Remember a month or so ago, when I kept whining because I didn’t have a goal? Remember how I told you that I didn’t want to run a fall marathon because I just had too much going on this summer?
Yeah. About that…
I signed up for a trail marathon. I might be insane, as I still live in non-trailland. But I want to do this, even if it scares me and will be hard and will be by far the slowest marathon I’ve ever run. Plus signing up for it gives me a reason to get to the trails as much as possible between now and October 4.
This will be me the next three months:
(I found this on Facebook, but the original source is in the bottom corner, so I’m not plagiarizing, right?)
I found a trail marathon training plan on the internet, and I’ll be pretty much following it, but since I don’t have trails to train on daily, here’s my general plan:
Monday: Long hills on the treadmill (because that’s the only place I can run uphill for more than a mile)
Tuesday: Mid-distance, easy pace
Wednesday: Double recovery runs
Thursday: Short hill repeats (done on real hills — the only ones I’ve got)
That road and I are going to become very good friends.
Friday: Recovery
Saturday: Long, on trails as often as possible
Sunday: Rest
Monday and Thursday will be interchangeable, depending on the weather and my schedule, and when the race gets closer, I’ll move my long run to Sunday, but that’s the general idea. I’ll also keep strength training 2-3 times a week and do core work 5-6 times.
Last Saturday, since I’d committed myself to this thing, I got up at no o’clock in the morning and drove to Devil’s Backbone near Loveland to train on trails and, as that’s part of the race course, see just what I’d gotten myself into.
Yeah… definitely not regretting this choice. At all. I do need to learn how to run on this stuff,
but my Instagram friends assured me that all it takes is practice and accepting that I need to slow down.
I’m nervous and anxious, but mostly excited. Here’s to new challenges!
What’s your next big goal?
What’s the last thing you did that scared you?
Rural Running Redhead 
I keep thinking I should enter a trail race, I do a lot of my running on trails anyway. Good luck with training, hope you have a great training cycle!
Thanks! Are there trail races near you?
Well, you will definitely become a trail runner that way!
What trail plan did you find? I’ve been looking for one for my trail half marathon in September but couldn’t find any.
My running club is a trail/off-road club so I get hills and trails once a week but this will be my first trail half marathon so I want to be fully prepared.
I’ll enjoy reading your progress.
Honestly, I just googled “trail marathon training plan” and found one for the Gold Rush Trail Marathon (I don’t even know where that is). If you google “Gold Rush Marathon training plan” you’ll find it –they have 2 or three options.
I’m jealous that you have a trail running club!
I can not wait to follow your training! How exciting!!!! This will be a new challenge and it will be amazing!!!! Whooo!!!
I am proud of you!
I think you are really going to enjoy the change in scenery. I have done a few half marathons on trails and it’s a completely different experience. The mind definitely has to be more focused on each step, as the terrain can pose challenges, but the beauty and sense of solitude makes it somewhat relaxing. Enjoy the training!!