First Trail Run!

05.28.14

On Sunday morning, Allie, Kristen and I headed out to Mendon Ponds Park for our first trail run. We all thought we should mix it up from our usual path along the Erie Canal and really challenge ourselves before the North Face 10K. 

We met up around 9 AM to get started. Allie found this specific trail that was just shy of 5 miles. Apparently, the other options at Mendon Ponds seemed too easy so she picked this one. If you can see the map clearly, it is the dark green trail to the right of Douglas Road.

When we got started, it seemed as if the entire path was uphill. It was a brutal start and I thought I was going to be in serious trouble. The first mile is always the hardest hurdle for me. But this one was really special!

Surprisingly, everything went well (except Allie having a few clumsy moments) and we finished in about an hour. I've never ran such steep hills in my life. Thank goodness I wasn't the only one struggling because none of us had done anything like that before.

I wish I had a way to take pictures because the trail under the blanket of trees was unbelievably beautiful. I left my phone in the car to really unplug.

We all agreed that it was a refreshing kick in the butt and just what we needed. Sometimes running seems a little mundane but this trail really kept us focused and sharp. I think we will head back soon for round two! 

Running with family or friends makes the whole experience much more enjoyable. I can do 5 miles easy when I have people with me. (I get incredibly bored when it's just me.) Allie and Kristen were really encouraging because I was certainly the newbie runner among the group. They both have a couple of marathons under their belts. Their little tips and tricks along the way were really helpful. But, it was comforting that none of us had every done a trial like this before. 

If I can survive this, I think I will be just fine during the 10K in less than 2 weeks! So excited!