Trail running races

[Megatomic]

Trail running is something I have wanted to do but have never really done any of it. Yesterday I found a great race, the Medved Madness Trail Run, a 15 miler at a park not far from where I live.

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Aside from actually getting some experience running on a trail, what do I need to know about races like these so I can be ready? I already know that I'll need to buy and get used to a pair of trail running shoes. What else will I need?

If anyone has any trail race experience, I'd love to hear your stories.

 

[SWScorch]

Whoa, you live around Rochester too? I'm 4 miles from Mendon Ponds and run there every week when the weather is nice. Yes, a good pair of trail shoes would be good (Inov-8 is a great brand, especially for racing, but any trail shoes will work fine). Other than that, I can tell you that trail races are tiring! Nothing like road races; be prepared to be exhausted, only to see a nice big hill looming ahead that you have to force yourself up. If you haven't ran the course before, I would recommend doing that prior to the race so you know what to expect. Some people wear Camelbaks or fuel belts with gel and water and stuff, especially for longer races, but since a) this is only 15 miles and b) consists of 3 different loops with the same starting point, I imagine they would have an aid station set up with water and stuff. I might suggest bringing a fuel belt with water bottles just in case if you tend to dehydrate quickly. Be prepared for mud, streams, hills, rocks, and basically anything mother nature can throw at you.

By the way, I'm running this race ( http://www.rungeorgiatrails.com/maps.html ) in May as well. Looks like fun, eh?

 

[StageLeft]

Good luck. Might I suggest that if you end up getting some water splashed on you to check your junk and nethers for tiny bits of "dirt" that don't clean off. These tiny bits of "dirt" when looked at with a magnifying glass in fact have little mouths and legs on them. Don't ask how I know, although this happened in Alabama, not at Mendon Ponds.

I think this event is close in time to the spring classic duathlon, which is also at mendon ponds. Probably takes some of the same route, too.

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: SWScorch
Whoa, you live around Rochester too? I'm 4 miles from Mendon Ponds and run there every week when the weather is nice. Yes, a good pair of trail shoes would be good (Inov-8 is a great brand, especially for racing, but any trail shoes will work fine). Other than that, I can tell you that trail races are tiring! Nothing like road races; be prepared to be exhausted, only to see a nice big hill looming ahead that you have to force yourself up. If you haven't ran the course before, I would recommend doing that prior to the race so you know what to expect. Some people wear Camelbaks or fuel belts with gel and water and stuff, especially for longer races, but since a) this is only 15 miles and b) consists of 3 different loops with the same starting point, I imagine they would have an aid station set up with water and stuff. I might suggest bringing a fuel belt with water bottles just in case if you tend to dehydrate quickly. Be prepared for mud, streams, hills, rocks, and basically anything mother nature can throw at you.

By the way, I'm running this race ( http://www.rungeorgiatrails.com/maps.html ) in May as well. Looks like fun, eh?

That race looks very challenging Scorch, the changes in elevation would put a hurting on me. And thank you for the tips, I'll definitely keep them in mind as I make preparations.

Oh, I don't suppose you'll consider doing the Medved Madness Trail Run?

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Good luck. Might I suggest that if you end up getting some water splashed on you to check your junk and nethers for tiny bits of "dirt" that don't clean off. These tiny bits of "dirt" when looked at with a magnifying glass in fact have little mouths and legs on them. Don't ask how I know, although this happened in Alabama, not at Mendon Ponds.

I think this event is close in time to the spring classic duathlon, which is also at mendon ponds. Probably takes some of the same route, too.

Yikes, leeches huh? Never had one of the beasts on me, don't care to ever have one on me either. :Q

I didn't see the duathlon advertised there yet. You doing that event?