To Trail (Run) or Not Part 2

Who, me?

So where did I leave off?  Oh, right . . . I started 2011 out strong, with the mantra of running smart, taking days off as necessary, and with the goal of "runnin' till the wheels fall off or I finish, whichever comes first".  Even with cold and snow of the early months in the northern Midwest, I was putting the miles in regularly.  Call me crazy, and I don't have any idea how many outdoor, cold weather, runners there are, but count me among the Team Outdoor when it comes to running.  I am one of those people who enjoy the solitude of running outside in the cold, winter months.

The training schedule to the spring race progressed nicely through January, February, and March and as winter turned to spring, I prepared for, and completed, my second ever trail run. I really enjoyed the April AZACK trail run,  even if the hilly course was incredibly difficult and force me to walk on a number of occasions up hills that never seemed to end.  At the finish I thought "maybe I should do this trail running thing more often for training and to get back to nature".  As usually, these fleeting thoughts came and went as I returned to my normal, oh-so-familiar,  running routine.  The Lincoln 1/2 marathon and summer came and went and yet, no trail running.

Summer turned to fall and after a great M2M Relay, I was running my highest mile weeks for the year (40+ mi a week), loving running more than ever, and preparing for another winter of running. I was nearly to my goal of making it though the year relatively injury free.

That all changed at the beginning of November. To be continued...