Apple Blossom 10K and then the Cherry Blossom 10-miler . Once I completed the 10-miler , Carolyn , who is an ultrarunner , convinced me to run a 50K . I hadn ’ t even done a half marathon or even a marathon distance . However , she assured me that if you can run 10 miles you can run 30 . I had the foundation . The remaining 20 miles are mostly a mental game . We trained together on the Appalachian Trail , close to home . We would go out for hours at a time . Run the flats , skip down the rocky downhills , and speed hike the mountains and hills . We would run during all sorts of weather . We ran on sheets of ice wearing spikes on our shoes , in torrential downpours , through knee-high snow , and briars , always trying to explore new trails . It was a blast !
It was 2004 when I started and finished my first trail ultramarathon , a 50K in the mountains of West Virginia . The race was an astonishing test of endurance and mental strength . It also had a reminiscent quality of my childhood when my brothers and I would play outside all day . During the race , I was running through a creek crossing , I slipped and fell on some algae-coated rocks and was floundering to get up , all while being documented by a photographer and his audience . I was too exhausted to be embarrassed , with cramping muscles , irritable bowels , swollen toes , and fingers that resembled Vienna sausages . Good times . The aftermath … five pounds of belly bloat , cankles , sore muscles , and blistered feet . Gladly , it all usually disappears in a few days . Because the trails offer diverse terrain layered with rocks , roots , gravel , and grass , tripping and falling is a normal occurrence . Some races have an award for “ best blood ” which is considered a badge of honor to some . I ’ ve seen double black eyes , broken arms and legs , and gashes that required several stitches . Long-distance running has helped me realize that the body is strong , capable , and resilient .
After that first race , I was hooked . Our trail-running shenanigans continued . The distances grew longer . Carolyn asked me to check out this race in Maryland . It was a marathon / 50K called the Seneca Creek Greenway Trail . On the morning of the race , held at the beginning of March , we drove from my then-home in Berryville Virginia , onto White ’ s Ferry , to Riley ’ s Lock , and hopped on the one-way bus ride to the start . Several busses , provided by Calleva ( thank you , Calleva !), transported us to Damascus and we ran back to Riley ’ s Lock . The was vibe was chill with no chip for timing , no banner at the finish , no frills . We liked the race director , the volunteers , and the trails so much that we kept coming back . I am so glad we did . Otherwise , I wouldn ’ t have met my husband Ted who was also running , sitting on the bus with me in 2007 ( another story ).
It was Ted who brought me to Montgomery County where he lives just steps from the Seneca Greenway Trail . How convenient ! He took me out and introduced me to more trails in the surrounding area . Much to my surprise , Montgomery County has a very large and active trail system . It is hard to believe that we are only 24 miles from the DC metropolitan area . I wanted to share my love of trail running , so I volunteered to become a trail running coach for the MCRRC Winter
Trails program . It was the best way to meet new friends and see new trails within the Montgomery County trail system . The winter trails program is approximately a 14 weeks long starting at the beginning of December that prepares runners for a trail marathon and 50K race in March . The coaches teach the runners about their experiences with nutrition , running gear , clothing , weather conditions , trail maps , and trail etiquette running through creek crossings and over rocks and roots . It is a great program for both newbies and seasoned ultrarunners .
Jill gets some fresh winter air on a run along the Seneca Greenway Trail .
plenty I spring sowing 2024 23