I’m new to running trails and so far I love being in the
woods and outside of the urban running environment. However, the actual running
and racing has been a struggle. As someone who is legally blind, I am having a
tough time running confidently on the classic New England style trails that are
filled with roots, rocks, and the occasional fallen tree. I find myself walking
more than I thought I would/should and my overall pace is slower than even the
normal road>trail drop-off.
By far, trail running is my most challenging athletic
endeavor since my sight has decreased. Additionally,
running with a sighted guide on the trails compared to the road/sidewalks is
completely different because of the single-track.
I realize that there is something else holding me back. It
is a combination of fear of falling and injuring myself (very much looking
forward to the upcoming ski race season) as well as failing on my next big trail
race. Both are renting space in my head but I am determined to make this
happen.
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| Trail running with Jill at Hale Reservation. |
It dawned on me this past weekend while running trails with
my wife (thanks for being my sighted guide) that there are so many similarities
to trail running and alpine skiing. I remember the first time I skied in the
trees at Sunday River off White Cap Mtn and Spruce Peak (these were off-trail
stashes of steeps & pow pre-glade era). I was trying to keep up with my then
roommate Josh Tostado (now one of the top U.S. endurance mountain bike athletes around) and I continually found myself in the backseat, holding back, nervous
about cranking out turns in very tight trees. Similar to skiing the bumps, the
more I leaned back the safer I felt but in reality the less control I had. I
finally decided to attack the steeps and began to carve out some nice turns in
between the trees and loved every minute of it (I still couldn’t keep up with
Josh though!). Skiing also taught me, and I’m learning more about it as I get
into ski racing and running gates, to keep my head up and always think two to three turns ahead.
My trail running to date has been very similar to that first
ski run or the feeling I had when I began skiing bumps and I stared down a
mogul-filled trail. Whenever I get nervous running trails, I tend to lean back
and not stay over my feet which throws off my balance. Then my confidence drops. Although I can no longer see
everything on the trail (I also recognize that these hazards are issues for all runners), I can work with my guides more strategically to ensure
that I am planning for two to three steps ahead and not what is immediately in front
of me. One ski turn/step at a time.
So regardless of the challenge, here is to plunging forward,
attacking whatever is in front of us, and confidently kicking some ass. See you
in the woods.
P.S. Thanks to all my running peers who have imparted
invaluable trail running and guiding wisdom. YOU ROCK!!!
