Trail Run

Well, I tried to get out of running this race. Since Edmund (husband) hadn’t been running regularly because of an injury, I had said we could just skip it, and I could run the greenway to get my ten-mile run in. But of course, we went. We started out great. My plan was to run two miles, walk two minutes, which has worked great for me in the past. It's perfect; it keeps me at a nice pace, and I feel pretty good the whole time. Oh, but not this time. Guess trail running is different. I don’t get in any trail running at all. I changed up my plan three times during this race. Trails are harder on my back and hips. I don’t know if it’s hard to maintain good posture on the paths or if it’s because of so many dangerous things in the trail—rocks, roots, path changes, etc. It's just not an even surface, and in the back of my mind, I kept thinking, I could really fall, and it's true, I could.

But I also handled things much better than last year. I had a better idea of what to expect. Yeah, we ran it last year too; that was my first time on a trail run. My husband had told me trail runs are easier on you. Well, he lied! But I also love the challenge and wanted to see if I could do better. I had just made my goal of under three hours for a half marathon, so yeah, I can do this. Plus, I did feel like it made me stronger afterward, so that’s worth it, right? I wasn’t worried about time—I just wanted to enjoy the run and the challenge of different terrain.

It really was a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky. The temperature started out at 70°F and got up to 80°F before the race was over. You are out in the real Florida countryside, not by the beach—the Picayune State Forest. Lots of open areas, unmaintained roads, and bike trails. The sun was able to shine right down on you, so it was hot! I think I only complained through the sugar sand. Is there anyone who likes to run in sugar sand? Sure, it builds muscles, and I bet brain power too, but I complained! Last year I actually cried not once but a few times. I did almost roll both ankles on the trail, so I slowed down after that too.

I’ve got Disney Princess weekend coming up. I signed up for three races. I need to stay uninjured. I ended up finishing in 2:29:08, which last year was 2:36:??, so my time improved by seven minutes. I’m proud of myself. I mentally handled this year better. For me, my mental strength was the best improvement, even though my time also improved. I think the time just reflects what happened inside my head. Even though I absolutely love the woods, I still prefer road running. A nice paved path through the woods would be great. My hips hurt a lot after this run, and so did my thighs.

This was my second experience with a ten-mile trail run.