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Trail Running: It's Not
Just for Prey Anymore
By Monique Cole
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Although humans have been running on dirt ever since
we were chased by saber-toothed tigers, now we take to the trails
for fun. The deer we pass in the mountains give us suspicious
looks as if to say, "Why would anyone expend so much energy
without being chased by a predator?"
Once you start trail running, you will
understand why and you may never be able to run on pavement or
hike at a pedestrian pace again. The scenery of backpacking,
the rush of mountain biking, and the endorphins of road running,
are all melded into one very cool sport.
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photo ©Phil Mislinski
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Trail running is simply defined as running
on an unpaved path, which can vary from sedate lake-side double
tracks to trekking trails in the Himalayas. Judging by the flood
of trail shoes on the market and trail races across the nation,
from half-marathons to 100-mile ultras, the sport is quickly
gaining devotees. Many of these are born-again runners who strayed
away from their religion because of pavement-induced boredom
and injuries.
Others are fresh converts like me. My
motto used to be, "I only run when I'm late." The grimaces
on the faces of road runners and my few painful attempts at "jogging"
were enough to make me shun the sport. Then a boyfriend (now
husband) showed me the path of the righteous, claiming that "running
roads is bad for your Karma."
One of the beauties of trail running
is its simplicity. Although you will face the usual backcountry
dangers -- changing weather, lightning, and, yes, even predators
-- you can cover a lot more ground per hour than hiking, so you
don't have to bring as much gear. All you need are running shoes
and clothes (although full-moon runs are often "clothing
optional" affairs), and for longer runs, food and water
in a pack. Any dirt hiking or biking trail will do, although
rolling single track is my favorite.
A recent run past the sandstone cathedrals
of Colorado National Monument is a perfect example. A group of
five of us started on the Monument Canyon Trail with our friend
and world-class mountaineer, Neal Beidleman, leading the way
on one of his easier guiding expeditions. "It's not like
you need a guide," he insisted. "You just follow this
trail until you hit the road, then you turn around."
Eyeing Neal's bulging quads, our French
speaking friend Jean-François Lamarque exclaimed, "Good
God, we're dead," demonstrating that the lanky Belgian had
picked up some James Brown-ese on the long drive from Boulder.
But we were there to enjoy the scenery and one another's company,
not to push the pace. After all, two of us were recovering from
childbirth -- Neal's wife Amy, five months prior and myself,
five months before that. And my husband Phil Mislinski was claiming
that baby-induced sleep deprivation was slowing him down.
After an uninspiring start along a buffalo
fence with yuppie castles corralled on the far side, we quickly
entered a stunning red sandstone canyon. The trail took advantage
of the geology, sometimes following a layer of firmer sandstone
that resisted erosion, other times paralleling the dry creek
bed that belied the powerful force of water in shaping the canyon.
Monument Canyon Trail is the Louvre
of Colorado National Monument where most of its masterpieces
are displayed. The rock formations of Independence Monument,
the Sentinel Spire, Kissing Couple, and Cleopatra's Couch are
awe inspiring when viewed separately. Experienced together, they
are overwhelming.
The trail climaxes with a switch-backing
climb up to the Colorado National Monument Road. "If you
fell right now, it would really hurt," Neal warned as we
ran along a ledge of sandstone overlooking a precipitous 250-foot
drop.
While I usually prefer loop trails,
I looked forward to viewing the canyon from another perspective
on the return leg. Sure enough, I discovered tiger-striped walls
and echoing amphitheaters I had missed on the way in. After running
and sight-seeing for about two and a half hours, we climbed back
into our cars, our quads quivering, stomachs snarling, and throats
thirsting.
At the local brew pub, we re-fueled
our bodies with burgers and fries, and downed several muscle
relaxants (a.k.a. micro-brews). I wondered if perhaps this wasn't
the real reason I love to trail run.
Details
Colorado National Monument is
just South of Grand Junction and Fruita off of the I-70 freeway.
The trail head is about 2 miles Southeast of the Monument's West
entrance on Highway 340. Trails Illustrated map #208 is a great
resource.
(Sidebar)
The Ups and Downs of Trail Running: Tips from Guru Matt Carpenter
Matt Carpenter is undeniably the world's
best trail marathon runner. His VO2 max, the highest ever recorded
in a runner, has helped him win nine out of 12 SkyMarathons (races
of 26.2 miles at above 14,000 feet), including four consecutive
wins in the Fila Everest SkyMarathon. Below are some of his best
tips for running up and down mountains. You can get more
advice and philosophy at his website http://www.skyrunner.com.
Uphills
- "To get fast on uphills, train
fast on uphills." If you live in Kansas, crank up the grade
on your treadmill.
- "Posture is everything on the
uphill." Leaning forward puts too much pressure on your
back, an erect posture will provide better push-off.
- Look uphill, not at your feet.
- On long, steep hills, switching often
between hiking and running is tempting, but it makes you lose
momentum and cadence.
- Taking " baby steps" will
help you maintain a good cadence when your lungs are screaming
for mercy. It's like switching to granny gear on a mountain bike.
Downhills
- Don't over-stride, each landing will
put extreme stress on your quadriceps.
- Lean forward. "Running is the
art of catching yourself from falling. If you lean forward, you
either fall on your face, or you run faster."
- Again, as in mountain biking, you need
to control your speed. Cut your stride length and increase your
cadence.
- Like a hurdler, step over, not on rocks
and other obstacles. Keep your eyes focused and level.
- Pick as straight a line as possible
down the hill. The more you move left and right, the more you
increase the distance.
Emotional Downhills: Conquering Burn-out
- Run with one or more people.
- Run a new route, up a mountain, through
a forest or in a creek, or all three in one run.
- Take a break during your run. Climb
some rocks, watch a deer, pick flowers or lay down and watch
the clouds roll by.
- Run in the dark. "It's amazing
how different running seems when you can hear more than you can
see."
- End run with drills. "Skipping,
bounding, and strides can leave you feeling fresh at the end
of a workout."
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