Whenever someone does something a little unusual, their friends and family start asking why.
Why are you running a marathon?
Why are you running it on trails??
Why are you running it in these shoes that look like socks???
As with most questions, there isn’t just one way to answer.
Why run a Marathon?
Because it’s a challenge, less than 1% of people complete one in their life, and how can we find out what we’re capable of without pushing ourselves?
Because cardio is good for you, like really good for you.
Because running feels good! (sometimes)
Why run a trail Marathon?
Because I love hiking and being in nature.
Because trails are dynamic, you have to jump, skip, hop and climb your way through the miles.
Because road miles are a total buzzkill (for me anyway).
Why run a trail marathon in barefoot shoes?
Because I read Born to Run, and it convinced me that Nike’s padding loading sneakers have been killing my foot strength and durability.
Because running with minimal padding forces you to focus on and practice your form, which I believe will lead to better running performance in the long-run (even if I do choose to occasionally wear different footwear).
Because being barefoot feels great, and wearing ‘barefoot’ style shoes is the next best thing, with no risk of gashing my foot open on a stick or a rock.
I have some personal motivations as well, my Mom completed a couple marathons when I was a kid, and her constant effort to stay fit and healthy has always been inspiring. I’m also fortunate to live in a beautiful part of New York State, with plenty of interesting trails to explore. And a couple dear friends live close to the marathon I’m planning to register for, which only has me looking forward to it that much more.
There’s no reason shorter distances can’t be a huge challenge as well, but there’s there’s something about endurance, the act of going further than you ever thought you could go, that’s special.
Regardless of the miles or the footwear, I’m simply looking forward to spending lots of time on the trail these next few months. Whether it’s a run, hike, walk or bike ride, time on the trail has a way of refreshing my mind and invigorating my body.
If you’d like to hear how this all goes, I’ll be sharing more than anyone ever wanted to know right here. Drop in your email for updates.
And if this has you itching for the trail, remember that getting out there is easier than ever with great resources like All Trails available to help you find the trails that are closest to you.
Body by Adventure 
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