Into the Wild OC Trail Runs

I had a great time on the November 14^th 30k (28.6 mile) small-​but-​mighty run. It was great getting off the beaten path and away from the stresses of life. I loved how small the race was; at times I was all alone, just me and the trail. I had decided I would walk up the hills and enjoy the scenery, then run the straights and downhills, as I’m used to flatter road races. I still got the best thigh workout of my life and am feeling it today. I found the race to be well organized and the arrows on the trail as well as the ribbons on the bushes clearly signaled which way to go. The aid station folks were lovely and friendly, offering Gatorade, water and snacks. My fellow runners were friendly too. This was my first run with this group, and I can’t wait to run an ‘Into The Wild’ race again. I thoroughly recommend it.

The good news is, I am no longer a virgin. A virgin for trail runs, that is. Thanks to Ryan C and Unilocal,I competed in my first trail run at Blackstar Canyon.
Here’s the map of the race
Here’s some general information about the OC Parks trail runs.
There are I believe seven different runs.
Fellow Unilocalers Marthie and Angela and I ran this together. Well, more like I was chasing after them.
See, I’ve always ran 5K, 10K, ½ marathons, and full marathons. I guess for comparison purposes, it’s like riding a bike. You can ride 1 mile today, and perhaps will reach 2 miles tomorrow. Well, I guess I’ve done enough riding in terms of marathons but have never ridden this mountain bike down single track, in the wee hours in the morning, that is in near freezing temperatures. So the race was a wake up call for me. Not easy for sure, plenty of hills. It’s basically a double loop, like a figure 8. One thing that I did not prepare for was the higher elevation and it forced me to breathe harder. So I took it easy on the run and enjoy the scenery. We just had to follow the chalk marks and the little ribbons that are clipped on the tree branches. Oh, the smell of the trees added additional tingling to my senses.
You can see the nearby mountains and in the morning, it was really beautiful. Even running through the meadows seeing snow on the ground was beautiful. The course had 3 stations and I took water/​Gatorade on all of the stations. I think I was already dehydrated.
I loved how small and intimate these small races are. You really get a sense of what competition should be like without the hassle of traffic. (*cough cough, New Years ½ Marathon). And when it was all finished, we were able to snack on a few things, thanks to the organizers. BTW, they are a beautiful family, I believe they are Alison and Michael and they do a great job organizing it. I think the only gripe I had was trying to pick up my bib the day before at 4:30 when I live 30 miles away and had to sit in traffic on a Friday night on the way home for an additional hour.
Also, when the race is done, they announced giveaways for winners and non-​winners. (like me, who gets the Bart Simpson underachiever prizes). I got a water bottle, one that i will actually use! Not one of those crappy ones with the company logos on it. Part of the proceeds from the race also benefit a foundation for people with disabilities. How freaking great is that?
So to narrow it down, great organizers, tough course for first timers but not impossible, great cause, small and intimate settings, not expensive registration fee. I just hope that these races will remain small so it will be enjoyable by all. Thanks again to Marthie and Angela help de-​virginize me on my first trail run.