Scenes from my Trail Run

I have been really enjoying trail running.  There is something about being out in nature… one with the bugs, dirt, and critters that makes me feel at peace.  I love to run the off beaten trails that are not popular or frequented often.

I was able to sneak away from the boys (and hubby) yesterday afternoon for a quick 5 mile trail run.  It has been raining all week here so the trail was a muddy mess… but I was up for the challenge.

First I had to check and double knot my Mizuno Wave Kazan trail running shoes.

My goal for the run was to enjoy every step, mile, and sight.  I knew it would be a muddy mess of an adventure this trail run and I was ready.

The first few miles of the trail weren’t too muddy.  The gravel trail was soggy in spots but not too bad.  I was able to pick up speed on the dry sections.

Yet just as I turned another corner, there would be a large muddy, soggy puddle waiting for me to either splash across… or slowly cross in the tall grass.  Both options weren’t clean: mud or the possibility of ticks. Sigh

I am always fascinated at how every time I run this trial it looks different to me!  Today there were new carvings in the dirt trail from the rain run off and lots of spring growth.

The grass was so green and there were colorful flowers that peppered all along the trail.  I had to stop and smell (take photos) of God’s beauty.  THIS is why I love trail running… you don’t get to see nature and its beauty while running the sidewalk of the street.

I was excited to see the new growth from the farmers fields as I ran the trail.  It looks like the corn fields are loving all the rain.  They were not there (just seeds) a few weeks ago.  I am excited to see how much they grow in the coming weeks and months!

As the trail continued, I ran into some soft spots.  My trail shoes collected the mud and gravel rocks.  I think I grew 2 inches on this part of the run.  Plus I would like to consider it part of my strength training too!  Nothing like running on soggy, soft, muddy, gravel trails with the feeling of cinder blocks on your feet!

Just like all things with trail running… just when you think things are going to get bad you come across a clearing and all is right again.  Beautiful trail.  No mud or puddles.

This is the place where two deer jumped out of the brush and scared me silly.  I screamed like a girl (hello! I am a girl).  I am not sure who was more spooked… the deer or me!

Again, I love trail running because it is teaching me to slow down and enjoy the run.  When I see something that is beautiful and worth noting.. I want to take a photo of it.  These were everywhere along this section of the trial.  So pretty and fun!

Oh yes… one of the drawbacks of trail running (and running outdoors in general).  Bugs!  There were hundreds of these loud and large bugs!!  I have NO idea what they are… locusts? cicadas?  Is it the end times? (I joke!)  But seriously… anyone know what type of bug this is!?

The final two miles of my trail run I was faced with a decision:  turn around and re-trace my steps home… or trudge through what may be the muddiest part of the trail to get home the shortest way.  I figured I would give it a go… I mean I was trail running so I should go for the challenge of running through the mud too, right!?

The first part of the muddy section wasn’t too bad.  If the mud trail was super sloppy I could trudge through the grass.  The mud was slippery and the run was slow moving.

I soon found that I was slipping and sliding more than running.  It was time to take a cautious approach to my trail run… time for some core work and walking through the slipper mud on the trial.  Yes, that is my shoe covered in mud.  It was heavy!

When I was able to find some hard ground, I was able to clear the bottoms of my shoes on the grass.  The traction was needed.  If I wasn’t slipping and sliding on the uneven trail… my shoes were getting sucked into the goopy mud.

Ugh.  Can you hear my pain!?  Seriously.  At this point, I wasn’t having fun running in the mud… I wanted to turn around.  There was nowhere to avoid the mud at this point.  The grass/farm was flooded and the trial was a goopy muddy mess.  Must. Move. Forward.

With each step (yes, I was walking and taking photos to share with you) my feet sank lower in the mud.  As I took each foot out my shoe was suction cupped to the mud… there was multiple times I almost lost my shoe!  It was a goopy, stinky, slimy, muddy mess.

Hello strength training again on the trial run… core work and lifting a few pounds of heavy caked on mud with each step… that was stuck to the bottom of my shoes.

Oh what a muddy mess of an adventure these last few miles have been!  Giggling while I slid through the mud… all while looking forward to the final mile of my run on pavement to shake the dirt, mud and rocks out of my shoes.

At this point in my run, it was more of a super slow walk as each step was focused on not losing my shoes and staying upright.  I kept sinking deeper with each step.

I was faced with the decision to keep trudging through the mud the last half mile (to the road home) or run in the high grass and risk getting a tick (or multiple ticks).  Gross truth… I ran as fast as my muddy shoes would carry me through the sloshy high grass.  I didn’t want any ticks on me just as much as I didn’t want to lose a shoe in the continuing mud mess.

As I was running through the tall grass, I must have spooked two owls in their nest in a near by tree.  They were so spooked from me running by they quickly flew out of their tree swooping right in front of me… giving me a shock!  I let out another girly scream (again, I am a girl)… don’t you want to run with me?

After running the final mile home on pavement, my shoes finally were semi-clean.  I guess that is a good sign of a trail run… muddy trail shoes.

Lessons learned from my run:  I love to run.  Running is fun.  I love to run trails.  Trail running is fun.  Running and playing in mud is fun… to an extent.  Bugs are icky… no matter where you are!  Deer jumping in front of you on the trail is super scary.  Owls swooping in front of you while running makes your heart jump.

Do you run trails?  Do you run when the trails are muddy?
Do you know what type of insect/bug that thing is!?