Catamount Outdoor Family Center Trail Running Series

Authors note: This post also appears on the blog, “Journey to 1,000“

After taking a few back roads shortly after leaving Burlington, unless you’re traveling during rush hour, you can arrive at the Catamount Outdoor Family Center in Williston, Vermont.

Set back off a dirt road and run by the McCullough’s out of a home owned by their family since 1873, the center seeks “to promote family and community well being through activity and education in a natural environment.”

It also plays host to my new favorite Tuesday evening activity.

Even though my wife and I have been here for almost two years, we’re continually learning about new things. Two weeks ago a co-worker suggested I check out the Catamount Trail Running Series, just two days before my wife’s co-worker suggested the same after learning about our Journey.

We were both told basically the same thing… if you like running, especially trail running, this is the place to be. So with that in mind, we looked at our schedule and decided to jump in: for just under $130, thanks in large part to VBSR and Local First Vermont’s “Buy Local Coupon Book,” my wife and I were given access for 15 weekly, timed and ranked trail runs on the family property.

When we showed up, that’s all we knew: we paid to run some races.

In retrospect, I am glad that is ALL that people told me. Last week (our first in the series after we missed the first of the year) was the single hardest 5k I’ve ever ran in my life. Expecting to finish in a slow but respectable 27:00 minutes, I crossed the line of “The Black Course” halfway to my deathbed at over 31:30 after stopping no less than 3 times to suck air on the side of what I can only assume was Mount Everest. (It doesn’t help things that the Black Course was 3.2 instead of 3.1.)

And while I was drastically disappointed in my time, there were some positive takeaways. First, the area is really breathtaking and the trail one of the most fun ones I’ve ever run. Even though the course is extremely hilly, the technical running aspect is awesome… running on mountain bike trails can be challenging and a TON of fun, provided you watch your step. (At one point on the trail, you are practically running horizontal as you go through a series steeply banked switchback turns designed for mountain bike racing!)

Also, we were encouraged to learn that the series actually offers 3 different courses and a once-a-month 10K race. We thanked the Lord that we wouldn’t have to run Black again for a few weeks.

And finally, we were told that our 3-year-old nephew Max, who would be visiting the following week, could run a “Cub Race” for free.

Which brings us to this week.

My wife, myself, Max and his mother piled into our two-door for some good ol’ fashioned family fun… at least that was the intention.

First, when we got to the Center, Eric, a really nice guy who seems to be in charge, notified me that we’d be running Black again. Awesome.

Second, it turns out that Max had had a pretty long day and really wasn’t that keen on running a race.

Click to make this bigger… just look at the poor kid’s face!

But despite the news of the challenging course and Max’s tears, we really did have a great time together.

As for myself, I went into the course with a new goal of starting much slower and focusing on not stopping for the whole race. In the end, I met my small goal and actually shaved nearly a minute off my finishing time. Sarah, too, took over a minute off her race time.

The other runners too, seemed to be really friendly this week and we both met a few acquaintances we hope to run into again next week.

Plus, I got to try out my new sweat-activated gear from ViewSport, which transformed DO IT, into DON’T QUIT by the time I finished the grueling run. (Funny story though, I apparently sweat more on my right than left, because for over half the run my shirt actually read “DO QUIT.” WHOOPS!)

And so after two weeks in the trail series, the frugal guy that I tend to be is extremely happy that I signed up for the series. Who can argue with good trails, good people, and good views?

Plus, it’s a guaranteed 3+ miles toward the Journey every week, because I never miss something I paid for.

Until Next Time,

A Stranger Observing Burlington, Vermont – Elek