Hi everyone – Thanks for tuning in for this first trail running blog post!
Not easy to figure out how to start this one…I suppose I could kick things off with a question back to you…Why do you run trails?
Trail running has always been a passion of mine, but one that I could never pursue until about 10 years ago. I spent a big chunk of my life ‘chasing the dream’ as an elite athlete in the sport of cross-country skiing, and as such, spent a lot of time during the ‘dryland’ training season, running on trails – I loved it. I ran and raced as much as my coaches would allow, but ski training was always the priority. In 2002, I hung up the boards, happy and ready to move on to the ‘real’ world. It was time to run!
Fresh from retirement and hungry for competition of a different style, I chased the World Mountain Running circuit for a few years, eventually realizing that I didn’t really want to train at this level again…Been there – done that. It wasn’t the level that scared me, it was the structure required to get me there. All these years of following such intense focus had drained me – I simply wanted to enjoy the sport and explore new trails. And so that’s what I did.
A few years ago, a good friend of mine (Bob Walker), set on a mission to write a guide to Mountain Running in the Canadian Rockies. Although I personally thought he was nuts for taking on this venture, I agreed to tag along on his first few ‘missions’, knowing full well that any run with Bob would turn into an adventure – and did they ever! But what really got me hooked was that for the first time since moving to Canmore (in 1995), an entire new network of trails opened up right in my backyard. How could I have missed this? So close, yet I had never bothered to step into the backcountry.
From one sweet (sweet) singletrack to another – I was hooked. This is what I had been dreaming about of all these years. Of course, chasing the ultimate singletrack was not without an adventure or two, like the time our ‘planned’ 3hr run turned into 8hrs! Ouch. But I’ll save those details for another time…
We all have our reasons to run…For me, it’s the search of a new adventure – I suppose that this alone could lead to some interesting situations – I guess that’s where the ‘entertainment’ side of this blog will come from. And along the way, I may even throw in some tidbits about training, racing and gear…although if you have any specific questions, by all means, fire away!
As for me, it’s time to go running again…I registered for this ‘thing’ called the Death Race in August. Not quite sure what I signed up for, but I figured it would be a good adventure 😉
Thanks for following.
pv
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Wow, this is going to be a sweet blog.
I’m a lover of trail running and I can’t wait to hear the details leading up the Death Race. I had a buddy who almost talked me into this race this year and I definitely hope to do it next year. I look forward to an inside look at it.
In answer to the question. I run trails because I love the fresh air and the challenge. You have to focus and stay in the present moment.
Grant
Grant – Thx for the comment! Glad to have some fellow trail fanatics on board – I must admit that I’m a bit nervous about DR since the longest I’ve ever run is around the 65k mark…125k seems so far away. Like I said, a good adventure!
Vicky – Death Race does indeed have an ‘interesting’ marketing strategy, going for the shock effect on the visual side, but…It does seem to be working. Hey, it signed me up! The race has been increasing in popularity over the past few years and will host over 1,500 runners this year, that’s an increase of 500 runners! After your comment re: “Kids Death Race”, I was curious to see how many kids were entered in 2009…In total 250 kids entered, all aged under 15 (I think about 20 didn’t finish…) – That’s huge! As a race destination, runners are turning this into a family ‘vacation’…”Hey kids, let’s go watch mom/dad run the Death Race! And you can run too!”. Either way, I’m looking forward to the experience.
Thx for following – pv