Hello runner friends!
Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series
MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!
Now let's get started by talking about this amazing weather we're having! With a high of 57 degrees expected in Springfield today, it's beginning to feel downright balmy. Especially when you compare it to the arctic storm we came out of that's still visible in the rear view mirror. And with temps similar to this expected for the extended KY3 forecast, now is a great time to get out on the trails to get some practice miles in for Dogwood.
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| From L-R, Laura, Jackie, Gretchen, Heather |
This was something I was thinking about as my husband and I joined some friends for a trail run on the Sac River Mountain Bike Trail on Saturday. As a lover of trails, I was anxious to see what three of the girls (pictured above with Laura who has run Dogwood many times) joining us thought about trail running since this was their first experience going off road. I knew that if they liked this run, they would love running the Dogwood Canyon Trail Run in the fall. And, of course, you know I already invited them! After all Dogwood is, hands down, my favorite trail run of all time.
And just as I suspected this is what the girls had to say...
For me, it was my first trail run and I loved it!! Of course we didn't run, we hiked it and I love hiking! I injured my back in May and Heather had knee surgery last year but we couldn't pass up a good cause! I love nature and you got to see it up close and personal. The frozen water crossings were beautiful and challenging! I loved being back out with my girls, talking, praising God and encouraging each other and everyone else! I saw this one and loved the fact that it was for the Missouri Baptist children's home and everyone we encountered was so kind and encouraging! The snacks were fantastic and served with joy! It was just a great time all around! While I was tired at the end and sore, I didn't really notice it too much on the course. It really was a perfect day with perfect weather and great company in God's beautiful outdoors, it just doesn't get much better! I prefer to do trails, I love being in the woods and exploring not on a road. I would love to try to do Dogwood this year and am working on strengthening my lower back. I'm trying to start back slowly with walking and strength training - Jackie
This was my second "official" trail race/run. Runs like this are a nice change of pace with less emphasis on how fast a person should go and more about pushing yourself through what challenges you. Sometimes it's the incline or maybe even the water crossing, or just doing things you didn't know you could. The weather was great once we got started, hiking through nature with some of my best friends. Pretty sure we plan to do it again next year and definitely plan on running Dogwood Canyon in the fall! - Gretchen
So this is my first trail race... loved the scenery and creeks. And yes, this race makes me want to run Dogwood Canyon in the fall! - Heather
I have run Dogwood before a few times, and I love Dogwood. This weekend race was great, not as great as Dogwood, with beautiful surroundings that made it a close second. I'm starting to love trail running over road running. Would love to run a trail when it's not cold though... lol maybe more in the spring to see everything come to life or in the fall as the seasons start to change. - Laura
So, while I'll agree with Laura that running trails when it's cold isn't always the most fun, but spring temps are still a long ways off. Which means that this is a great week to grab those trail shoes and head out to a trail that's close to you. Or... if you're feeling adventurous, check out TrailLink for a listing of all the Missouri trails there are to visit and seek out a place you've never been before. My husband and I had never been on the Sac River trail and loved it so much that we plan on coming back to do some more exploring. We had no idea such a beautiful trail was only a 75-minute drive from our house.
And there you have it friends. There's no better time to get out on the trails than right now. After all, there may be another winter storm on the horizon, just outside of the extended forecast, that could drop another round of ice on us that could render the trails impassable for a while—a thought that makes me sad. So get out there with a smile on your face for a hike, run, or walk while you can friends. Nature is medicine for the soul and you'll never regret spending time in it.
Happy Running!
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