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runners2015-05-18 08:14 pm
semielliptical) wrote in runners2015-05-18 08:14 pm
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Trail Half Marathon
I wanted to share a bit about the trail half marathon I ran several weeks ago. It was my first trail half, and I enjoyed it immensely!
The day before the race, I set out for a short, easy run and after just about 5 minutes experienced a sudden pain, radiating from my lower back to the back of my leg, on the left side. Slowing down and stretching didn't make much difference, so I gave up on the run and carefully walked home. The pain subsided but hit me occasionally throughout the morning and I was really unhappy, thinking I might need to miss the race. But luckily I felt ok when I woke up on the morning of the race, and decided to give it a try. The pain never came back and I think it might have been due to anxiety/stress.
The race was at a state park, which had real flush toilets, yay! I got there relatively early so I used them at least twice. At the start, they sent the 600 or so runners off in waves and I was somewhere in the middle.
We were on a wide path for a bit, and then on single track as we entered the woods, where the crowd slowed down. But the trail opened up again for a short distance a bit later, and it seemed like runners were pretty well sorted out when we returned to the single track. It was also possible to pass on most of the course.
My plan was to take it easy; I didn't feel quite prepared for the nearly constant small hills. In the first mile I settled in behind what sounded like two very experienced trail runners who were chatting about past trail races and future plans, including running the trail marathon on the following day! They kept a nice steady pace, while walking any of the steeper uphill sections.
The only unfortunate part of the race was falling around mile 3. I guess I just wasn't paying enough attention, as the trail was fairly flat right there and the root that I tripped over should have been very obvious. I fell pretty hard and was quite startled but after sitting for a half a minute or so I decided I felt ok, and kept running.
(I actually ended up with massive bruises on my right arm and hip, and left knee, and couldn't sleep on my right side (usual sleeping side) for two weeks. I'm just glad I didn't land on my face.)
I was certainly more careful for the rest of the race! I realized that it was safest to enjoy the views while walking (which was how I approached many of the uphills). The trail was almost entirely in a woods. There was some greenery, but the trees weren't leafed out, so there were some nice views. We ran over a few small wooden bridges, and alongside a few ponds.
So,ilanarama had predicted I would run 11:45-12:00 minute miles, based on my road half marathon the previous month. She was right on target; I averaged 12:03 miles. I think I paced fairly evenly for most of the race, and I had enough energy left in the last mile to pick it up a bit and pass a number of people. I'm quite pleased with how I ran, especially considering my fall!
Overall, I had a great time. I had been worried that I would be bored running for so long (longest run ever in terms of time!) but the variety on the trail made the time pass quickly. I will definitely do this race again.
The day before the race, I set out for a short, easy run and after just about 5 minutes experienced a sudden pain, radiating from my lower back to the back of my leg, on the left side. Slowing down and stretching didn't make much difference, so I gave up on the run and carefully walked home. The pain subsided but hit me occasionally throughout the morning and I was really unhappy, thinking I might need to miss the race. But luckily I felt ok when I woke up on the morning of the race, and decided to give it a try. The pain never came back and I think it might have been due to anxiety/stress.
The race was at a state park, which had real flush toilets, yay! I got there relatively early so I used them at least twice. At the start, they sent the 600 or so runners off in waves and I was somewhere in the middle.
We were on a wide path for a bit, and then on single track as we entered the woods, where the crowd slowed down. But the trail opened up again for a short distance a bit later, and it seemed like runners were pretty well sorted out when we returned to the single track. It was also possible to pass on most of the course.
My plan was to take it easy; I didn't feel quite prepared for the nearly constant small hills. In the first mile I settled in behind what sounded like two very experienced trail runners who were chatting about past trail races and future plans, including running the trail marathon on the following day! They kept a nice steady pace, while walking any of the steeper uphill sections.
The only unfortunate part of the race was falling around mile 3. I guess I just wasn't paying enough attention, as the trail was fairly flat right there and the root that I tripped over should have been very obvious. I fell pretty hard and was quite startled but after sitting for a half a minute or so I decided I felt ok, and kept running.
(I actually ended up with massive bruises on my right arm and hip, and left knee, and couldn't sleep on my right side (usual sleeping side) for two weeks. I'm just glad I didn't land on my face.)
I was certainly more careful for the rest of the race! I realized that it was safest to enjoy the views while walking (which was how I approached many of the uphills). The trail was almost entirely in a woods. There was some greenery, but the trees weren't leafed out, so there were some nice views. We ran over a few small wooden bridges, and alongside a few ponds.
So,
ilanarama had predicted I would run 11:45-12:00 minute miles, based on my road half marathon the previous month. She was right on target; I averaged 12:03 miles. I think I paced fairly evenly for most of the race, and I had enough energy left in the last mile to pick it up a bit and pass a number of people. I'm quite pleased with how I ran, especially considering my fall! Overall, I had a great time. I had been worried that I would be bored running for so long (longest run ever in terms of time!) but the variety on the trail made the time pass quickly. I will definitely do this race again.