Cooped Up? Get Uncooped.

The smartass answer to "How can I run my first trail race?" is "Place one foot rapidly in front of the other. Repeat until you cross the finish line. Don't trip." But that's not actually very helpful.

Here are a few things I learned the hard way from my very first trail race, the Superior Trail 25k.

-Bring water or a sports drink.

I made the mistake of assuming this 15.1-mile race would have bucketloads of aid stations. My only race experience prior to this was watching Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota, where (it seemed like) a runner couldn't go more than five feet without hitting an aid station or a water-proferring volunteer. Imagine my dismay when I arrive at the starting line and discover that I'm basically the only one without a hydration pack- because for this 15.1-mile race over some of the most unforgiving trail terrain in Minnesota in the hot May sun, there is exactly one aid station.

-EAT SOMETHING before the race

Even if it's early. Even if you have butterflies in your stomach. Even if you're so nervous you think you might throw up. You NEED to eat. If you don't, you will battle headache, nausea, and weakness along with the hills, roots, ravines, mud, etc.

-Bring salt pills or electrolyte-replacement tablets.

Especially if you're drinking water, not a sports drink, replacing lost salt and electrolytes will be a key component in your make-sure-you-don't-crash-and-burn plan.

-Wear broken-in shoes.   

-Wear ankle gaiters.

Stopping every 50 feet to dig a pebble or a twig out of your shoe is a pain in the arse, but ignoring the pebbles/twigs/other random crap that works its way into your shoes is not an option. 

-Dress appropriately.

If you're wearing a long-sleeved shirt and fleece pants and everybody else is wearing short and sleeveless shirts, you are overdressed. You will end up overheated and miserable. Lose a layer or two. If you're chilly at first, that's okay. You'll warm up.

-Relax and have fun.

This is not the Bataan Death March. You're doing this voluntarily, right? You paid an entry fee for the privilege of running this race. Enjoy it!

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