Humbled by the trail
I did my 9 mile long run today, which turned into an 8 mile long run because I was running out of time, because I was running on trails. If I was on the road, I would have been fine, but the trail was an entrirely different matter.
I went out to the Pinckney Recreation Area where the Trail 1/2 is going to be run. A friend at work had pointed out that my long runs really need to be there, which was very correct and which I also knew already, and which I had been actively avoiding because the roads are nice to run on and I don’t like the snowy trails. Wimp.
Anyway, I got out there and after leaving my money for an annual permit I went down to the parking lot to figure out where to run. There’s several trails there and I didn’t want to do multiple loops, so I picked the 17 mile loop figuring I would turn after 4.5 miles.
The trails were still covered with snow and, since we had a few thaws, there were several inches of ice, complete will all the bumpy frozen footprints from runners and hikers over the past week.
I had a horrible time trying to keep my footing. All those stabilizing muscles just screaming at me. Plus, the trail was like a narrow gulley in alot of places so it was like running in the gutter of a bowling alley, only filled with ice.
The hills were just crazy. Steep little hills and then sharp down hills on the backside. The down hills were so hard because I had a hard time slowing for turns because of the ice. I tried to just let everything fly heading down some of them, but almost killed myself when I had make a sharp turn along the bottom.
The ice and snow played hell on the Yaktrax too and kept twisting those to the side of the toe. I had to stop often and readjust them. If there is snow like this a month from now, the Yaktrax aren’t going to do it for the race. I think I need to order those trail shoes now.
There were some really nice areas too. Overlooks to lakes and lots of little wooden bridges made for some nice scenery. I stopped and took a few pictures, even though I really wanted to keep running in the snow up those hills. No, really. :D
I came across this sign at one point.
Almost took that way back but thought better of it, since I felt such shame with all of the RBF inside my head saying “Take the WHAT?! You wimp!”
At about the 4 mile point (up a very large hill) I decided to head back because the run was taking longer than I expected and I needed to get home so my wife could head out to a class. I also was concerned that I would likely die on the trail and my body would not be found for several days if I didn’t leave right then.
I saw only a few other people on the trails. One woman jogging (small even steps, looked like ChiRunning) A mountain biker (in the Bike-Forbidden Zone) and a guy with his dog.
I ended up with 8 miles total, 1:30. A much slower pace than I had planned, even for the trails. I was thinking I could hold it at 10:00. Not a chance. I was totally whipped too. My knees were killing me and I just wanted to drop as I walked back to the truck. The cold water bath when I got home was desperately needed. I think if I had been sensible about this, I would have done an easy midweek run there instead, maybe 4 miles total and eased into it a bit.
This week was especially hard because I did 23 miles, which is the most I’ve done ever in one week, and this month is already only 4 miles away from the highest monthly total too. Shins and ITB still holding out. Knock wood.
One note about the Forerunner on trails like this: useless. Pace was all over the place and the signal had trouble. I think overall the distance and time were right but the instantaneous paces were just crazy. Then again, maybe it was the runner. :)
March 20th, 2005 16:14
Pain is just weakness leaving the body, right? Man, I want to punch people who tell me that. Pain is pain. But hey, your muscles will be SO thankful after a few more trips like that. Thanks for sharing the snaps. Makes it a great visual.
March 20th, 2005 16:27
Congratulations on your weekly and monthly mileage! And great news about the shins and ITB. Hey, I’ll bet that woman taking the tiny steps was just freezing (based on your pics!) Too cold to go any faster??
March 20th, 2005 16:41
Love the pics. Reminds me of our trail races here. Good for getting out there and yes trail runs are harder than the road but soooooooooo much more fun.
March 20th, 2005 18:07
Sounds like a bitch, running in those conditions - ice, snow, dog-walkers & naughty trespassing bikers? Different conditions can’t be anything do good for the training.
March 20th, 2005 18:10
Uhhh. . . I’m sure I was trying to say something intelligent & encouraging there. Not sure what happened. . . time for bed, maybe. :)
March 20th, 2005 18:41
I love the photos! Isn’t it time for spring yet? Whoever does weather for MI forgot the memo on that. And good run despite the ice. I bet your lower calf muscles/ankles are going to be stronger as a result.
March 20th, 2005 21:44
I love the sign that says “shortcut”. Somebody in MI has a sense of humor. Sorry about the ice and pain and stuff. Ugh. I don’t envy you that, but I love the pictures and descriptions.
March 21st, 2005 00:47
Seriously, though, don’t you love a challenging run sometimes? Don’t you feel like you *did* something today? I think it’s awesome! I’ve had the exact same experience with my forerunner when I’m running on the trails around the lake near my house. At the end, it’s about right - time and distance. But when I’m checking as I’m running, it will hop from 4.0 to 8.0 mph totally randomly, even when my pacing is consistent.
- Mia
March 21st, 2005 06:22
Sounds like you had a good workout. I can relate to the slipping and sliding. Hope the weather warms up for you soon. I love trail running, it always helps me lose some of that weakness from my body:->
March 21st, 2005 10:03
Trails are one thing I don’t have on Staten Island. I’m looking forward to getting up to Rochester this weekend for a little running in Mendon Ponds Park. they just got a few inches of snow last night, though.
March 21st, 2005 11:37
It always suprises me, the differnce between roads and trails. Great work, hanging in there with difficult circumstances. I hate ice.
March 21st, 2005 13:21
You’ll be so glad that your muscles are conditioned during your real run. Thanks for sharing the nice pictures.
March 21st, 2005 13:29
What beautiful country and you sure have more “winter” even than us in Alberta. Good work!
March 21st, 2005 14:12
Let’s see, if you’d collapsed, it would have taken about 15-20 minutes for all the heat to leave your boy. By nightfall you’d have been frozen solid like a human klondike bar. Another runner wouldn’t have been along for a few hours after that… yeah, no one wants to come across a frozen corpse while out running, so you did the right thing by heading back. (all this from someone who gripes when she has to wear a sweater to work)
March 21st, 2005 15:11
Great pics, Jon! And good job on the run. I can’t deal with snow and running. It’s too much stress on my poor little brain (and legs!)trying to figure out where to step next so that I won’t fall on my butt, or even worse, my face. More power to ya!
March 21st, 2005 15:12
I feel your pain. You know I do!
March 21st, 2005 16:15
I tried to run on a trail last week…but the snow was all mushy and some of it hard…I was not fun. I gave up and jumped on to the road. But GOOD FOR YOU! In the future can you post in KM so I know what kind of distance we’re talking about.
Thanks you’re a doll.
What?
It’s NOT all about me?
how rude.
March 21st, 2005 18:02
I just wanted to comment that there sure is a lotta comments in here. It’s kinda crowded actually.
Oh yeah, and hey, GREAT job!
March 21st, 2005 18:35
Nice! I miss trail running - just another “to do” for after this kid comes out - why can’t my non-active husband be the one pregnant? Wouldn’t that make more sense?
March 21st, 2005 20:49
Good for you for getting out there. I would have taken one look at that trail and turned around. Keep up the good work! (Great Pics.)
March 21st, 2005 21:21
I loved your pics on the trail. And have you noticed Jon hasn’t wined about his funky back in awhile? He’s healed! He’s a running maniac again. Bravo.
March 24th, 2005 00:55
Jon: Your pictures are cool. Fun to see. Kirsten