On Saturday May 15th, one of my running mates at RA and I organised a trail run in Leende, Brabant, just south of Eindhoven. As the pandemic is still with us, we kept it small and easy by inviting only our group members and using gpx files for navigation. Ten people participated, and it was a day to remember!
The runners at the start of the Leenderbostrail
The courses
We offered routes of 22K, 32K, and 42K, but there was also a 52K ultra trail. All routes were almost exclusively on non-paved surfaces like single tracks and forest paths.
I doubted between doing the 32K and the 42K, because technically I'm still recovering from my 2:46 PB on the marathon last month. However, two of the other runners opted for the 52K and eventually I decided, 15 minutes prior to the start, to join them.
The 52K route
A 52K ultra (or, as someone called it, a 'baby ultra')
Although I did taper a bit last week, and I carb-loaded (though not as extensively as last month), this was no perfect preparation, of course. I did not regret it, however! The running went smooth, we enjoyed the forests, paths and company. Apart from one very heavy shower, the weather was quite nice. There were very, very muddy parts, and one part in which the water came up to our ankles, but in retrospect those things are part of the fun. The route wasn't correct all the time and we had to reroute a number of times, but luckily one of us had a Garmin Forerunner 945 with maps, so I had just to follow along. Navigation has never been my strong suit...
The 52K group after the trail run
I think the hardest part for me was between 40 and 45K. After that, I was able to speed up the pace again, but I just hit that largely mental point at which I struggled to find joy in what I was doing. Although running together for 52K is great the whole time, for me, these are the times running in a small group keeps me focused. I think one of the other two runners also hit the same point, but later on, just when I got out of it. To be honest, I definitely was the weakest runner of the three, at least when looking at race times, so I couldn't help but feeling I held them up a bit, but they denied that, and apart from that, this was no race. (However, as many runners, I do want to keep a certain pace, of course, which we managed.)
In the end, we finished the 52.1K in 4:05:04, with an average pace of 4:42 per kilometre (that's 7:34 per mile).
51.1K
Given the unpaved, slippery and sometimes rough terrain with and really deep puddles and mudd, I'm very happy with that.
It was quite muddy out there...
Still great shoes, those New Balance Minimus Trail editions
Afterwards
We bought some pre- and post-run snacks for the group, and my wife offered to bake quinoa-blueberry power bars from Donna Hay, which were delicious.
Sticky and delicious
All in all, it was not only great to complete a 52K trail run together, but also to have a day off together, and to enjoy running, company and snacks together!
Post-run stretching and eating
