Trailer Trash-talk

In a preview to the main event my brother and I ran a trail race this past weekend.  Mark barely scraped past me to come tenth while I was mere moments behind in position 136. (Check out our official results here)

Even though the race was very close I did stop to wonder why Mark ran the whole way wearing jeans and holding a hot dog – which is how he greeted me at the finish line. Oddly, he didn’t seem to be at all puffed, which I put down to bravado in the face of his big sister who, let’s face it, has beaten him in lots of things his entire life.

Let me count the ways:

Eating – Becky, first place.
Walking – Becky, first place.
Toilet training – Becky, first place
Best sticker book – Becky, first place

Trail race – Mark, first place

As you can see, once does not a trend make.

Whilst I was letting my brother win, I did learn a lot about trail races. Mainly, they are pretty darn fun. Thanks to the protruding roots, steep hills and sometimes narrow paths that cover the course, it is impossible to go as fast as you might otherwise.  And because of the difficult terrain, entry numbers are limited.  Add these two factors together and runners are, quite simply, way more laid back than those you find at a typical road race – a fellow participant actually cheered “good for you!” as I passed her on a hill. What’s more, I really don’t think she was being sarcastic.

In other good news, my journey out of the back of the pack continues to be a successful one (thank you Dr. Steve). While I may have been pipped at the post by my little brother (okay, so it was the starting post) I am getting faster. I finished solidly in the top half of the women there – 11/29 for my age group and 31/85 overall.

It’s about six-weeks until I face down my brother again at the Scotia Bank half marathon. In that time I plan on taking over the local track for speed work, keeping up the long distances with my group long runs and hiding all of Mark’s running clothes in the musk ox cage at the zoo.

Sleep with one eye open little brother, there’s a whole mess of Becky comin’ for ya.

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