on January 8, 2010 by Elizabeth in Running in L.A., Comments (3)
Don’t Call Me A Trail Runner
View from a Franklin Canyon trail.
I still remember when I’d get bored the moment I would walk into an REI store, mostly because it was not that long ago. Hiking was “eh” at best, and at worst it was all about imagining myself tumbling to my death down a hot, dry chaparral dirt mountain while my friends watched in horror. All the trees, bushes, insects, birds looked the same to me. The idea I was “getting away from it all” and communing with nature felt quaint. Plus it was so slow, you know, because we were walking, and the attention deficit.
I’m not sure why I’m writing this since I don’t feel all that qualified to write about trails, hiking, nor trail running for that matter, which is really what I’m getting to, but in the past few months it finally clicked and I’m starting to get why some people like being “away from it all.”
It sort of started when I asked a running store employee about some trails where I could get some miles in for my half marathon training. I figured it would be cut and dry. Start here, go there, end up here. I wasn’t really listening too hard, didn’t ask for too many details. I just wanted him to draw a quick map. Name some streets. Oh wait…
Yeah, I tried running my first trail, the Lower Arroyo Seco, using street names as my markers. I panicked when I ran it the first time. Then I got angry at my running partner. “Where are the street signs!! We’re supposed to turn around at Linda Vista! Help me!”
You know, the minute you realize something like this, you also realize how obvious it all is. So I eventually wised up, or maybe my partner wised up and I’m taking credit for it now. We started looking for different ways to mark our trail. Those were some great bridges we ran under! How many did we pass? I forgot to count. Okay, keep count from now on!!
And so it went from there. Dealing with unpredictability. Observing our surroundings. Learning new rules… and making our own. I got frustrated a few more times, especially the one time we ran at Griffith Park and couldn’t get all the miles I wanted in for the workout, leaving me feeling gipped. It was the trail’s fault. It was shorter and not quite as hospitable to running as I had thought (right next to a freeway, and over horsey poo), and I’m not even sure we went the right way. Stupid, stupid route. Then there was that one time I almost cried when I tried following a path that turned out to be downright dangerous (exaggeration). It was the scariest thing I had ever experienced (exaggeration). But we made it. I got the giggles.
So, adventure. Excitement. That’s trail running (or hiking), right?
Part of it? I know some people like the wildflowers, the birds, the nature. I am getting to really like it myself now that I’m around it more. I’ve even stated in the past few months I’d rather listen to nature than an iPod while on my runs. What I think I meant was, I wanted to make sure I don’t get surprised by a mountain lion, or a crazy person hiding in the bushes. Well, okay, this nature things is all a little new to me and I do want to be able to take it all in.
I’m doing more exploring now, scoping out running routes first with hikes. I’m noticing that trails with the word “canyon” or “flat” tend to be good for running, unless you don’t mind the hills. I’m buying books on hiking. Did you know Los Angeles has a ton of nature? Yeah, you did? Okay. I didn’t.
Aside from doing my own exploring, I also like that discovering trails requires a little bit of word of mouth. Somebody’s usually gotta guide me through it, or describe it to me. When I figure out a trail, I can guide someone else. It requires people to depend on each other a little, which is nice.
So what is everyone’s experience with trails? Running or hiking? When did you first discover it or did you grow up with it? Have any recommendations for trails that are good for running?
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