First trail race signed up

[Decker]

Signed up for the 25k this morn. Never tried a real trail run before. Hoping it is not too crazy. 🙃 Here is the race link:

burlingtonrunners.com/races...

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

Yeehaw! Welcome to the other (dark? or maybe it is the light given it is a very welcoming community) side 😊. Enjoy the training and communing with Nature.

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thanks Sask. Hoping I’ve not bit off more than I can chew here

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Na! You'll do great. What's the elevation profile like? Hilly and rugged? I hope so, those are fun and you feel like a beast when it is done!

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

I’ve no idea. Spose I should look into that eh?

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Might be an idea 😂. Helps to know what your training for. I didn’t see it on the website when I first checked it out when you mentioned it last week but they usually have it somewhere.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Decker]

Whaaat??? Madness!

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

burlingtonrunners.com/media... Found this - doesn’t say what the elevation change is but steep hill, switch backs, lovely gradual downhill - all lovely descriptors! Enjoy 😊

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Found it in their race guide - the 20k loop has 620 m of elevation gain. Sweet! Lots of climbing can make for some very scenic runs. I hope you like hills 😉. I find hills on a trail run are so different than a road run - given the ruggedness you may be power hiking up them instead and descending can be fun in it’s own right - hopping, side stepping, shuffling, or full-on plowung diwn iffitnis an open path! Enjoy 😊. Sounds like a lot of fun!

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thanks Sask yes I just saw this too. Hope the trail is well marked , as there seem to be a lot of turns 😁 Looks like it will be a fun one

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

I just got an email that they are having an orientation run in April which will be very handy to check out the course and ask questions before chaos ensues on run day.

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

That’s a great idea! It’ll be a great chance to scope out what you got yourself into 😁. In all seriousness though, you’ll love it. The course map and description sounds neat. You’ll need to take some pics and post them!

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Yes for an amateur non profit race, it is a really nice touch esp for noobs like me! Well my phone should not freeze in May, so, short of dropping my phone down a ravine, I should have some pics!

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

If something ends up down in the ravine, make sure it is only the phone and not the person attached to the phone😆. Really, they are fun, I promise! You just have to get over the first fall of the season to remind you to pay attention to your surroundings and pick up your darn feet. I tend to trip a lot more when I’m tired and my mind starts to wander... not a good combo..,

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Yeah, I was told to look ahead at the trail always for roots and rocks. And I think I’m getting my ‘ice legs’ now so maybe the balance may help a little 😁

[Mummycav]

Wow Decker , there’s no stopping you?! You will be amazing, as ever x 💪🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻💪🏻

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Mummycav]

Thanks Mummycav I’ll be happy to finish this one!

[Mummycav in reply to Decker]

Decker , I have every faith in you

[Irish-John Marathon]

I cannot run on uneven surfaces, even road camber can throw me Very best wishes to you in this venture Decker, the scenery will make a nice change from tarmac and houses

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Irish-John]

Thanks John, it would be a nice switch from all the concrete I normally run on I’m looking forward to it!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Sounds exciting! No resting for you after your 30k then 😀

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

Well it was either this or a marathon in early May, so I opted for the marathon later in the year 😊

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Decker]

😀

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Trail races are my favourite!sounds great! 😊x

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to aliboo70]

Thanks Ali, you make it look like so much fun so I thought let’s try one out.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Decker]

Absolutely! Hard work though so keep top side of your training - on the trail 💪👍😃

It’s exciting 😁

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

I’m trying to get my friend to train with me. She just finished a Hong Kong 50k trail run and has great experience running local trails. She trains crazy hard!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Mine too Ali 👍😃💪

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon]

Looks like fun!

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

I hope so Sarah. Wondering if I should have chosen a shorter distance, but what the Hay right?

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Nah, I think that sounds just perfect for you. xx

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[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon]

Sounds fab! Which distance are you going for?

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to MutleyShuffle]

I picked the 25k which seemed much more reasonable than the 50k or 100k. There is also a shorter 1k0 and 5k route.

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Yes that seems a good distance - 50k & 100k sound a bit hardcore!

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to MutleyShuffle]

I cant imagine a 100k run. But then again a year ago, I could not imagine a 25k run

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

That's true, a year ago I wondered if I would make it to 5k! Amazing what this programme/forum can do for you! 😊

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to MutleyShuffle]

Right?! Yes it is 👍🏼

[Oldfloss Administrator]

You will do this....strength to strength...it looks great ! Also a very exciting route

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks Floss I hope so!

[Lordi Marathon]

Looks good. Kudos! 620m elevation is more than I manage in a month here in flat Finland!

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Lordi]

I probably should have checked that before signing up. Hill training here we come...

[SlowLoris]

Looks great. I do most of my running now in the New Forest. Much easier on the feet than tarmac. So much better scenery than running around bungalow city where I live.

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SlowLoris]

Yeah, my trail run friends say this too. And my shins could use the break 😊 The very limited trail exposure I’ve had has been great, as I love the woods and nature also. Minus the mosquitos, of course.

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

My only issue is the ticks 😖. I hope you’re not in tick country especially that early in the season. If so, strong Deet and long socks are a great plan. I wear long white basketball socks so I can see the little nuggets before they make it to any exposed skin and then I swear like a sailor and freak out as I flick them off of me screaming along the trail 😆. At least they’ve been getting the trail cutting done earlier in the season so I’m not often ploeing through long grass😖

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Haha I never even thought about the ticks! So much to learn. This race has a 100 mile variant as well. #whhaaaaaaaatt??

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Crazy hey! When you start researching some of the ultra trail races, there is some crazy distances people will run in crazy conditions. I'll be happy to reach 20k this year, perhaps the Broken Goat 25k in Rossland, BC in a year or 2 (it sold out in 45 minutes this year - might be hard to get into!), and maybe, just maybe my local 50 k for my 50th birthday?!? We'll see. One step at a time. There are some amazing trail races out there if you're will to travel and have the time to get the training in. Your sulphur Springs race is listed as a Bucket-list Canadian trail race to do, as is my local BFF, and the broken goat mec.ca/en/article/19-canadi.... Lots of opportunities out there for sure!

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

That is a great list. Broken Goat looks like an amazing race. 50k would be awesome at 50! There are some gems there on that list. Limberlost looks like a good one too.

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

It does! Lots to explore and run with many different distances to tackle depending on how many loops you want to do. Perhaps there may be more than one trail race in your not-so-distant future 😁

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

I’m gonna give it my best shot and see where it goes 😊 👍🏼

[misswobble Marathon in reply to SlowLoris]

I love the feel forest floor. It’s kind of springy🙂

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

I think I might now be looking more forward to this one than the Around the Bay race on March 31st!

[SlowLoris]

I've had the pleasure of the Mossies in Muskoka. I think the Toronto ones are a bit soft compared to their country cousins.

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SlowLoris]

Haha yes I think you are spot on there! 🦟

[mrrun Ultramarathon]

You’ve done the right thing mate. That link looks great and the whole experience will be perfect as part of your marathon training. Coincidentally, l stumbled across a long lost friend who, when l told him what l do, suggested that we should meet up and do a 20k trail around one of London’s biggest parks. I thought, surely that should be easy with him until l heard that he’s done a few 50k ultras, haha. He’ll wipe the trail with me!

Enjoy your race!

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to mrrun]

The ultra people that I know are some of the most laid back relaxed folks I’ve ever met. On the trail runs the times go out the window and they just enjoy getting through. I think I could use some races like that. I’ve been told to look down 10 ft ahead and concentrate on the path. Otherwise a face-plant is in the near future. I know I will take a header the question is when and how many I think you and your friend will have a blast!