Trail Running: Small Loops To Ultras

[RichMan]

If any of you have paid attention over the years, some might of picked up on my love for trail running. I might of mentioned it at least a handful of times in different posts/forums. 

It's my therapy, my getaway from the chaos, my connecting with nature. Even though I'm struggling with a possible herniated disc, I still can't let it go.

I've still yet to do a 50km or a 100km but I still have time. My longest so far was a 36km in support of the i2P organization. 

I've got a couple trail shoes and different gear for different distances, terrain and weather. I do run in the city and bike paths now and then to switch it up.

My bucket list includes the QMT, the BC Squamish, the Hardrock, and then try my hand in Europe with the smaller UTMB events. Who knows how far it will go.

As hard and sometimes painful it can get, once I enter the woods and hit those gnarly trails, the more technical the better.

This is one of my other passions aside from hockey. Soon I'll be hanging up the pads. The mountains will always be there waiting for me.

 

[Fullright]

Dude, I couldnt even drive those distances. 

[MTH]

Awesome Rich.

I'm not a runner. You folks are pretty badass. I only mountain bike. While different mode of enjoying those trails and the connection with nature - it's similar in many ways.

I have a small patch of woods behind my house that it township preserved open space. I'm in a process now of building a bike trail loop through it so I can get a quick ride in when needed (before work) without losing time driving and packing up my gear to ride at a bigger place.

I recently got a border collie that I'm going to have go with me on my rides. Share in the fun. Dogs love running full send. I'm sure you're the same.

Post some pictures of the trails here. Love to see some Canadian forest and trails.

[MTH]

I live in southern New Jersey just outside Philadelphia. Most of the area is very sandy here so the wooded areas are like this with a lot of pines. The terrain is typically smooth with slight elevation changes - creeks and the like. So you can run/ride a full circuit here pretty easily.

This place has a 6-7 mile loop. I try to ride it in around 45 minutes. Some days I just cruise it for fun. Other days I train and go race pace through it. I think I got under 35 minutes one time. But I need it more for the escape. The route is the same so I don't need to figure out where to go. Just start to finish. I know the trail so well I can be in the right gear and at the right speed without even thinking. I put in my air pods and listen to a podcast or whatever.

When it's dark earlier (getting there now!), I have lights I use to ride when it's pitch black out. The deer scare the heck out of you sometimes!

Some days I like just sitting at my truck and relaxing at the trail head. I'll ride with friends some days too and hang out after - like hockey games. But most days I ride alone when I have the time. It's peaceful. No coordination or planning - just go when I can and ride.

My truck is a 2003 Lexus GX470 that I got for free. Nearly 270,000 miles on her now.

Bike is a 2022 Marin Rift Zone 1 that I picked up at the end of the season in 2022. Not the top of the line version; but a major upgrade from my olde Gary Fisher I bought in 2002.  I switched it to tubeless (50 flats was insane!) and mistakenly bought DH tires for it that actually made it ride better.

The water bottle is from Canadian Tire for the cool points. It has a CT logo on it along with Sher-Wood logo too.

Edited August 29 by MTH

[StevenC]

My Wife's friend is a runner!  Just finished a 50km ultra trail marathon last weekend.  1st woman to finish so she's pretty good!  Travels all over Europe to do Marathons!  Not my idea of fun!

I stick to a weekly 5k trail run (park run).  That's enough for me! 

[RichMan]

On 8/29/2024 at 10:20 AM, MTH said:

I live in southern New Jersey just outside Philadelphia. Most of the area is very sandy here so the wooded areas are like this with a lot of pines. The terrain is typically smooth with slight elevation changes - creeks and the like. So you can run/ride a full circuit here pretty easily.

This place has a 6-7 mile loop. I try to ride it in around 45 minutes. Some days I just cruise it for fun. Other days I train and go race pace through it. I think I got under 35 minutes one time. But I need it more for the escape. The route is the same so I don't need to figure out where to go. Just start to finish. I know the trail so well I can be in the right gear and at the right speed without even thinking. I put in my air pods and listen to a podcast or whatever.

When it's dark earlier (getting there now!), I have lights I use to ride when it's pitch black out. The deer scare the heck out of you sometimes!

Some days I like just sitting at my truck and relaxing at the trail head. I'll ride with friends some days too and hang out after - like hockey games. But most days I ride alone when I have the time. It's peaceful. No coordination or planning - just go when I can and ride.

My truck is a 2003 Lexus GX470 that I got for free. Nearly 270,000 miles on her now.

Bike is a 2022 Marin Rift Zone 1 that I picked up at the end of the season in 2022. Not the top of the line version; but a major upgrade from my olde Gary Fisher I bought in 2002.  I switched it to tubeless (50 flats was insane!) and mistakenly bought DH tires for it that actually made it ride better.

The water bottle is from Canadian Tire for the cool points. It has a CT logo on it along with Sher-Wood logo too.

Here we have lots of gnarly sections, big rocks and lots of exposed roots. You come across some open sections with natural gravel, not too many sandy ones.

You can youtube some Gatineau Park mountain biking videos. Gives you a general idea.

I'll try and grab a short video of my runs when possible. 

MTB is fun but I'd rather spill off of my feet than on a bike going downhill towards a tree , had my share of crashes on road bikes.

 

[bildeer]

I don't particularly like running, but the Marine Corps says that if I want to go to and graduate Officer Candidate School, I had better be good at it. The furthest I have gone at one time was just under six miles, and it was alright. Trying to work up back to 15-20 miles a week without my left foot (planar fasciitis)  or knee falling apart, so it might take a while. I know a Captain that hates running so he does ultra marathon events, which I thought was pretty funny. (he likes doing things the hard way)

[MTH]

Good luck at OCS kiddo. Remember most people hate running. Learn to find the peace in it. It will help you so much.