TrailsRoc

Trail running is about many things – It’s about enjoying nature- It’s about finding who you are – It’s about softer surface with amazing views – It’s about connecting with something bigger than yourself v- It’s about dirt, mud, sweat, and blood. One thing we know it really is not about though is electronic communication. Or is it? We started TrailsRoc based 100% on our relationships in the social media world. Our advocacy of trails and promotion of our events has been 100% social media based. We have no office (unless you count Barnes and Noble or the Otter Lodge). We have never given anything out in print (we may soon). Our growth – and thus the growth of trail running around here is attributed almost completely to social media. As a trail organization, we post pictures, we post blogs,  we share events, we tell people when the trails are safe when [...]

TrailRunner Magazine editor Michael Benge just ran a column about Performance Enhancing Drugs in the most recent issue of the magazine. Today there is a link to a story on the website that Pikes Peak races will drug test this year. There were many who wrote in complaining about a piece that was written about Lance Armstrong and that led to further discussion of whether or not people think drugs are entering the sport. The fact is – as our sport grows in popularity – and rises from a niche sport of hardcore trail loving grinders – it raises the possibility that people will begin to cheat.  Given the recent moves taken by race directors – It seems many people already believe it is happening – You don’t test if you don’t think people are using. We currently sit in a place where we can call the sport clean – [...]

We are fortunate to know that Rochester has amazing trail systems. One of our stated goals is to get people out and enjoying these trails – Yet we walk a knifes edge – The solitude and peacefulness of the trails is one of the reasons we love them so much. – As trail running becomes more and more popular though we are starting to run into some issues that must be addressed. 1. Races may be starting to get to big on some trails- in turn frustrating runners – Some local races have gotten so popular that we are starting to hear runners grumbling about “not being able to run” and “not liking to be so over crowded on the trails”. It’s a catch-22. We want you all out running trails, but we also do not want anyone to get frustrated from crowding. It may be time for some local [...]

I am sitting here on a cold windy night in Rochester watching a documentary about Mt. Everest. People (including myself) say things like “why would you do that” and “What is the point”. . I, as I said was one of them. Then I started to think – “Well, people say that about us as trail runners”. . It got me to really thinking – What is it about the trails that draw us in much of the same way that the mountains draw others. There were no shortage of quotes online when you google “trail quotes”. In fact I came across this wonderful page that I highly suggest- but we wanted to hear from you and add a few of our favorites! We posted for requests about why you love the trails and which ones you love on facebook and twitter and we did get a few wonderful responses. [...]

Not long ago as runners in Western NY – We would see snow fall in late November and it would stay until sometime in March. Then we would have 1 more storm in April and tons of mud after. Now it seems we have a storm – lots of snow – Some crazy meltdown that includes trails covered in ice – and then – like today – Mud everywhere – So what should you do. How do you traverse these muddy slippery trails? These points are really valid in the fall and spring – but now – thanks to that wonderful thing called Climate Change – we seem to need to talk about it in the winter.   First things first – stop trying to avoid the mud. These are trails. Embrace it. Don’t hide from it. Just like on ice or snow – Shorten your stride. If you over [...]