Race Review- Sulphur Springs 10km Trail Race (my first)

I am sore. Big time.
First - how cool is it that a Canadian won the Giro today? That is unbelievable and so awesome. Seriously one of the biggest sporting wins by a Canadian ever - in any sport.

Okay, so I decided to run my first trail run - the Sulphur Springs 10km race this weekend. I thought I was prepared as I was running the trails at Bronte Creek, getting my legs moving again, and had plenty of km's for this 10km run. We got to Ancaster in plenty of time, got our race kit (which included a pair of sandals which are great), warmed up, and headed to the starting line for our 8:15am start. But we didn't start - and we waited, and waited, and waited. Apparently some of the information out there said it would be a 8:30 start so they didn't want to leave people behind. Why they wouldn't have just announced an 8:30 start is beyond me but standing there for 20 minutes sucked.

So the gun finally goes off and we hit the trails. Right off the start we proceed down a hill. This hill kept going, and going, and going, and going. Seriously was big. That's when I started thinking that I am going to have to up this thing at some point. Also going down the hill I felt a tweek in my hamstring. Now I am worried. I slowed down a bit and realized I could run with this - just not full out.

The trails on this course were undulating to say the least. Constantly up and down which was a killer. Those trails at Bronte I was talking about? No real undulating hills so there goes my thoughts on great training!! At around the 4km mark we started going up a hill that kept going, and going, and going. That's when I realized what was happening. We were going up a different hill - but the same distance as that one we went down in the beginning!!!  I made it to the top and was struggling but somehow caught my breath, and started pacing behind a couple at about a 5min pace. This felt great. I kept this up for the next 5kms or so until I hit the big hill - which I realized represented the end of the race.

I hit the top of the hill, rounded the corner and finished my first trail race in 55 minutes (although I do believe it was bit shorter than 10km - probably 9.5km).  I loved running the trails. Was I jealous of the 25km, 50km, and 100 mile runners on the trail? A little bit - and I can totally see myself doing the 25km race next year (or maybe the 100 mile relay?????). Outside of the start fiasco this was a great race - well organized, lots of signage on the trails, food at the end  - overall a great race.

I completely see myself doing this trail running thing quite a bit this summer....it is such a great change from road running.