I'll use the term "run" loosely for this activity. I think we hiked more than we ran and some of the uphills were more of an insanely slow crawl (with me staring up longingly at the top of the hill, wishing I had trained for more hills and realizing my goal to run most of my 10k race is a pipe dream). We were on a bit of a time crunch and I was lagging behind so I didn't take many pictures, but I couldn't resist taking this one - just one of the crazy steep hills we climbed (not ran, but definitely climbed). It was just after the 5k mark, we had just stopped for a quick refuel and had restarted on our journey. My friend and her daughter are training for the 50k trail run (yup, they're a little bit crazy 😜 ) so we thought we would hit the back side of the 50k trails yesterday, aiming for at least a 10 km run. Her daughter had to work at noon, giving us about 2 hours to meet our goal and allowing them to test some different foods to fuel on the go. They have 10 hours to complete the 50k, so this will give them an idea of pace they need to sustain and what we can cover in that time frame. We had planned for an 8:30 am start but they woke up to rain at the lake. The narrow game trails on the sides of the hills can be really tricky in dry conditions and super sketchy in wet conditions so we waited until the last minute to see if the rain would stop. It did, so I quickly hustled around to get ready and get out there (it's a 35 minute drive from home). We ended up starting about 9 am. It was 20C and humid as all get out at the start and 29C and sunny & hot by the end so not ideal temperature for a challenging run but could be the conditions we have on race day so best to get acclimated to it. The first 3k were tough (who am I kidding, it was all really tough), but when I looked at the elevation map, the first 3.2 k were a steady uphill with an elevation change of 131m - no wonder it was such a hard slog. We climbed many hills, went through a thick grove of trees where the trail was partially grown over making it a guess as to which way to go (fortunately they had been on this trail once before so kind of remembered which way to go), had one water crossing (and no bog foot for me this time!), saw several little frogs, a gorgeous deer, possibly a little snake - wasn't sticking around to explore it closer, and only 2 ticks between the 3 of us despite going through some sketchy areas. And I'm super proud of myself ...... as I picked the tick off my sock, I didn't run panicking and shrieking and only called him a mildly bad word instead of a really bad word that would've got my mouth washed out as a kid 😂
Tough as it was, I always learn something from each of these crazy trail runs that I've been doing:
Lesson #1: I'm so glad I only signed up for the 10k this year. That being said, I am loving exploring the other races trails this year as part of my training and have full intentions of signing up for the 20k next year.
Lesson #2: As refreshing as a cold, wet buff is around your neck in this heat, trying to use water from your water bottle that has literally become hot does not make it any more refreshing later on in your run. Neither does spraying that insanely hot water on your face. I must remember to partially fill and freeze my water bottle the night before next time.
Lesson 3: When your allergies are acting up and the tissues you packed in your hydration belt just become a soggy mess in your insanely sweaty hands, a buff works in a pinch as a hankie. You just have to remember which part your using on your nose if you want to use it on any another part of your face after that 😖
Lesson #4: My friends use trekking poles on these runs. I'm klutzy and worried it would just be one more thing I have to contend with. However, climbing and descending some of the crazy hills we were on is a challenge and breathing when I'm all bent over trying to keep my balance is an even greater challenge. I borrowed one for one of the hills and Wow! What a difference! It keeps your body upright, keeping your chest open and your breathing easier, plus helps maintain your balance, giving one more contact point with the ground when you're lifting one leg off the ground. The 10k route isn't quite as rugged so I'm not worried about this year's race but will definitely get one next year for the 20k race. Plus, I'll probably get a hydration vest instead of just my belt so I can carry more water and fuel for the longer training runs. Time to go shopping 😁
Lesson #5: I must, I must, I must improve my ...... leg and core strength😉. I guess I better go back and find Rignold 's squat challenge - might be a good place to start.
Fun fact: My gps map looks like something finally...Yay! I always run boring out and back or very linear lines or laps through the campground that make nothing interesting. But on this trail run, I see a giraffe. I don't know if they run very fast, because this giraffe was very, very slow in the making 😆
Written by
SaskAlliecat
Graduate10
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Thanks. I can only get faster, right 😉😆. It takes the worry of pace away when you're climbing those beasts!
Gulp! I am now going to stop going on about my 'hills', that's Mount Everest! But what an adventure. What a wonderful place to run. And you're still alive to tell the tale. Respect xx
Good god woman, you must be so fit and strong! That is some 10k. My eyes watered at that hill. Yikes. But what an accomplishment. You really do run/hike in some challenging conditions, I am in awe. And puts the little inclines I tackle on my regular run to shame! 😂
Thanks Sadie. I thought I was fit before tackling these hills. It has knocked me down a peg, that's for sure. They are challenging but I'm loving the feeling of accomplishment afterwards, that's for sure. My eyes also watered, hence the "I know I'm lagging, but I must take a picture!". I don't look at the undulations on my normal runs the same anymore 😂
Wow greatest respect to you SaskAlliecat - that puts my trots along the prom into perspective. Even walking up that would be a struggle . Beautiful vows I bet.
