896. Trail Running

Trail running isn’t always running the whole time. People power hike up the steeper pitches. There’s a way you can see a whole host of backcountry or familiar locales via trail running vs. hiking. You can cover 5, 10, 20 miles in a much more condensed time than you would walking. You can get to places you’d never get to otherwise.

Plus all the trail runners in the community look like these people above. Nah, I’m joshing. Trail runners come in all shapes and sizes and ages and speeds. And in the trails it doesn’t really seem to matter as it does among the road running community. Granted I like both worlds for different reasons. But something about the communal endeavor of being among the mountains or nature, makes that more important than competition.

It’s the weirdest thing stopping in the middle of a run at a trail juncture and just hang around for 10-15 minutes and socialize. I’m still getting used to it. Folks would never do that on roads. Once you get used to it, it’s kinda nice, you tell jokes, they give you trail directions with all the trail names and you just stare doe-eyed like they were speaking Latin. It’s fun.

Share the trail with a complete stranger and you won’t be strangers for long. There’s life stories to hear… and tell. There’s the mutual support of having each other’s backs to make it through. Don’t forego the solitary sojourn it can be as well when you want the peace and quiet of going solo. It’s always an adventure.

Go find some trials. It doesn’t have to be mountains. Grapevine Lake North or South shore take your pick. You don’t even have to run the whole time. Start off walking, then run some, then walk. No one cares that you aren’t running the whole time. Enjoy a good thing.

Trail running. A good thing.