Chris - From the description, it sounds like a good entry level trail running experience, since you've already run a road marathon. I found I ran slower (by 2-4 minutes per mile) on trails, but had a TON more fun. Most trails will have rocks, some may have logs to climb over, some will have to go through creeks. Most trees tend to get cleared off the trails regularly. My feeling is it takes more physical "effort" to run the trails, but I don't have a "mental" challenge. I was just thinking yeasterday that of the past 2 50ks I've done, and I didn't have that "Why do I do this?" quitting feeling like i've had on every road marathon. The trails are pretty, and it's a different experience completely. If you want to do it, get out training on some single track forested trails to see how it feels. Hal Higdon has a good Back-to-Back 8 week Marathon training plan that I have used several times. The secret will be to run as many as your runs on trails as you possibly can.

Chris - From the description, it sounds like a good entry level trail running experience, since you've already run a road marathon. I found I ran slower (by 2-4 minutes per mile) on trails, but had a TON more fun. Most trails will have rocks, some may have logs to climb over, some will have to go through creeks. Most trees tend to get cleared off the trails regularly. My feeling is it takes more physical "effort" to run the trails, but I don't have a "mental" challenge. I was just thinking yeasterday that of the past 2 50ks I've done, and I didn't have that "Why do I do this?" quitting feeling like i've had on every road marathon. The trails are pretty, and it's a different experience completely. If you want to do it, get out training on some single track forested trails to see how it feels. Hal Higdon has a good Back-to-Back 8 week Marathon training plan that I have used several times. The secret will be to run as many as your runs on trails as you possibly can.

DITTO!!!!!!!

Did you do this? It was on my maybe list for this year, but I didn't quite make it... May try for it another year though.

Nice job on the race and the age group plaque!! That's always nice especially when you aren't even expecting it.. I think you hit the nail on the head about why trail marathons are so great in your report: "I'd read that some people said that this course was more physically than mentally challenging. I can see how people would say that. I was kept so busy watching for the course, and where my feet were going to land, i didn't get lost in the monotony of running forward for 3-4 hours. And there were, for sure at a couple of the hills towards the end, times when my legs were feeling awfully tired of climbing hills. "