Cooped Up? Get Uncooped.

So you want to run a trail race. Great! Now how do you know what one to run?

There are two ways to go about choosing your first race. The first way is the logical way. Ask yourself:

-How far do I usually run?

If you typically run 1-2 miles a few times a week, signing up for a marathon means committing yourself to months of serious training so you don't hurt yourself. If you're new to running on trails, signing up for a race with unfamiliar terrain that's a lot longer than you usually run is setting yourself up for misery.

-Where am I willing/able to travel?

Obviously, if you can afford to jet halfway across the country to run a race, you're going to have a lot more options than if you're restricted to a 50-mile radius around your home.

-What kind of terrain do I usually run on?

If possible, talk to people who have run many trail races in your area. They will be able to tell you which race is all downhill, which has wicked hills, which is infamous for being muddy, et cetera. Ask around- see what people recommend for a first-timer.

-When do I want to run the race?

If you're planning a few months ahead, you can go ahead and choose a longer distance than you're used to - if you're willing to commit to the training. If you're planning to run your race in the next two weeks, don't push your usual distance.

Once you've considered all these factors, then contact your friendly local trail running association for a race calendar. If you're not sure where to look, ask at a good outfitters or running store.

That's the first way -the smart way- to choose your first trail race. Then there's the second way, the way I did it, which I can't say I recommend to anyone. It goes like this:

-You are not a runner.

-You stumble across a website for a 25k (15.1 mile) trail race with a wicked reputation that takes place in four months' time. The race has a cool wolf's head logo.

-Think to yourself, Okay, I'm not a runner, but I've always wanted to run, and I'm at kind of a crappy point in my life right now. This would give me something to focus on. A goal. That's it, a goal. Plus, that is a sweet logo.

-Sign up for the race.

-Against all odds, finish the race (only because the race director announced before it started that no one had ever dropped out in the history of the race). After the long, grueling ordeal, swear you'll never run another race ever again.

-Sign up for another 25k trail race three weeks later.

• running
• trail
• running
• race
• preparation
• planning
• misery