What I Learned In One Year of Trail Running
My first trail run was last year. Prior to that, I had been in the mountains alone a couple of times simply enjoying the time. Just as an ordinary tourist.
I never expected trail running to be so addictive. I couldn’t wait for the weekend and hit the trails.
At first, you want to go further, next you want to go higher and faster. Finally, you want to beat your limits altogether.
Most of the runners sign up for a race — a trail marathon or an ultra trail race.
Although I experienced all the addiction phases, I still did not sign up for a marathon or an ultra.
I am still beating my limits and improving myself in other aspects.
Endurance
One year after my first trail run, I was impressed by my new skills. Pace is still my weakness but I compensate by endurance.
Long hours are not a challenge anymore. After a few two day runs with sleep nights at mountain huts (runners don’t carry the hiking load), my body got used to letting the tiredness take control of the surroundings. This means that even being in an unknown place, surrounded by strangers lying side by side with no bath and the snoring symphony, the body knows that sleeping or not, there is another long run soon as you wake up waiting…
