Happy Trails: Path to Practice

Memorial Day Weekend Trail Run; Easy Hip Opener Recovery Practice.

Gun fires. Right away a trudge uphill guarantees a hard day is in store.

Mile 11 scenic views. I thought this was my last hill. Wrong. Our crafty race director makes sure we have a hill at the finish.

Path:

Birmingham, Alabama sports several parks and mountain ranges. Oak Mountain State Park is one of my favorites to camp and run the trails. It is an ideal park for athletes. On any given weekend there will be trail runners, golfers, horseback riders, cyclists both road and mountain, swimmers in the lake and hikers throughout the park.

A variety of trails range from steep climbs, long descents, gravel roads, pine straw paths to rolling hills perfect for mountain biking, running and hiking.

The holiday weekend in May featured a 12-mile trail race. It has become our family tradition on Memorial Day Weekend. The past four years, we have participated in this race together. An event that guarantees a challenge and creates fun memories.

This course starts uphill and ends uphill. The first few miles climb up to a ridge. A nice breeze follows me across the ridge. Then a short descent before heading right back up to another ridge. Next the course bottoms out at lake side, circles the lake on a gravel road. Then we enter a single track with several creek crossings. About mile nine, there it is. A gravel road climb that keeps on giving. My body feels so heavy as I slow step up this steep mountain. Each step registers in my brain as it is right in front of my face. It might be easier to crawl at this grade. Then at the top, thankfully, an aid station to refuel. The aid worker says, “now you have a downhill to enjoy.” Excited to cruise for a bit. Well, it was only for a bit. Another steep climb waits ready around the corner. After topping out once again, the course circles another lake before heading uphill to the finish. Hot dogs, chips and coke await.

Elevation profile over 12 miles.

A memorable conversation on the course with a young fella makes my day. I pass a waterfall at mile nine. The runners who have been in front of me most the course stop at a pool of water. I ask them what they see thinking it’s a snake. The lady says, “just admiring the clear blue water.”

I slow down just enough to see. It’s a clear turquoise color right in the middle of the forest. I continue down the path, a younger runner leaps after me. He passes then stops again. He finds a turtle and tries to feed it an energy chew. He hops up leaving the turtle and runs next to me. He and I run and walk together for the next mile holding a conversation. We pass another lake. He points to the best fishing spot, most likely to catch all you want.

I realize, if I’m not going to compete and stay with the runners then I might as well be a kid too, noticing all the treasures along the way. This fella helps bring my attention to nature and away from thoughts of my poor performance.

He gives me an analysis of when runners peak. “The best age to excel as a runner is in your 20’s and 30’s. Older than 60 and you can’t really run well and start slowing down,” he says.

“I’m 59,” I say.

“You’re close,” he says. 😂

“I’m eleven so I have a few more years,” he continues.

“Are you running in the July race here?” I ask.

“Probably not. I might have better things to do,” he says. 😂

Then the biggest climb of the day greets us. A mile long, steep, slow stepping climb. He surged up. Next time I saw him he was eating a hotdog sitting in a chair.

“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks." ~John Muir

The trail runs beside train tracks. A train speeds by so close that I could feel the power vibrate the earth.

Practice:

This practice includes hip openers, hamstring, calf and quad stretches that feel so good after a long run. Fifteen minutes of body nourishment readies you for your next run day.

A 15-minute practice for tight hips from Yoga with Kassandra. It’s a free and on target for runners.

A day or two after a race or hard run, this practice provides an easy hip and leg stretch. I love that it starts in a supine position to ease into movement.

Happy Trails and Practice!

Jill

Photos by the author except as noted.