Trail Running- an update
Every month at our club we have a “Run of the Month” and last week it was my turn to organise it. I chose a couple of route options taking in the South Downs Way, I was a bit apprehensive as the last time I took a group of runners up there it was blowing a gale with sheet rain and, funnily enough, the conditions put a lot of people off!
But despite my apprehension I was determined to try again, and this time think strategically about how to break down some of the barriers that people often put up when they try something new. So, I planned 3 route options- a walk, an 8km route and a 16km route with the option of cutting back at 11km, and prayed that there at least wouldn’t be a storm this time…
When the day arrived, we couldn’t have chosen a better morning, the skies were blue and the sun was high, it literally was that one day of the year when the conditions were perfect for running.
Setting off in our groups I couldn’t contain my excitement, so much so I didn’t really remember chat to anyone, I just ran down the hills like a small child, giddy with a surging feeling of freedom. As I was powering up the hills like the duracell bunny (albeit one that was thankful for all the winter step ups), one of our group commented on how much I was clearly in my element and I thought, why do I always forget this?! Why don’t I run here more often?!
The thing about trail running is that it is SO much harder than road running. You go from feeling as though you could win the Olympics (yes, the whole thing) to suddenly feeling as though your legs belong to someone else, as you reach yet another hill, the terrain and the mud zapping the energy in your legs. Which of course just doesn’t happen in road running- the continuous pounding on the pavements is meditative, and familiar, while the terrain of the off road route is every changing, no two steps are the same, even if the path is well travelled.
Despite this, we had so much fun, being chased off a farm by a territorial Jack Russel nipping at our heels, counting the red kites and buzzards circling their prey. As our group all reconvened with a cuppa and the most delicious chocolate cake I’ve ever had, the chatter was about the amount of mud, we laughed remembering how Martin slipped and fell, and what more could he want on his birthday? But the best bit was knowing that people had stepped out of their comfort zone, and left saying how much they’d enjoyed it, having never done this kind of thing before… I hope they get to enjoy trail running as much as I do.
So if you’ve ever thought about trying trail running but been put off for any reason, now that the sun is out (but there is still lots of deeply satisfying mud around) it really is the perfect time to give it a try and if I haven’t made it clear enough already, I just can’t recommend it enough! With this in mind I thought I’d share a post from last year about how I first got into trail running and why I love it so much, so here it is…
I love trail running. I am truly at my happiest exploring and having adventures off road. I love the sense of freedom it gives me, of how much of a warrior and adventurer I feel running off the beaten track.
But my journey into finding this happy place has been met with several barriers over the years that have somewhat stifled taking my adventures to the next level, to truly embrace the off-road warrior that I imagine and want to be. Some of these barriers are unconscious, automatic hyper-vigilance is a routine part of women’s reality. In order to “feel safe” it is deeply instilled in me that I need to avoid situations like running off the beaten track on my own. The reality is that, over the years, nothing untoward has ever happened to me but I’m sorry to say 40+ years of not putting myself in harm’s way has stopped me exploring as much as I would have liked to.
I’ve overcome this barrier to some extent by entering well organised off road races with running companies like Endurance Life and Maverick Races. I’ve travelled to several coastline races in Devon, Wales, Dorset, and Yorkshire; sometimes on my own, sometimes I’ve managed to persuade friends and/or my long-suffering husband to come with me. At first these events were quite lonely as I toed the start line, the field was heavily male dominated but even I was surprised by recent stats that women make up less than 20% of starters at longer endurance races.
Thankfully over the years I have noticed many more women on the start line alongside me, helped by the fact that running events companies are listening, taking notice, and adapting to ensure their races are more inclusive. There are now separate portaloos for males and females, men are discouraged from urinating quite so openly in bushes and Maverick Races now provide sanitary products in the portaloos and at aid stations. As I look back to when I first started entering trail running events, if I was on my period, I just wouldn’t go, I wouldn’t turn up to the event, it was far too stressful, so I opted out, and therefore of course, I missed out.
These barriers to entry are slowly being broken down. Last year I was really encouraged by the Boston Athletic Association joining the UTMB and London Marathon in recognising that women have different needs to men, and announcing that women will have the opportunity to defer their places for up to 2 years should they become pregnant.
Women are being seen as individuals with different needs, but who still want to run off roads, run up mountains and jump about on the trails. Personally, I want to race alongside men and women, I don’t want female only races, I’d just like some tiny adjustments to make this possible.
All of this has reminded me of one of my first off road races experiences back in 2010. I was training for London Marathon, and someone suggested that a 20 mile off road event in February, the Meon Valley Plod, would fit perfectly into my training plan. Eleven members from my then club were entering, including 3 other female runners, and so persuaded, I signed up. Looking back I cringe at my naivety and innocence as I soon discovered that road shoes were not the only type of running shoe available. Honestly, I didn’t know that there was such a thing as an off-road shoe! I mean why would I? You only know what you know, but many thanks again to the group from Portsmouth Joggers who kindly pointed out by shouting at (or rather, about) me “Oh my god, look she’s got road shoes on!” as I waded through mud and knee-deep puddles, slipping and sliding all over the place. Of course I know now I might as well have worn flip flops the use they were, but it was too late, and there was nothing I could do about it with just the 15 miles left to go.
I also didn’t know anything about how long off-road running takes compared to road running. I’d previously run Bramley 20, a road event a couple of weeks before in 3hrs 16 mins, but by this point on Meon Valley Plod I think I was still at mile 10 in off-road hell. I also knew nothing about fuelling for longer runs. Gels?? what were they? They were just for “real runners”, not someone like me.
Inevitably… I crashed and burned. I remember it being horrible, I remember wanting it to end so badly, it brought back all these horrible memories of having to walk as a pre-teen with the “Blind Ramblers” group that my parents belonged to. I hated having to do that and 9 times out of 10 I would feign sickness to stay on the coach for the afternoon instead. But I was now a fully grown adult who’d actually paid to do this and there was no way out, I had to carry on.
Despite all of this, I remember the kindness of my fellow club mate as she shared her gels and her life stories with me, she kept me going and we finished together. I think the only people left at the finish line were the St Johns Ambulance crew, everyone else had gone home. My finish time was 4hrs 52 mins, and trust me if you don’t already know, that’s a long time to be cold, wet, and hungry!
As the barriers for women in off-road begin and continue to break down, I’ve feel like I am finally able to allow myself to explore the idea that I too can realise what my ultimate running goals are, and that they might just involve some incredible off road adventures. The first step has been to register for the Snowdonia 25km UTMB race, there is a waiting list but that’s ok, it’s the first step, if not this year, then next. And I promise I’ll make sure I have all the right kit!
p.s Verity from the future jumping in here- so I didn’t get a place for this last year, but I’m going to apply again this year so it’s still fingers crossed that I’ll get to do this soon. In the meantime, I’ve entered the SheRACES Trail race in August which is in the Peak District, the first female only trail event which is very exciting. I can’t wait, and this time I’ll be better equipped than I was all those years ago!