Fall Trails Galore

Some people ask me how I stay motivated year after year for racing and training and I believe one of the reason is that I try to find a new adventure, a new race location or just a new challenge to keep me happy.

This season after L'etape du Tour on my bike, I am trying the Bimbler's Bluff 50k Trail Race in Guilford CT

I have never run that long for sure but I do know I love the trails, the woods, the adventure of the whole thing! It will probably be very tiring, but I will hike the hills and just enjoy the experience...providing I do not get lost.
It brings me to another reason why I like trails beyond the beauty of them: it is good for my brain and forces me to live in the moment and pay attention to every step I take from the beginning to the end. You would be amazed of how fast time goes by like that! But if you lose your concentration and start day dreaming, you can get lost or fall down!

A few weeks ago I had my longest training run during the Goodwin Forest 30k Trail Run in Hampton CT.

I was staying near Hampton at Storrs to visit Sophie during family week-end at UConn. Sophie could not get out of a party apparently on Saturday night and wanted to sleep in on Sunday morning, so I just decided to do the race. Only $15, for people over 50!!!

It was a rainy, humid day. A handful of people were there. After a friendly speech by the RD, who said to be careful, everybody falls at least once and make sure to follow the signs... I left with everybody else for the unknown!

This is the finisher's trophy that everyone got! My best one so far ;-)

Two miles into the run I did crash and was SO lucky: nothing got broken! I stood up, was embarrassed and kept on running.

I met some nice people, talked, had fun and kept on running. I had not realized I had been running, and hiking for two hours! It never happens to me when I do a long run on the road, I always check my watch every 5mn!

4 miles before the end, I got so excited as my time was good and I could see the end, I took a wrong turn...

It was a downhill and I kept on running and running and starting to think what if it was not the race course...I stopped and almost cried! 
I was lost and all the trees around looked the same in the deep forest ;-(

I took a deep breath and went back up the hill and tried to follow my path...I did eventually find the turn I had missed. 

I ended up winning my age group!

I was not able to stay for the rewards and was so surprised to receive my prize in the mail with a very sweet hand written note: they had eaten my prize, which was an apple pie, but were sending me local honey instead!!!

I can only recommend this race to anyone as it does not have to be at a super fast pace, it can be just a run/hike and a beautiful experience at the same time. I saw snakes, birds, foxes... I got immersed in deep forest light,  climbed rocks, crossed streams....

I will report after Sunday's 50k as I may change my mind with 20k more of trails to run ;-)

And here is a little bit of humor for trail runners...

See you on the trails this Fall!