Trails

My first Ultra-Marathon is in less than 3 months. It's 34.8 miles of trails. I've already proved that I can handle 26.2 on the road, but 34.8 on trails... yikes. Today I got a taste of just what I've gotten myself into.


I'd consider myself a fairly decent runner. I'm not all that fast, pretty average. I can, however, run very long distances without much trouble. I don't hit the "wall". I don't cramp or have pains. I never need to take walking breaks. My body can go 15-18 miles without needing any refueling (Although I know it needs it, so I give it what it needs.) I think I'm pretty lucky.


I spent a good hour last night trying to figure out which trail area I wanted to venture out to this morning. I decided I'd go behind Holzinger Lodge here in Winona. I've been hiking back there before, so I knew that if worse came to worse, there was at least a half mile or so of good trails I could loop back and forth on 20 times if I needed to to make 10 miles. I've narrowed my Ultra training plan down to this one I found here. I'm excited for this training plan. It's different than the plans I've been on since February 2010. It's time for some change.


I think the biggest difference I need to get a grasp on with trail running is that pace doesn't matter. I've done a lot of research these past weeks and it all comes down to the same thing. Pace doesn't matter. The only thing Garmin is used for in TR is in case you get lost in the woods, to find your way back. They actually recommend walking up hills in TR as it is more efficient. They explain that running up roads is okay on the body because roads are paved and built for cars to go up them, however trails are rough and the terrain is so brutal that it is usually better to walk up them if they are extremely steep. With typical running and races, everything revolves around pace and PR's and age groups etc etc. Since I started training for my first race in February 2010 everything has revolved around pace.  None of that matters on the trail. Which is why when I looked down at my watch after mile 1 today, my stomach sank. I was at about a 14:30 pace. But, it was f***ing HARD. It was the hardest, roughest run I have ever experienced. For one thing, road running around here doesn't allow much for elevation change. Running the bluffs here definitely does. Then you factor in the terrain. Dirt, mud, sand, rocks, pebbles, sticks, logs. It is mentally exhausting keeping track of your footing placement with each step you take. It's like each step is a mini obstacle course.

Got to do the limbo under this log

I managed to pound out 3 miles on the trail, and it kicked my ass. Any belief I once had that I was a strong runner was crushed. That trail was the worst and most amazing run I've yet to have. I could feel my legs burning yet they were screaming for more. I have a lot of work in store for me in the next 3 months to be ready for this ultra. My plan is to do my second weekend long run on trails. I should probably mention I ran 20 miles less than 24 hours before this little adventure... and not one bit of pain or soreness... man I love my body these days.

I headed back to my car and drove to the lakes and finished the last 7 there. Amazing how much easier it was to run on the regular road. The biggest problem I had was that I had to wait until it was light out (BOOOO I'm a 4am runner damnit!!!) to hit the trail so I didnt trip and maul myself on a boulder so by the time I got to running the sun was out and it was getting warm.

48 miles this week. 30 in the past 24 hours. 69 days till the Chicago Marathon. 85 till Surph the Murph ULTRA!

Awesome new Saucony trail shoes... love em!