I love being a trail runner

    

Running the Tecumseh Trail Marathon December 2012

             I love being a trail runner. I love being a trail runner because.....you learn to enjoy being muddy. It means you did a "real" trail run. I love being a trail runner because you never know what exactly you will find on the trails even if you have run the same ones many times every run is slightly different. Trail running has spoiled me for the roads. When you can spend hours outside in the sunshine, or sometimes cold, in the middle of nature then running along a road in town pales in comparison.
          I love being a trail runner because I get to feel tough at the end of a big long run along the trails when I come to the car muddy, disheveled and thoroughly tired out. I like how great a nice, hot cup of coffee tastes after running trails. I like talking to the mountain bikers when we are running the biking trail at Brown County. It was funny today one said "I look up to you guys! What you are doing looks harder!" which was totally opposite our perspective which was "You ride your bikes through here?Big rocks, logs? How?"
           It is all a matter of perspective huh? Trail running also goes with a second hobby of mine which is nature photography. I love getting that perfect scene with my camera. I like to try to capture the whole moment including the emotions I had at the time. Then I can go home and write my blog and tell all about it while putting my photos up to fully grasp the moment for people. That way if I ran the entire way alone I get to share the run with others when I get home!
          I love other trail runners. We are a mixed up, rough and tumble bunch. You can truly be yourself on a trail run or race. No one cares how you are dressed or that you have makeup on or how much money you have. You don't have to pretend to be anything more than you are. Trail runners are one of the most accepting bunch of people I have ever met. Of course that goes for the entire running community. I wish I had picked up running earlier as I had no idea how cool this lifestyle was. But now that I am up and at it I will never want to be without running in my life again!


My name is Heather Lake. I am 43 years old and I run to have adventures!