Trail Running

One of my goals for this year was to take up trail running. It's always fascinated me. I love hiking and I love running, so it made perfect sense to put the two together. I have no idea why I hadn't really tried it until now. Sure, I've ran on "trails" around here, but always on flat ones that I knew the distance. I've never just drove to a trail head and started to run. I think I was intimidated about knowing where to go or how far I was going or even going alone. Well, I finally got out there and went for my first "trail run" today.

A friend and neighbor trail runs, in fact that's all she does, and so I've though it would be fun to go with her sometime. I mentioned it yesterday morning at the bus stop and she was up for it and we planned to go today.

She picked me up and we drove over to the Blue Mountain trail head, which isn't more than a couple miles from our houses. The weather was perfect, cool but still the sun peeked out once in a while from the clouds. I was a little intimidated, knowing that she can out run me, but we ended up running the same pace most of the time--it probably helps that we're both nursing healing stress fractures! And the trails she took me on were a perfect mix of uphill, downhill and level. It was great. I felt pretty winded on the hills, but it was good--my legs felt strong and it was nice to just chat while we ran. I really enjoyed getting for a run out in the hills away from houses and the traffic. I will definitely go again. In fact, I liked it so much that I think I may have to eventually invest in some trail shoes! :-)