Catching up with the woman behind popular trail Instagram account: Seen On My Trail
If you've been obsessing over the Instagram account Seen On My Trail, now you know a bit more about the woman behind it all.
If you’ve come across the popular trail running Instagram account Seen on My Trail, you’ve probably been inspired by the rad running snapshots. Looking at that feed, a runner will want to explore nature no matter what the weather conditions may be. Pictures of fresh snowfalls on forest trails, white capped evergreen trees and a gritty runner taking on rocky or muddy terrain is enough to motivate any runner. If you’re not following it yet, @seenonmytrail is absolutely an Instagram account to watch. Based out of Oregon, Raina Rausch is the woman behind these stellar photos. We chatted with her to find out a little more about this camera-savvy trailblazer and what motivates her to run.
Canadian Running: How and why did you get into trail running?
Raina Rausch: In 2012, I had a fantastic year of successive road PBs, but towards the end of the year, I started noticing something funny happening with my foot after I would be sitting down for a while. It turned out to be plantar fasciitis, and lasted for months. When I started running again, I knew I would have to be careful and go slower. I decided to get off road because everything I had heard about trail running let me to believe that my pace would be significantly slower. It was! But, while it was slow, everything I saw while running was so beautiful. That’s when I started taking pictures for my blog because I felt like I just had to share it.
RELATED: Gary Robbins set for another Barkley Marathons
CR: What do you enjoy most about your runs these days and running through snowy conditions?
Raina Rausch: When it snows, the landscape completely changes (as you know). It’s fascinating to go to a route I’ve ran many times and see it completely different. The snow also quiets some things and amplifies others. You can hear your footsteps quite well and I often see animal footprints even though I rarely see the animals. It’s always interesting to know where the cougar have been.
CR: Do you have any tips for Canadian runners who are a little shy about running in winter?
Raina Rausch: It can be hard to get motivated when it’s so cold, but remember that even getting out a couple times a week will keep you consistent and help build your training base for the spring. Having good gear and being prepared to leave a drop bag of dry clothing or to discard a layer is key for me. I always have dry, warm clothes to change into afterwards. I’m kind of wimpy about being cold after I’m done running.
CR: What do you do when your motivation dwindles?
Raina Rausch: I go to the sauna. 😉 Kidding, but it does help. I find a new route that I’ve never been to before and drive a little ways to go explore something. Sometimes, I’ll make a date with a friend because I always look forward to running with someone else. Most of my runs are by myself, so when I get together with a friend it really picks up my spirits. Usually we take a lot of photos, post Instagram stories and do some shenanigans.
CR: Walk me through your typical weekly running routine?
Raina Rausch: Most of my running routine is based around the fact that my kids have school four days a week. I work part-time and two days a week, I go to another town to do that job. On those days, I usually run a recovery run on trails after work. The other two days when my kids are in school, I’ll make it either a long run or a track workout. I do my weightlifting on the track days, if possible. Things shift depending on race goals. If I’m training for a 50K, it’s critical that I get in a long run mid-week. On trails. Everything else kind of gets put lower down the priority scale .
CR: What do you hope to achieve by sharing pictures of your runs with your followers?
Raina Rausch: I hope that my followers will see that there are some really special places to explore on our planet. I use the term “trail running” liberally because I have learned that getting off road doesn’t necessarily have to be in a national park or a county park, though I love those. Being in nature restores my soul. If you can get out to it, it might restore yours as well. And if you can’t get out to it, because you are stuck in an office or dealing with an injury, hopefully my photos will get you through until the next time you can.
CR: What do you consider a successful run?
Raina Rausch: A run is successful if it meets my goal for the day. However, satisfaction can come in many ways. Sometimes it’s beating a time goal (usually just on track workouts or races),or going to a new trail I’ve been meaning to check out and grabbing incredible photos. I live near an extensive network of logging roads that are easy to get lost on in a car. I love to explore them. The best runs though are usually shared with a special friend.
CR: If you could name one positive thing that running trails has brought to your life, what would it be?
Raina Rausch: I’ve found a way to get lost in beauty and not worry about how fast or slow I’m going. It reconnects me with nature and reminds me that I need to bring my boys up the way my dad raised me: outdoors.
Check out the latest buyer's guide:
