If you enjoy running but get bored really easily, I highly recommend trail running.
I have never had a race fly by as fast as the Long Play Trail Race did this morning!
Ryan and I awoke at 5 a.m. and I ate a quick breakfast of overnight oats before we drove an hour or so to Lake Townsend Regional Park in Brooksville, Florida. Since we weren’t really familiar with the area, we wanted to give ourselves plenty of time to arrive at the park, check in and pick up our race packets. We arrived with about 40 minutes to spare before the 7 a.m. start.
I was actually glad we arrived when we did, because we were able to hang out with some of the runners who were there to run the 33.3 mile loop on the trail before they took off at 6:30 a.m. Talk about amazing!
It was quite a chilly morning (upper 30s/low 40s) and I wore lots of layers.
Ryan was smart and left his hoodie in the car, but I wore my jacket and a long-sleeve pullover (the gray Old Navy one I got a few weeks ago) and ended up overheating a bit after two miles. As a Florida girl, I clearly haven’t mastered dressing for cold-weather running!
Upon check-in, Ryan and I realized that this race was going to be very laid back. The man running the race said that it was going to start a little late and that the five mile distance we signed up to run was going to run a bit long on the course. He warned us to expect to run closer to 5.5 miles and we appreciated the head’s up. It was a chill group of runners and no one seemed to mind the delay or longer-than-anticipated course.
Ryan and I lined up at the start line with our group of five mile runners and a group of half marathon runners. We started together, but when we hit the first water station, we turned around and headed back while the half marathoners continued on. It was an out-and-back course and ended up being right around 5.3 miles.
The course has us running in quite a bit of sand, but most of it was hard-packed and not too soft. The soft areas definitely slowed my pace, but the chilly weather had me feeling quite zippy and the entire race absolutely flew by.
When we approached the turnaround, I realized only one woman was heading back to the start at this point, which meant that there was only one female ahead of me. Though I’m typically not a competitive person in the least, once I hit the halfway point and began running back toward the start, a bunch of the runners who were running toward the turnaround started saying things like, “You can catch her” and “Go get her” which made me want to push myself to see if I could.
I caught up to her with about 1.75 miles to go and held onto my lead through the end. The race was quite small and I’m not a super-fast runner by any means, but it still felt pretty cool to be the first female to cross the finish line. That doesn’t happen to me often… or ever!
Distance: 5.29 miles Time: 48:07 (9:05/mi)
Ryan also ended up placing first in his age group! We were both awarded some pretty snazzy hats.
I’m already researching more trail races because we had such a good time this morning. The Long Play Race team sure knows how to put on a fun race!
Trail running is pretty darn awesome.
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Congratulations to both you and Ryan – great job! Your running gear is so cute, too!
Agree, trail running is great, great job!
I am so happy to hear you had a FUN/GREAT trail run!!! This gets me wanted to look into “trail runs” as well!!!
Congrats! That’s awesome =)
Oh that is awesome! Congrats on the first place finish. I have never tried trail running but I bet my Weimaraner would love it just like Sadie.
Nice job! I did a trail run this past summer, and it was definitely the most challenging course I’ve ever completed. Everything from the stones to the tree roots to the constantly-changing terrain makes it incredibly difficult. Crossing the finish line gave me an even greater admiration of people who ran XC in high school and college–not to mention trailrunners and ultramarathoners who do it regularly!
Congrats!!! What an accomplishment!
Sounds so fun! Trail racing is something I am interested in as well, have you heard of the Xterra Trail series?? I believe they have a race here in Tampa every year, I’m looking to maybe do it in November! I just pray I dont sink in sand or trip over my own feet. Cement seems…safer =) Congrats on coming in first!!!!
There was a flier in our race packets with information about those races! They sound awesome!
Congrats!! I felt the same way when I ran a 5k this fall and got 3rd overall for women. I am not a fast runner (at all) but it felt nice to place!
Oh Brooksville. I deserve a prize for both knowing where that city is and having visited there many times lol. Congrats on your finish 🙂
🙂 we had a lot of fun there! 🙂
Way to go Julie!!!
Oh my god, I love trail running. I love it so much. I’ve got some pretty hardcore trail runners in my area and i envy them. Awesome job with your race!
That’s awesome that you won!!! Trails are so fun!
Sounds like fun! Congrats on first!
Did you just wear your regular running shoes?
Yep! A lot of runners were wearing basic running shoes but a handful had trail running shoes.
That’s a great time! I love trail runs, they are definitely more fun than road races in my opinion. Great job today.
Congrats on winning! Woo-hoo!
Congrats! Sounds like a great race. That’s so cool both of you guys are so into working out together!
I’ve been itching to try some trail running! You just motivated me even more.
I second Heather’s question above–did you wear your regular running shoes?
yep! i wore my mizuno wave riders.
Gahhh the inevitable sand in Florida trail racers is killer!
Congrats on first female, that’s fantastic!!!
I need to find a trail race! I may not be looking in the right places, but it seems like a trail race is really hard to find in the Dallas area. And I’m definitely needing something to spice up my running life.
