1/2 Marathon Trail Race today!

jhempel24 · 02-25-2012, 10:57 PM

I wanted to share this because A.) I was only expecting to do the 6 mile, and B.) It was the HARDEST thing I've ever done.

So today I decided to run a trail race. Originally it was supposed to be 6 miles, but they had the option for a 12 mile. I opted for the 12 mile...because I'm stupid LOL. However the course was so poorly marked almost everyone seemed to get turned around, and the total miles ran was almost EXACTLY 13.1 miles. And did I mention the start was 25deg and at a Beach?? Talk about wind chill!!

This was BY FAR the toughest thing I've ever...EVER done!

The trail was the hardest trail I've ever done, the path was so narrow in the most treacherous parts that you could barely fit both feet inside the trail. Not to mention it was muddy, and I'm slow so I was one of the last people, so you have all the foot traffic that you have to run in as well. NOT TO MENTION if you slipped you fell about 20 ft down the side of an incredibly steep ravine. Which I slipped...thankfully was able to pull some acrobatic BS and grab a small tree and swing myself out and around back to the trail.

Then you have the tricky bits that come with trail races which you jump over downed trees and through roots and across water etc.

Then you come across these gigantic hills (mountains). 5 of them it seemed. And a couple were so steep I had to bear crawl up there. Here is the only pic I took because I rounded a corner and just was like "oh hell no"...this was about 8 miles in, and one of the smaller hills.

I think the worst part of it, about 7.5-8 miles in, I slipped in the mud and twisted my ankle. There was NO access road and NO support staff..so you had to suck it up and finish.

I ended up at about 16 minutes per mile through this stuff, and it took me around 3 hours and 36 minutes to finish.

I'm PROUD of this...why??? Because I was the ONLY runner to run the 12 mile that hasn't run a full marathon, and I crossed the finish with 2 other people that had run a combined 32 marathons AND a couple Trail Marathons. There were only 7 people that ran the 12 mile trail (that ended up being 13.1), myself and 2 others finished at the exact same time...literally going 3 abreast so we finished with the same time after helping each other for the last 2.5 miles.

RainingLemur · 02-26-2012, 01:19 PM

Conglaturations! I have been wanting to participate in normal events like that (they've had some half-marathons and such here and there, but I've just not been able to set the time aside to actually join in), and I'd love it even more to be able to do the "rough terrain" stuff like you just conquered. Then again, in Vegas..."Rough Terrain" refers to some of the more run-down roads down-town.

Anyways - Good job, and hope your ankle mends well. Those are annoying injuries to have.

jhempel24 · 02-27-2012, 08:35 AM

Hey thanks! This one was brutal for sure!!

And the whole run down roads in abandon towns actually sounds kind of neat LOL

vivaldirules · 02-27-2012, 09:14 PM

That sounds thrilling. And gutsy. I've pondered a trail run but decided I didn't want to risk an injury so have stuck to the streets. And I'm probably too wimpy for hills like that. Great job!

jhempel24 · 02-28-2012, 03:13 AM

This was definitely tough! But I'm glad I did it! You should try some trails, it forces you to go slower, so you really won't get injured unless you try! This course was just out of my league!

Maybe next year!

02-25-2012, 10:57 PM	#1
jhempel24 Wizard Posts: 2,157 Karma: 7068605 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro	1/2 Marathon Trail Race today! I wanted to share this because A.) I was only expecting to do the 6 mile, and B.) It was the HARDEST thing I've ever done. So today I decided to run a trail race. Originally it was supposed to be 6 miles, but they had the option for a 12 mile. I opted for the 12 mile...because I'm stupid LOL. However the course was so poorly marked almost everyone seemed to get turned around, and the total miles ran was almost EXACTLY 13.1 miles. And did I mention the start was 25deg and at a Beach?? Talk about wind chill!! This was BY FAR the toughest thing I've ever...EVER done! The trail was the hardest trail I've ever done, the path was so narrow in the most treacherous parts that you could barely fit both feet inside the trail. Not to mention it was muddy, and I'm slow so I was one of the last people, so you have all the foot traffic that you have to run in as well. NOT TO MENTION if you slipped you fell about 20 ft down the side of an incredibly steep ravine. Which I slipped...thankfully was able to pull some acrobatic BS and grab a small tree and swing myself out and around back to the trail. Then you have the tricky bits that come with trail races which you jump over downed trees and through roots and across water etc. Then you come across these gigantic hills (mountains). 5 of them it seemed. And a couple were so steep I had to bear crawl up there. Here is the only pic I took because I rounded a corner and just was like "oh hell no"...this was about 8 miles in, and one of the smaller hills. I think the worst part of it, about 7.5-8 miles in, I slipped in the mud and twisted my ankle. There was NO access road and NO support staff..so you had to suck it up and finish. I ended up at about 16 minutes per mile through this stuff, and it took me around 3 hours and 36 minutes to finish. I'm PROUD of this...why??? Because I was the ONLY runner to run the 12 mile that hasn't run a full marathon, and I crossed the finish with 2 other people that had run a combined 32 marathons AND a couple Trail Marathons. There were only 7 people that ran the 12 mile trail (that ended up being 13.1), myself and 2 others finished at the exact same time...literally going 3 abreast so we finished with the same time after helping each other for the last 2.5 miles.

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02-26-2012, 01:19 PM	#2
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	Conglaturations! I have been wanting to participate in normal events like that (they've had some half-marathons and such here and there, but I've just not been able to set the time aside to actually join in), and I'd love it even more to be able to do the "rough terrain" stuff like you just conquered. Then again, in Vegas..."Rough Terrain" refers to some of the more run-down roads down-town. Anyways - Good job, and hope your ankle mends well. Those are annoying injuries to have.

02-27-2012, 08:35 AM	#3
jhempel24 Wizard Posts: 2,157 Karma: 7068605 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro	Hey thanks! This one was brutal for sure!! And the whole run down roads in abandon towns actually sounds kind of neat LOL

02-27-2012, 09:14 PM	#4
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	That sounds thrilling. And gutsy. I've pondered a trail run but decided I didn't want to risk an injury so have stuck to the streets. And I'm probably too wimpy for hills like that. Great job!

02-28-2012, 03:13 AM	#5
jhempel24 Wizard Posts: 2,157 Karma: 7068605 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro	This was definitely tough! But I'm glad I did it! You should try some trails, it forces you to go slower, so you really won't get injured unless you try! This course was just out of my league! Maybe next year!

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