The Ups and Downs of Trail Running

Last night my husband and I decided to run together at Furman. He had never been on the trail and I wanted to do it again. But since the trail seems shorter than our usual run, we decided to start on the main boulevard on campus. It is a beautiful split road lined with 60 year old oaks and a running/biking path on the road. It just makes you feel smart to be running on such an elite college campus. I think it is great that Furman is so open to the community.Our family has always taken advantage of the path around the lake and the trails here.
My husband has had time off of running because of a major work schedule change, so this was his get back into the groove run. We decided to run to the trail head as a warm-up run. It took us about 15 minutes to get there and we chatted and enjoyed the beautiful evening together. At the trail head we did some stretching. Then we made a run for it.
Having been on this trail a few times (walking and running) I was now more familiar with the ups and downs of it. I wanted to try to sort of pace myself. That is very hard to do on a trail. Downhills speed you up and uphills slow you down. Unlike a road, with long stretches of up and down hills, this trail has variances close together. Up, down, maneuver through a few short curves, then up and down again...
We stayed pretty steady, inspite of these ups and downs. But, once again, I got too excited at the outset and over-ran. I knew I was taking it too fast, but it feels so good to bound through the woods a breakneck speed. Finally, I told my husband I was going to have to slow it down or I would not make it backl alive, much less running. So we jogged a little more. When I felt recovered, we tried another higher pace run and then slowed it down again. On the last small hill up, I knew I was going to have to walk. So we walked a few hundred feet to the bathrooms. I splashed some water on my face and cooled off a bit. I was burning hot! I was wearing a new shirt that is not performance material. It was marketed as a fitness shirt at Wali-World and wasn't cotton, so I got it. But it is polyester and I felt like it held in every bit of heat. I like my Run In shirt!
From there we got back on the road and did a cool down run back to the car.
Dan was glad he finally got back on the road and felt all the better for it.
Over all it was a great run.
Lessons Learned:
Don't start my runs so fast, slow it down!!
Don't wear that shirt again. Make sure it is performance fabric.
Don't quit Sometimes you get out of the groove, just get back in it.

Farm Road Frolic- A Country 5K

I ran a 5K this morning! It wasn't a race, it was just a measured distance on the road near my house. however, I did have an audience cheering me along the way.
There was the gardening man who said, “That's what I should be doing...”
“Come on out, it feels great to be running!”
“Maybe next week.” he muttered.
He doesn't know there is a runner inside of him yet. Maybe he feels like I used to. Maybe he thinks that running is only for certain people...you know...runners. Maybe he thinks he would probably have a heart attack if he ran more than 10 minutes, I used to. On my way back in, he was still in his chair, but he cheered me on to the finish line.
Then there were the horses glancing at me through their manes, the cows who quit chewing their cud and stared at me in awe as I passed them with speed and agility. (I can imagine, can't I?) All of the chipmunks and rabbits scurried out of my way before I ran over them. I think I saw one of the chipmunks peering at me from his hole. I think they are all amazed at the difference in my running. When I first started I would pant past the horses and I don't think I even made it as far as the cows. The rabbits sat still and watched me trudge by knowing I was not a threatening predator.
Except for all of the hills around here, I love running in the country. There is not a lot of traffic, the scenery is peaceful and pleasant. The hills are making me stronger, though. I really have to pay attention and pace myself on them. But I did find one of the hills I have been struggling with to be easier today!
Today's run: 15(min) run, 1(min) walk, 7 run ( a very steep hill) 4 walk, 9 run. A total of 36 minutes for a pretty tough 5K.
By the way, I had pretty much decided that it was too hot, I was too tired and my knee might hurt if I ran today. “Nah, I'm not going to run...Maybe tonight” And we all know how that goes. Then I just couldn't stand it. I decided I would go do an easy run, just to get my blood going. I told myself I did not have to run the entire 30 minutes, because something would be better than nothing.I'm so glad I made myself do it: )