It's just a different facet of running I've been exploring that has been a lot of fun. I enjoy a nice run along the prom as well 🙂 The views are gorgeous and there is lots of time to stop and take them in as you're catching your breath.
Hi Allie, wowser! I thought you were calling it your giraffe run because you were scaling his neck in the picture!
What adventures you are having...much respect to you three tough ladies, taking on such challenging trails... just reading about it is gruelling!
Your wet buff tip has proved very useful to me and others, not sure I need a trekking pole on any of my runs though😉although I do have one I have used on hilly walks. What do you do with it when you run? Does it fix onto a backpack?
Huge well done to you on your giraffe run....Take care and look forward to hearing about your next adventure! 😊xxx
Thanks Jan. It has definitely been an adventure. The poles they use do fold up nicely and can be stowed in their hydration packs. There are so many hills though, they're not stowed often 😆
Brilliant! Sounds so interesting! What an adventure! All you can do on the steep hills is walk em slowly. In heat too, it’s even more important to conserve energy. I always take a large cotton hankie, folded up and put under my towelling wristband. to blow my nose or as a mop for face and neck. It’s also served as a bandage 😃
Those ultra marathon trail packs are so expensive! The Jenny Jurek one looks good !
It feels like if I went up any slower I'd be going backwards 😂. At least I know what I need to work on. My other hydration belt I have a small piece of microfibre cloth in it for wiping my face etc, but I forgot to move it over to my double bottle belt. There is so much to try and remember to grab as I was flying out the door. That was all I forgot. And most importantly, I remembered my Sport bug spray. I don't run those hills without dousing my legs and shoes big time!
Thanks for the hydration pack recommendation. My friends each have a camel back but the better one of the 2 they have (with more pouches for storing other goodies) isn't available anymore. I'm check out that one as well. I'm thinking the poles and pack would make a mighty fine birthday/Christmas present 😄
Thanks FPF. There were a few times on that run that I questioned if I could do it, but when you're several km away from a road, on a time crunch with others counting on you, all you can do is push through it. I probably shouldn't have done it 2 days after staying home from work due to vomiting, but it turned out ok. As we were trekking up the first series of hills, wondering why it felt so hard, I decided these runs are a lot like childbirth - hard at the time, you question why you're doing it, telling yourself you're not ready for it....then when it is all over, you have a feeling of euphoria and accomplishment and think, Ya... I could do it again 😅. It really is amazing how great you feel when you reach the top of the hill and take in the gorgeous views or reach the end of the run and see the crazy elevation change and graph (we try to ignore the pace chart, it is abysmal) 😆
Thanks mama. We did the 5k last year as a way for both of us to get back to running after we each had hysterectomies a few months apart. I suggested we try to do the 50k by the time we’re 50 (we’re 44 now) but her daughter is going away for University this year so they wanted to try the challenge of the 50k (and it is literally in their backyard since they live at the lake). It has been quite an adventure for them and I’m learning a lot on the gear they’ve been acquiring. I’ll definitely be using their experience but I’m hoping after this race she’ll still be up for doing it again in a few years. When she told me she signed up for the 50k, I knew I couldn’t do it this year (or any time soon). My work life is so demanding, but I’m hoping in a few years I’ll be able to scale back a bit to up my training 🤞. Right now we’re so short staffed, it doesn’t look possible but i’m more than happy working towards the 20 next year. I’m loving hitting the different trails with her though and seeing what I could be in for in a few years. But first, I must get through the 10k and 20k (I’m such a regimented rule follower; I can’t jump the queue 🤣).
Thanks MC 😊. It sure has been a fun way to spend my time at the lake this summer. It’s nice to get out run/hike and not be so focussed on pace and running non-stop. It’s taken me a bit to wrap my head around it and I still catch myself looking at the pace post run and feeling discouraged until I look at the elevation chart and then I feel so empowered.
Crikey...you have nothing to feel discouraged about at all Sask...it’s not about the time it takes it’s about what you’re doing in that time...& you’re doing exactly what you love & enjoying it so keep on doing what you do best xx
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Fourth run of my trilogy, a jogette of tarmac and trails.
Nettlestone Road & Trail run
I'VE JUST RUN MY FIRST 10K!!
