Trail Running

I love trail running, I am at my happiest exploring and have adventures off road, I often written about the freedom it gives me, of how much of a warrior and adventurer I feel running off the beaten track.

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 the barriers are unconscious, automatic vigilance is routine and part of a women’s reality, to “feel” safe it has been 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’m not a quitter so 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 the latest stats that women make up less than 20% of starters at longer endurance races. However, over the years I have noticed many more women are on the start line, running events companies are listening, taking notice, and adapting to ensure their races are women friendly. There are now separate portaloos for males and females, men are discouraged from urinating quite 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.

Barriers are slowly being broken down, this week the Boston Athletic Association joined UTMB and London Marathon in recognising that women have different needs to men and women will have the opportunity to defer their places for up to 2 years should they become pregnant,

“The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) announced today accommodation enhancements pertaining to runners who are expecting or have recently welcomed a child into their families. Pregnancy and postpartum deferrals of entries will now be available for registered participants at all B.A.A. events, including the Boston Marathon”

This is exciting news, women are being seen as individuals with different needs, we want to run off roads, run up mountains and jump about on the trails, I want to race alongside men and women, I don’t want female only races, I’d just like some tiny adjustments.  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. There were 3 female runners from my club who had entered, I cringe at my naivety and my 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 to the group from Portsmouth Joggers who kindly pointed out by shouting at me “OMG, she’s got road shoes on” as I waded through mud and knee-deep puddles, slipping and sliding all over the place, I might as well have worn flip flops the use they were, but it was too late, nothing I could do about it now, just the 15 miles left to go.

Meon Valley Plod Results 2010

Eleven members from my old club had entered this race in 2010.

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; I think I was still at mile 10 on this 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.

I crashed and burnt! 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 9/10 I would feign sickness to stay on the coach for the rest of the afternoon. But I was now a fully grown adult who’d 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. 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; that’s a long time to be cold, wet, and hungry!

As the barriers break down, I’ve allowed myself to put my head above the parapets and explore the idea that I too can realise what my ultimate running goals are. They might just involve some incredibly off road adventures. The first step has been to register for the Snowdonia 25km UTMB race in May, I’m too late, 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!

Dorset Coastal 2020

10 years later and better prepared!