Trail Running - aka trying to avoid eating dirt

Two weeks before the Marine Corp Marathon, I decided it would be good idea to run in a 10 mile trail race as a warm up.  Luckily from me, the Fall Back Yard Burn series was in just starting up (

This particular race has a 5-mile (1 loop) and 10-mile (2 loops) option.  I really like the idea of running the course twice, as there are no surprises the second time around.  Here is map for those cartofiles among us.

At the start of the race, I got as close to the front as I dared, even though I was targeting a 9 minute per mile pace.  Trail running is a little like cross country racing, in which the start is critical to ensure you don't get stuck behind slower runners once the trail narrows.  This race started with quick lap around the parking lot to thin the herd before hitting the trial.  The trail section starts with 1/4 mile up a fireroad.

I was mostly successful in my pacing, settling in on picking off people in front of me.  Trail running requires you to constantly change your stride to miss roots, rocks, washouts, etc.   There is no zoning out or rythym of steady pace.  In case of trails, it is diffent type of zone, one in which there is no other focus than where you next step will land.

After the first loop, the crowd really thinned out as many racers opted for the 5 mile version.  I as hit the 1/4 hile again, I was able to pick off  a few more people.  Trail runners are very social - I passed a mile or so chatting with someone who had completed 2 ironman races.  After maintain my target heart rate for the first 8 miles, I was able to slowly step it up for the final 2, as planned. I finished in 1 hour 28 minutes, good for 6th in my age group and 30th overall.

After that, there was nothing else left to do other than grab some breakfast buritos and pizza!  By sure to check out Swim Bike Run Photo - they do amazing job with race photos.  If they can make me look good, they must have talent!