I Heart Trail Races!

This past weekend, my husband and I ran the Spokane River Run 25k. We hadn't planned to run this race, but I accidentally signed up for both Bloomsday (a 12k in Spokane) and the Eugene Marathon, which turned out to be on the same day (a fact I probably could have figured out in a 5 second Google search). Anyway, after I figured out my ridiculous error, I went searching for another race we could do in Spokane because I really did want to make a trip over there to see my family. The River Run was the big winner, based on date and course route (no double loops!).

It had been raining for nearly two months straight in Portland, so the thing I was most looking forward to about the trip was some sunshine and I was not disappointed; race day dawned sunny and beautiful. This was of course, terrific, but it did put me in a quandary about what to wear: a short-sleeved shirt with arm sleeves or a long-sleeved, mid-weight, quarterzip? Should I add a tank top to layer under either option? I didn't want to be cold, but I really didn't want to overheat. I chose the tank and the quarterzip,  but ended up taking off the tank top when we got there and it was already starting to warm up. Of course, I spent much of the race blessing and cursing my choice: Brrrrr, it sure is chilly standing here (bless) wow, I'm really starting to warm up now that I'm running (curse) boy, it's cold up here on the ridge (bless) cripes, this sun is hot (curse). In the end, it turned out to be exactly the right choice--I never did get too hot or too cold.

Looking at the elevation map didn't really give me too much information about the course. I figured there would be hills, and sure enough, there were. I was delighted to find that most of the course was single-track, which means that the trail is only wide enough for runners to go single-file. This is my favorite kind of trail because even though it may be frustrating to be stuck behind someone (or have someone stuck behind you) the mental energy it takes to strategize how to overtake a runner or runners at the next wide spot in the trail makes the time fly by. I mainly passed people on the downhill portions because I have been doing a new training program at Twist that has really improved my lateral stability. I was able to sail past others who were picking their way down the rocky trail because I had confidence that my strength and agility would keep me safe. Let me tell you, there is nothing quite as satisfying as passing a dozen other runners at a time. The only way this ever happens to me in a road race is if I skip an aid station.

Me obstructing a view of the Spokane River

It was such a beautiful day that I stopped to take pictures twice, at which point all of the runners I had recently passed got to pass me. I figured I could get them again at the next downhill. Unfortunately, there were no more good downhills (mental note: pay more attention to the course map). I really wasn't too disappointed though, as this was really a fun run for me, not something I have been training for over a long period of time and the Eugene Marathon is just two weeks away anyway, so I didn't want to push too hard. As the race progressed, I found myself further and further from other runners (both ahead and behind me). Although the course was very well marked, I did have a moment of anxiety in the last mile when I though for sure I had taken a wrong turn somewhere because there were no more arrows. The path was straight, and normal people would not have needed "confirmation" markers, but I could get lost in a room with one door and thus need more reassurance than normal people when it comes to directions. I ended up finishing with a time of 2:48:32, which is not that fast, but I was perfectly satisfied with it because I had such a wonderful time running. I didn't know it, but my husband was only a few minutes ahead of me at the end and ran straight to a port-a-potty*. I believe he may have scared the shit (literally) out of the guy in the one next door when he shouted with glee when my name was called out as I finished.
**I just took advantage of the fact that I was basically alone on the course and peed behind a tree. Another key advantage of the trail race.

The thing about trail running that I find most contradictory is that I dislike training on trails, but I love running trail races**. The reason for this is that in a race, all the fast people are already ahead of me because it's a race and we all start in a group with the fast people out front. During training, I usually run with my husband, which is great, but I constantly feel as though I am slowing him down, or I'm by myself (which is fine). But either way, I am constantly getting passed by other trail runners who are all going at least five minutes per mile faster than I am and who squash my ego a little further with each fleet footfall of their Five Fingers.
**Hagg Lake is the exception.

However, I know I can attribute the slow conquering of my hill-loathing to running trail races (when I am more apt to force myself to run up those hills) and that running trails makes me a better road racer. I also feel that trail running is gentler on my body by virtue of the fact that real trails contain neither asphalt nor concrete. The scenery is generally gorgeous, the post race support of a trail race usually exceeds that of a road race, and I get to wear my bitchin' trail shoes.What's not to love?