Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone



 This is what it looks like to step out of your comfort zone. I signed up for a five week spring trail running series the beginning of April put on by Ardor Trail Running, in Newport, Oregon. I'd seen in the past that the local running club offered a trail running series but it never worked with my schedule. Last year I was dealing with hamstring issues and was not running.

                                                Photo: Ardor Trail Running 

This year I saw Ardor Trail Running created a Facebook event. I immediately knew this is something I wanted to do. My sister-in-law, Paige and I ran our first trail race last October in Molalla, a 5k in the Molalla Corridor put on by the local running club. It was a super fun race. We both had a blast. I signed up then saw that the longest run was going to be six miles and the elevation that we would be running. Then I got nervous. I didn't realize it was an actual timed "race," complete with a number until the first race. In that moment if I could have left I would have. I am not into beating times or even keeping track, I just wanted the experience of trail running.


To say that the first two races were challenging is an understatement. It's one thing to be able to run 4-6 miles, running trails with elevation gains of 1,000 feet is a complete different experience. After that first race I discovered muscles in my legs I didn't even know I had. There was one hill that I was afraid if I didn't have enough momentum that I was going to be rolling down the hill. Thankfully, I made it up...just barely!


The scenery is breathtaking. Each week is a different route with different loops and trails. Each week the trails are marked. Last week was 6.2 miles. One point running through dense forest not even on a real trail. Good thing running through waste high ferns doesn't bother me and I thought to wear pants instead of running shorts. The first two weeks we shorter distances but the hills, oh LORD the hills. This evening's run is only four miles but I have a feeling there are going to be a few of those butt burning hills as tonight's run is titled: Gluteus Maximus.

                                              Photo: Ardor Trail Running 

My legs are looking amazing. This is from last week's run "The New World." It was 6.2 miles with a elevation gain of almost 1,400 feet. I was super nervous. It ended up being my favorite run so far of the series. The sense of completion was amazing. A week later I am still basking in the glory of crossing the finish line. I am enjoying meeting new people, testing my endurance and falling in love with trail running. I am excited that Ardor Trail Running is going to be doing another five race series starting June 24th. If you are in the Central Coast area and are interested you can find Ardor Trail Running on Facebook. Be prepared to be challenged and make a few new friends!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

First Race of 2016: Easy Like Sunday Morning

Image
Leia and I ran our first half marathon together on March 6th, the Lincoln City Elk Stampede, also known as the Lincoln City Half Marathon & 10k. I've done the 10k the past two years. I wanted to do one half marathon before my half Iron Man in June, since Leia is my running partner she got to cross off completing her first half marathon off her bucket list.  In the parking lot waiting in our car. Leia wasn't too sure what to think with all the people milling about. This was Leia's very first race. She could sense the energy and knew that she was going for a run, with me in my running gear, her blue leash in sight, and her bright green pack in the backseat. She had only ran once with a group. Usually we run solo along busy Highway 101.  The first six miles of the race Leia was super excited and had lots of energy, pulling me at times. I didn't want to start off too fast so I had to reign her in. Usually she is right beside me or slightly be...
Read more

Don't Under Estimate the Motivational Power of the Sound of Cowbells: ElkHorn Relay 2016 Race Report

Image
Left to right: Megan, Gail, Clayton, Erin, Preston, Holly, Kara, Me, Alycia, Jillian, Feather & Miranda Team Carrion-On at the start of 2016 Elkhorn Relay at Hilgard State Park  Last year my friend Gail, a local triathlon and running legend in our community and also my girls' cross country and track coach asked me if I would be interested in participating in doing the Elkhorn Relay in Eastern Oregon, a 204 mile relay put on by Doomsday Racing. She was putting together a team of 12 ladies to do the inaugural race. She told me to visit the website, where I read that each person would run a total of three times, each leg between 3-7 miles over a 24 hour period. The relay climbs the backside of Anthony Lakes reaching 7,100 ft. altitude then then down through the Grand Ronde Valley ending at River Side Park. Unfortunately it was the same weekend as the girls' annual Missoula Children's Theatre and I was not able to do it.  I was secretively thankful at that ti...
Read more

Ardor Adventures Dia de los Muertos 5k Race October 29, 2016

Image
My youngest daughter goes through my running and triathlon medals often. I have about fifteen hanging on my curtain rod in my kitchen from various races the past few years. My youngest daughter isn't into running. When she had shared with me a few months ago that she wanted to do a running race and get her own medal I was excited for find a race for us to do.  When I saw the race announcement from Ardor Adventures for the Dia de los Muertos 5k and saw the beautiful medal design and t-shirt I knew that my younger daughter would love it. I signed both my daughters and myself up.  As the race neared I was prepared for rain and darkness but amazingly the weather turned out to be perfect~cool and sunny! The start/finish line was the the Yaquina Bay Bridge in the parking lot of the Rogue Brewery. There was plenty of parking. Ed Cortes, Race Director put a lot of time and detail into the race from the beautiful design of the medal and to the post race entertainment...
Read more