Love your jacket!
Trail running DOES fly by, doesn’t it? I think it’s because you’re always distracted and on the look-out for bailing over your feet … lol at least, I am.
Exaaaaaactly!
I have had the same experience when running a trail race! I signed up for a half-marathon trail race.. and it went by so quickly. You are too busy watching the ground (to make sure you don’t face plant!!) that all of a sudden, you’re done!
How fun! I’d love to try a trail race someday. I honestly don’t think I knew they ever existed until recently. Congrats on your finish! 🙂
Congratulations! It sounds like y’all had so much fun! Trail runs are great 🙂 I absolutely love your top, so cute!
Congrats! That looks like soo much fun! I love that Ryan is a runner and you guys do it together 🙂 I can’t imagine how cool it would be to cross the finish line as the first girl! That would be my dream, haha
Congrats on that first place finish! Wow! What a great feeling.
Wow well done! Awesome that the crowd was cheering you on like that. The course seemed quite flat? Or is that just from the start line photos? I imagined trail running to be almost like hiking but running it instead of walking maybe I had the completely wrong idea in my head.
it was pretty flat. there were a few hills, but florida hills are usually quite mild!
Congratulations girl! I picked up a new pair of Nike Trail Runs yesterday& am really excited to try them out on the trails! 🙂
I love trail running! Congrats on placing first, that’s awesome 🙂
You go girl! That is awesome! I started running this trail near our house a few months ago and I love it! What kind of pants and what brand are you wearing in the photo? I have been looking into compression pants ever since your giveaway, and was wondering what you recommend.
they are moving comfort endurance tights: http://www.movingcomfort.com/Endurance-Tight/300415,default,pd.html I LOVE THEM. highly recommended!!! i’d also recommend ordering a size smaller than you might think you need.
Great job on first place! Trail running does sound like a lot of fun.
Congrats to you both!!
Great time out there. I’ve never done annny type of trail running – that’ll be next hopefully!
Congrats that sounds amazing! I’ve been so bored with running lately because I’ve gotten tired of seeing the same things everyday. Also completely off topic, but what kind of facial products do you use? your skin always looks flawless!
thank you so much, sarah. when i was in NYC back in december i did a little skin care evaluation (free!) at saks with my girlfriends and they highly recommended i use a product that exfoliates my face, so ever since then, i’ve been using aveeno clear complexion cream cleanser: http://www.aveeno.com/facialcare/clear-complexion-cream-cleanser it actually made me break out like crazy at first, but now i like it! i also use clean & clear daily moisturizing lotion every morning.
Congratulations on first place! That does look like a fun race!
Is that an old navy hoodie? It looks like lulu!
i wore the old navy pullover underneath that jacket! 🙂
Wow! The first female to finish?? That is seriously impressive! You should be really proud :).
LOVE that hoodie. As if I need to spend more money on clothing… ;).
That looks like so much fun. I’ve always wanted to try a trail run!
Congratulations! That is awesome for both you and Ryan! That sounds like such a fun race.
A good rule for cold weather running is to dress as if it’s 20 degrees warmer than it really is. So if it’s 30 degrees, dress like it’s 50 out. Within the first mile you’ll warm up and be comfortable! I follow this rule for winter running and it’s never failed me.
good call! i’m such a rookie.
Congrats! That would be cool to be the first female finisher.
WAY TO GO GIRL! I competed in my 3rd half this morning (it has been 2 years since my last one) And I am hooked again! I need to look into trail runs. I ran Cross Country in high school and like the challenge of running on other surfaces other than cement! I will have to look it up!
Oh and it was 34 degrees at race time for us too! SOOOO ready for warmer weather! haha!!
Congrats on the win!!! I find that trail races are generally much more laid back than regular races. I LOVEEE running trails. I am signed up for my first ultra this summer, which is a trail 50k and I am so stoked for it!
Way to go for both of you! I my have to give trail running a try.
That sounds like fun! The only trail races I have done have been through woods and never on sand! I can only imagine what it would do to your pace though
Congrats on the double win! Time to celebrate 🙂
This is probably out of context, but as I was reading your post I wondered how you and Ryan met so I looked on your FAQ’s but the info wasn’t there. I’m always curious about how people meet each other. 🙂
Trail running is pretty much the best thing on earth!
Congrats on first place! I have a race-unrelated question; my boyfriend and I just adopted a dog last week and are loving her, but wary about leaving her at home for very long. What do you and Ryan do when you both have half day/day trips away from your pup (like a race that’s a drive from your place, or any day-long adventures you go on without your pup)? Is she ok around the house? Is she crate trained, or does she just hang out around your place? Any tips for a new doggy owner that feels bad leaving her sweetheart for more than an hour would be much appreciated!
hi emma! we failed miserably at crate training, but got lucky w/ sadie b/c she really isn’t destructive in the least and is fine on her own for hours. it took us a while to feel comfortable leaving her alone for longer periods of time and we worked up to it. i think it just takes time! so excited for you and your new puppy!
Congratulations! I’d love to give trail running a try.