Friday, December 30, 2011

Trail mentality

I learned something interesting about myself yesterday: when I run on the road, I expect to run quickly, but when I run on a trail, I expect to relax the pace and enjoy my surroundings. I went on my first big group trail run yesterday and I realized that my "trails are for relaxing!" mentality is not a shared principle. The good news is that I got a really good workout trying to keep up and the dog just about died and went to doggy heaven. The only thing she likes more than trail running is trail running at a fast pace.

My first love is DIGGING!!

The trail run I did is called a "Pub run" because everyone meets at a pub and after the runners can get a beer. I don't know about you, but I can barely handle drinking a whole beer by myself when I haven't just run, so I'm in awe of people who can run and then drink and not pass out. They have it every week, but I can never make it because it starts at 4pm and my husband doesn't get home from work until 5pm and I can't take Faith in her stroller on the trails.

I could never hack it in a hash run

I remembered why I hate running with the dog sometimes: she pulls me right through stream crossings instead of letting me use the stones to step over. Other than that, Peanut is a great trail runner and can definitely out run me. She only protested when I wanted to walk up this one muddy hill. Did I mention that I was the only one who holds a strong belief in walking non-paved hills? I need to convert more people. Sure, we only ran 6 miles, but we need to practice the walking anyway just in case it turned into a 16 mile run. :)

I finished up 6.38 miles in just under 59 minutes (9:14 min average pace), which is a pretty good pace for trails. We did finish up on pavement, but it was super hilly. I was reminded why I generally avoid that section of Leonardtown. Yes, I am that lazy.


Mommy, I won't let you be lazy at home, I promise.

I don't know how afternoon/night runners do it. After a 4pm run, I was ready to come home, shower, stuff my face, and then pass out. There is no way I was going to be productive at all and it's a good thing we still had leftovers from Christmas dinner because there was no way I was going to cook!


Could you drink a beer right after running or are you a lightweight like me?


Are you a morning or evening runner?
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24 comments:

  1. I love my after work runs! None of which I am doing now because it's dark as a boot when I get home. When the daylight cooperates, I get the kids dinner and while they eat, I do my run. It's perfect. I also spin at lunch so it makes it an easy way to get two workouts in one day.

    No way could I drink a beer afterward. Gag. Maybe a mikes hard lemonade......

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  2. I have never been able to drink before/during/after a race or a workout. I hate when races advertise a free beer at the finish line. I don't want that! Give me some chocolate milk please. :)

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  3. I have plenty of extra soppage weight so it's not an issue for me. In fact, I'm really looking forward to my half marathon that will be serving wine at the end :)

    Are you supposed to be looking like you want to kill Faith in that picture? haha

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  4. Haha, I would NEVER give my child the death glare. Not even if she was really, really deserving of one. :)

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  5. After a long run, I've learned that I can't stomach much, let alone a beer. That really sounds like an awful idea. People be crazy! Your pace for a trail run is amazing (hell, I'd be ecstatic with that pace on a road run!)

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  6. I prefer to run in the morning but sometimes I run in the afternoon or evening if I have to. I've never drank immediately after a run but I'm fairly certain I wouldn't be able to handle it. Great job on your trail run!

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  7. I hate starting a run any later than 10 AM. Cuts into my eating time. And yeah, I get drunk off of smelling a beer, so I'm guessing I should not drink and run. Ever.

    I love that picture of you and Faith!

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  8. Definitely a morning runner, but I can certainly drink afterwards. During football season, I usually get up early to get in a long run, then around noon meet the husband and friends at a bar for the day. Best post-run drinks? Mimosas and hard cider. I'm not a beer fan.

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  9. They gave us a beer at the finish of the VA Beach Half Marathon in 2010 when I did it. It was terrible. Then again it was a crap beer. I gave it away.

    I didn't think you were glaring at Faith in that picture - I thought it looked sweet.

    I like both times of day to walk however, I have to be more cognizant of how full my belly is before I go out. Never again will I feel like puking while walking.

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  10. the main problem with that beer run is that they have crappy beer. WTF? PBR? no thanks.
    /beersnob

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  11. I run when I can, I prefer in the morning, but when it's cold I can't hack it (so LAZY!!). I don't know if I could drink a beer right after I ran or not, I don't drink much at all so I'd probably end up passing out.

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  12. We used to do the beer mile thing in college--chug a beer, run a lap, and so on for a mile. Lots of puking was involved, yet we seemed to think it was a great idea....

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  13. i could drink a beer any time! but it has to be the finest beer around -- miller lite ;)

    i'm definitely an AM runner. i don't know how people run at night. i'm way too tired.

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  14. A couple of hours AFTER a run? Beer me. But right afterwards that is truly the last thing I want. I'm planning on becoming a morning runner because lately I have had crappy night runs and that needs to end.

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  15. I think you should reserve saying you'd never give your child the death glare until you pass the teenage years. I can't drink a whole beer ever unless I'm in a drinking game. After the Shamrock Marathon Lily had "lunch" in the beer tent and it was hilarious when I saw her after. I don't get how people can have a beer after any race, especially like an 8am 5K. I have no idea how you ran the trails that fast and didn't write this post from a hospital bed with a broken leg.

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  16. Normally, any carbonated post-run sounds awful, but I had some sips of beer after my last mud run, and something about being in the hot sun all sweaty and filthy made the beer taste delicious!

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  17. I'll email you my tips based on my more extensive pub run experience....

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  18. I'm an evening runner. Otherwise I would have to get up super early to run before work. Plus, it's just me and my dog, so I'm lazy all the time.*

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  19. I used to be a morning runner, but now I'm becoming more of an evening runner, which I enjoy because the sun is out and it's warmer!

    And drinking after a run? No thank you; I can barely stand after just one drink at all!

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  20. No beer for me after a run! Maybe if it was a fruity cocktail but I would still pass out after drinking it.

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  21. OMG, aren't all trails stroller friendly? So hardcore! Haha :)

    Nice job on the pub run. I'm a total lightweight where alcohol is concerned, too.

    I'm a night runner. Sometimes I don't get out there until 10. Living in a nice, suburban part of town with well-lit sidewalks is great.

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  22. I am 100% not a beer after/before or anything after running kind of girl. Each week we have a Monday run at a bar and everyone is drinking afterward and I am the stuffy person drinking water.

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  23. I can't do beer after running either.

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