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Trail Racing by Danelle Ballengee
If I had to give up everything I owned, except one thing, that one thing I would keep would be my running shoes. Take my house, take my car, take it all, but don’t take my running shoes! Trail running is a beautiful, enjoyable and benefitual sport. Te me, it is more than a sport. It is a way of life. There really is nothing I would rather do thatn to be out there, running on the trails.
Trail running has been a part of my life for a long time. I think back to my best memories of life, and many are of times when I have been out, running on the trail. I’ve come a long way since that first cross-country race in high school. I’ve since run some of the highest mountains, deepest canyons, pristine valleys, and scenic forests in the world. I’ve run in over 20 countries, and 5 continents, over rocks, trees, snow and mud. For me, trail running has been a means of transportation, a way of discovery, a chance to escape, and in a few cases, an income! Trail running is something that can be done anywhere, anytime. With trail running you can explore some of the most beautiful places in the world. You can go places that most people only dream of going. It is a peaceful sport that allows you to escape the hustle-bustle of the world and to just run and let your mind wander. Not to mention the health benefits to the heart, lungs, and muscles!
Trail racing is the ultimate challenge. Competition on the trails brings about some of the greatest acts of athleticism in the world of sport. Just image running up and down towering mountains, over treacherous terrain at high altitudes with thin air, in blizzard conditions. Then imagine someone on your heels, listening to their breathing as you work harder and harder to stay one step ahead, feeling your heart about to burst, your lungs screaming, and your legs burning. This is trail racing! It may sound like suffering to many. It’s hard, It’s wild, It’s extreme! But, there’s no experience like it in the world. How do you explain why it feels so good to suffer so badly? Well, you have to experience it to understand. Once you do, you understand that it’s not suffering at all. It’s the essence of life; to breathe the clean air, to move smoothly across the natural terrain, to push your body to its physical and mental limit, and to be a part of nature. Whether first place or last place, each competitor has their own unique, great story. Each experience makes us a better person. Each experience teaches us self-discipline and motivation. We can transfer these experiences into our daily lives.
Trail running has taken many forms over the years. There’s cross country, mountain running, fell running, skyrunning, snowshoeing, ultrarunning, orienteering, expedition running, burro racing, coasteering, canyoneering, etc… Each is unique, each is exciting. Really, I love them all! As a sport, trail running has come a long way. Most of the disciplines within trail running have a recognized World Championship competition, which brings out the best in the world. Progress is being made toward making some of these disciplines Olympic events. As trail running receives more credibility and recognition, we see the best getting better and we see more and more people getting involved in the sport. I may be bias, but I truly feel that if the entire world were trail runners, the world would be a more peaceful , healthy place. Trail running teaches us to respect our earth and its beauty and too hopefully help restore and maintain earth in its natural state. Some trail run for the challenge, some for the health benefits, some for the peace, some just to explore. Whatever the reason, trail running is a sport that we all should respect as well as enjoy. We are privileged to have the ability to run and to have a great world with so many beautiful place to run. |
