walk home through the door. My children actually chastise me for getting so dirty!
The relative lack of obstacles on the trail made it easier to really take in the scenery. It was just beautiful. I love the browns, purples, and oranges of fall--the stiff frosted foliage and the smell of decomposing leaves. God, it is just the best!! Anyway, I was having a grand time and I made a commitment to keep this up as long as possible all through the winter to stave off the winter doldrums that usually have me gripped in a depressive fog!! I will fight back this year with exercise. In year's past I have fought the doldrums by treadmill running in my basement staring at the cement walls. The addition of music helps but can't compare with running with friends out in nature.
But how do you keep running these trails in the winter? One of our trail running partners pointed out these contraptions you slip over your shoes and help grip the ice and snow. They aren't really snow shoes, but made to keep your running shoes from slipping on ice. My mind ruminates to all the things that can go wrong on winter trail runs. But as long as we aren't too far out of civilization, dress appropriately, and carry cell phones...I think we'll be OK. That's the beauty of running as a group--safety in numbers! I get more comfortable with each trail run we tick off. Once spring arrives we'll be ready to take our running back on the road and really burn up some asphalt training for the Cleveland Rite Aide Marathon.
I'm really starting to get used to this and look forward to my weekly e-mail exchanges with my running group to decide when and how far we're going to run. Our little group formed last spring when a few running club members wanted to train for their first marathon. I was the veteran marathon runner in the group and trained them to the 26.2 mile goal. I ended up getting an injury during the marathon and desired additional ways to make myself a stronger runner. They've done fabulously well and now we just run for the pure joy of it and the company. The trail running is new to us all. This next weekend I hear they are planning a run around Brandywine Falls. It's a very scenic area, but I imagine where there are waterfalls of this proportion--there must be accompanying hills from which this water flows down. Maybe we can walk up the hills?
That is the nice thing about trail running, you know. It's OK if you hike up the hills and no one thinks you're a pussy for walking. In trail running...it's a necessity.
The relative lack of obstacles on the trail made it easier to really take in the scenery. It was just beautiful. I love the browns, purples, and oranges of fall--the stiff frosted foliage and the smell of decomposing leaves. God, it is just the best!! Anyway, I was having a grand time and I made a commitment to keep this up as long as possible all through the winter to stave off the winter doldrums that usually have me gripped in a depressive fog!! I will fight back this year with exercise. In year's past I have fought the doldrums by treadmill running in my basement staring at the cement walls. The addition of music helps but can't compare with running with friends out in nature.
But how do you keep running these trails in the winter? One of our trail running partners pointed out these contraptions you slip over your shoes and help grip the ice and snow. They aren't really snow shoes, but made to keep your running shoes from slipping on ice. My mind ruminates to all the things that can go wrong on winter trail runs. But as long as we aren't too far out of civilization, dress appropriately, and carry cell phones...I think we'll be OK. That's the beauty of running as a group--safety in numbers! I get more comfortable with each trail run we tick off. Once spring arrives we'll be ready to take our running back on the road and really burn up some asphalt training for the Cleveland Rite Aide Marathon.
I'm really starting to get used to this and look forward to my weekly e-mail exchanges with my running group to decide when and how far we're going to run. Our little group formed last spring when a few running club members wanted to train for their first marathon. I was the veteran marathon runner in the group and trained them to the 26.2 mile goal. I ended up getting an injury during the marathon and desired additional ways to make myself a stronger runner. They've done fabulously well and now we just run for the pure joy of it and the company. The trail running is new to us all. This next weekend I hear they are planning a run around Brandywine Falls. It's a very scenic area, but I imagine where there are waterfalls of this proportion--there must be accompanying hills from which this water flows down. Maybe we can walk up the hills?
That is the nice thing about trail running, you know. It's OK if you hike up the hills and no one thinks you're a pussy for walking. In trail running...it's a necessity.