Trail Running

To mix things up a little bit Becky and Nancy recently started trail running with a group every Monday. It’s really fun and a whole new challenge, even for a veteran runner like Becky. Some days it’s really hot and humid. Some days it’s really muddy. Always it’s a little different than the time before. Yesterday it was 100 degrees in town, but out in the woods where the trees filter the sunlight it was much cooler. Probably only 97 or 98.

The trail we run is 3.1 miles and goes through woods, around a lake, and up hills. A lot of hills. We often see deer and the lake usually has turtles sunning themselves and an occasional heron. There is an additional mile loop which Becky usually does while she waits for Nancy to catch up.

Becky and her son graciously run ahead of the pack to knock down all the spider webs and scare off all the snakes. The rest of the group follows in her wake. Nancy graciously brings up the rear. Not because she’s the slowest! But because she’s gracious and doesn’t want anyone else to think they are the slowest!

Just as you’re feeling good and warmed up, feeling like you’re kicking this trail’s butt, you will come to this set of steps.


And not only are those steps really fun, but immediately after you run up them (not that Nancy ever has, mind you, it’s more of a crawl), you will come to this hill.


If you are still alive once you reach the top of this hill, fear not. Another hill awaits! This hill has a bench, conveniently located about halfway up, to mock you if you have to sit for a spell.


But if you make it to the top of this hill, you are almost finished. Soon you will be back on the blacktop for the last quarter-mile of the run. Nancy thinks the trick is to run this part of the trail really, really fast, so everyone thinks you have been running that fast all along.

They are not fooled though. They are usually all cooled down and finishing up their water by the time she gets to the end.