32 Comments
Apr 2, 2021Liked by Hollie

Poor Farm Park, Ashland Va.! Flat, hills, single, double trail!! It gives you everything you need in a small area!!!!!!!

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I’m not a non-paved trail runner but what I have discovered is a program called rails to trails. I discovered it while visiting my home area and the Rehoboth Beach / Lewes Delaware area where they have taken old railroads and turned them into paved trails. Many miles for great running, walking, and biking. It’s a great program and like many others is a worthy cause to support.

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Locally, we have many trails in our ESAs (Environmentally Significant Areas) managed by both professional and volunteer organizations. One of the nicest (and longest) is around the reservoir on the edge of the city.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/ontario/fanshawe-lake-trail

Met this fellow in the middle of the trail on a training run.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm9kizrF2kg/

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One final comment: Hollie, your post regarding some professional ultra runners walk during races. All professional and non walk at some points during certain races. Yes, you can keep up with runners by powerwalking hills. A local race director Tom Perry mention he used run/walk stretegy and set his best 50 mile time (6:21). I have seen footage of Jim Walmsley walking during race. Also a 100k where he sat in chair at 2 aid stations and at both he changed his foot wear. Also drank and ate. Have run 50k races and in October will be running my first 50 miler. I plan to powerwalk all of the hills. Will take over 8 hours as I'm old and slow to complete the race. Walking at ultra means powerwalking for most, not leisurely strolling.

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Beautiful photo and great topic! For me, there are a couple: the Augusta Canal trail in my hometown (Augusta, Ga.), it's just a beautiful, mostly flat trail along the canal that parallels the Savannah River there, and just lazily rolls along through trees, open areas, and railroad tracks. Then there's the Atlanta Beltline Trail here in Atlanta, which is a paved trail that runs through the city -- but really interesting parts of the city, as it's part of an urban renewal project that has totally transformed the areas it runs through. Love where you're getting to run, too!

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Trails- Have short local trail that is crushed stone that I use (Finger Lakes). Have run Cayuga Trails (95% uphill or downhill), Catherine Valley trail- has a 3 mile up and a 3 mile down.

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I guess my favorite trail is at the San Leandro Marina, which is where I ran my half marathon PR in 2016. It's flat and fast and runs along the Bay.

Second favorite is the Grouse Grind in North Vancouver, BC.

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I love Pena, I'm running there pretty much everyday right now gearing up for my Trail Half. Still hoping to run into you out there hahah.

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There is a series of trails here in Maine that I love! I love it for me because it was the site of my first 50k victory and where I go when I need to boost my competitive mood. I love it for Maine because it's made up of 5 linked land trusts. That's 16 continuous miles (more if you take side trails) that are protected and available for public use.

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picking a single trail is almost impossible. There is a park in the DFW area (Cleburne Stat Park) that has a fantastic 8-ish mile route that is my favorite here.

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Two trails to come to my mind in Tidewater Virginia: the Windsor Castle Park Trail in Smithfield, which is about a 2.8 mile loop and the First Landing State Park trail in Virginia Beach, which has many available trails and is the site of an annual 50K, which I have run a couple of times. Both good choices. Other nice trails include the Noland Trail in Newport News and the Sandy Bottom Trail in Hampton.

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Great idea. I would have to say Buttermilk and North Bank here in Richmond are my favorite, I do seem to run them the most. The varied terrain and views are top notch and its hard to believe your in the middle of a city sometimes. That being said with the lockdown and more people working from home, the trails have become much more crowded.

My first marathon ever was the North Face in DC and the trail system between Great Falls and Algonkian Park was fantastic.

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Hollie, you recommended Carpe foot product. I recently tried it and was very impressed! Far better product then what I was using. Have you tried any of their other products?

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