familiar with this type of terrain, you could be setting yourself up for disappointment. I run on very rutted mountain bike and hiking trails. The paths can go from 20 feet wide to less than 2 feet wide. One route I take is almost perfectly flat for nearly 2.5 miles, then it flips upwards for a steep 1.5 mile uphill climb. The hill is so steep I've seen bikers suddenly stop at the base of the hill and turn around. The hill is a combination of rock, sand, and dirt. Running up it is a killer; but running down it also poses a challenge as the rock and sand make for slippery uneven surfaces. I cross a winding creek at several points--the makeshift foot bridges are often very slippery. The creek isn't deep; I could simply run through it as many do, I just don't like soggy shoes.

It takes some practice to get comfortable with the ever changing terrain. The steep hills, twists, and turns take a lot of energy to maneuver. My daily trail run is 6 miles in less than an hour; plus I walk a mile. Some days I do 8 miles, plus my walk. I want to work myself up to 10 and 15 mile weekend runs. Perhaps 20 miles. I constantly work and re-work my techniques to master the trails. Even though I run many of the same trails day after day, I find the challenge overwhelming at times. But that's also why I do it. I love the challenge.

I try to run safely, but I also run against the clock--it's always about time. One of the most important skills you have to learn as a trail runner is you have to learn how to fall. You need to learn how to tuck and roll. The instinct is to put your hands out to break your fall--you can't do that, instead you have to learn how to tuck you shoulder and roll. I think you are ready to run a trail marathon when you feel totally confident in your ability to handle any situation on the trail.

The trails take a lot out of me--that's why I have a road bike instead of a mountain bike. The road is where I go to recuperate--and it's nice because on the road I'm not eating dirt.