Northwest Trail Run Report

Today I tried something new.

Maybe not the smartest move but I'm all about pushing myself outside my not so large box.

For those that know me, know there are a few things about running I hate. I can handle the pain, speed and endurance. What I typically complain about is the WIND, HILLS and TRAILS. I can avoid two of these three pretty easily. The wind, well that's a toss up. Many of times I have chosen to run on the treadmill to avoid the wind.

So what did I do this morning? I ran a 10 mile trail run. Big deal right? I ran a 13.1 mile trail run for my 1/2 ironman. Well I realize that was a piece of cake compared to the one this morning.


About 300 runners gathered in a field waiting for the gun to go off. I had no idea which way to run or where we were headed. Just follow the crowds. Many of the runners were doing 5 miles. I'd say at least 2/3 of them. It was a 5 mile loop. My plan was to do at least the 5 miles then make a decision on whether to go for the second loop. Gun goes off we head to the opposite side of the field to a tiny opening in the brush. We come to a complete stop. Waiting for 300 of us to merge single file into the woods. Start running and stop 10 seconds later. Run again, stop again. Within .20 of a mile we were headed straight up. Damn that was a huge first hill. No way to pass people as the trail is too small. Not that I could have at this point anyway. I had Dave and my Dad right behind me for quite awhile. Our first mile was finished at a whopping speed of 12:30. Somehow I was going to have to figure out how to get past people without tripping on tree roots or rocks along the way.

I managed to pass about 10 people or so. Then it opened up just enough where two runners could run next to each other. With Dave still right behind me.........oh, wait he decides to pass me. Really? You just go ahead, I'll keep my eye on you. You won't get far. Let's just say the whole 5 mile loop was ridiculous. There was never a flat area to run. It was either a gradual uphill or a huge uphill. Or vice versa. At least 2-3 hills were so steep or so covered in leaves, roots, and rocks there was no way I could make it up running. I could walk faster than run it. I caught up with Dave on the largest hill. He kindly shared his water and I so kindly gave up my last Gu since he lost one of his. A short time later I stopped to retie my shoes. Well well there he goes again. Now in front of me. It stayed that way for another 1/2 mile or so then I caught up again on another hill and was able to hold pace as I pulled ahead. My father at this point is somewhere behind both of us. I begin to wonder if I should do the second loop. I signed up for 10 but I could stop at 5. The worst thing for my shin is hills and uneven terrain. But other than it being hard to run all the hills. I felt good. There wasn't any serious speed going on here so I wasn't spent yet. Dave caught up just as the decision was made.....turn left across the field yet again for loop two. Up down up down. Runners very sparse at this point. I made it my mission to focus on the runner ahead of me and pass them. I passed about 7 people. Only one passed me. I picked up my pace a bit during the tiny and twisted part of the trail. I lost Dave and was just running in the forest all on my own. It was the best part of the race. No one behind me or in front. Watching to make sure I made the right turns and watching my footing I was soon back on the larger path. Managed to pass a few more men and just kept going. This was the first race I'd wish I had my camera. Unless you have run these trails before you can't imagine how hilly they are.

As I made it up the last hill and turned left towards the finish line about 1/2 mile away I turned and looked behind me. Who do I see? Dave only about .10 of a mile behind. I'm impressed. At the same time I think crap keep going! I won't let him sneak up on me again. I pass my kids and Mooma who got to go to breakfast while we ran. Lucky them! I cross the line around 1:47. No results up yet. It was in no way speedy. But this was not a place to run fast. This is not how I train. This was extremely hard on the legs and come to find out the balls of my feet. I now have blisters under my callouses. Dave finished just a minute later and my Dad hanging in with a time just under 2 hours. Well done by all of us I must say.

And I will now admit. I still hate wind, hills and trails but overall I enjoyed this race. It was nice to do something totally different.

My box is now just a little bit bigger ;)