YEAH!! Trail running season is here and the beyond perfect this past weekend was the cherry on top adding to the enjoyment of the changing foliage and falling leaves. In preparation for the upcoming Fat Ass Trail Run to be held on Sunday Nov 13 (
www.fatasstrailrun.com) orientation runs over the various distances will be held every Sunday at 9am starting in the Bata Ski Hill parking lot. Everyone is welcome and no one gets left behind.
If you gave up road running because of sore knees or because you?re feeling too old, than trail running may be for you. Trail running can be anything off road from old railway lines, gravel roads or grass fields to trails forged through the woods and up ski hills. Trail running is lower key than road running as you get to run slower to watch for hazards, you see lots of nature and you get to walk the difficult parts. . Personally I love to run with trails with my doggie friends; there?s nothing quite like a smiling dog at play to lighten your mood.
Racing the trails is even more fun. Traditional distances for trail races are longer than on the road, ranging from 25k to 100 miles. The hurry up and go forward mentality of road racing is virtually non-existent in trail races. The longer you go, the slower, more methodical your running should be. Stopping and chatting with volunteers is encouraged as is taking longer at the food stations to ensure you are eating and drinking enough to keep you going. It is also worth your while. Chips, pretzels, cookies, M & M?s, water, Gatorade and coke for shorter distances while the longer you go the more substantial the fare becomes; hamburgers, sandwiches, lasagne, soup and salty potatoes-yum!
The crowds are not big, with participants ranging from 15 to 400, with a handful of spectators and volunteers to watch. The awards are different with belt buckles and tree rings replacing medals, while sports bags and knapsacks replace race t-shirts. When it comes to injuries bruises, sprained ankles, thorny scrapes and poison ivy replace Achilles tendonitis and runners knee.
You can wear your road shoes on softer trails, but trail shoes are a must for rougher terrain. A fluid system that holds a lot is required for those longer routes or for large loop racing. Layering is also a good idea.
On Oct 1 the 10th Annual Run for the Toad 25k/50k was held in Ancaster. Locals running the 25k were Petra Austin (2:52:32), Donna Forster (3:45:04), Jane Clement (3:50:22), Rachel Wagner (3:50:22), Heather Paulin (3:50:22), David Little (2:27:27) and Martine Di Lella (3:28:36).
Running the Ottawa Fall Colours races on a beautiful and unseasonably warm Thanksgiving weekend were Carolyn Coffin (1:37:25) and Sarah Boggett (2:15:25) in the half-marathon and Annie Bedard (1:09:03) and Helma Oonk (1:11:14) in the 10k.
Looking to enjoy the fall running weather? The Belleville Runner?s Club is hosting its Fall Classic 10k/half-marathon Oct 16 from the Ramada Inn in Belleville, race kit pick up at 8:30am, race at 10am.
