I love trail running. It is one of my favorite activities. Getting out in nature. Moving on my feet. It is a great feeling.
So, I really love it when an organization puts on a great trail running event. I am not usually the kind of person who likes to run the same events over and over. I usually prefer to experience new things. Take on new challenges.
But the Tyoga Running Club puts one an event that keep drawing me back. The Green Monster Trail Challenge is a great time hosted by a great organization. Green Monster features a 15k, 25k, and 50k and so far I have run the 15k and 25k multiple times, but have yet to take on the 50k
Green Monster 25k was my introduction to real cahllenging trail running, when a friend suggested thjat I shoudl run it. And I have the best fiends so of course I did it. And that expereince has lead to me meeting and making friends with soi man more trail runners.
The Green Monster Trail Cahllenge takes place on the Green Monster Trail system near Wellsboro, PA. And I have really fallen in love with tose trails. They are some of my favorite palces to run, hike, and take photographs.
The Green Monster Trail Challenge is in many ways the perfect event for me. It is the kind of event that is always challenging no matter what level of fitness you are at. But, it is also the kind of event that as long as you are willing to grind out the miles you can take it on no matter what level of fitness you are at.
The trails are also beautiful, which helps. So much forest land. And after running it multiple times I realized how much Mountain Laurel grows in these woods and decided to try and come back and photograph them when they are in bloom. I love Mountain Laurel but it is not as prevalent in New York.
This course also has some of my favorite sections of trail in any race I have run. The first climb you encounter is long, it feels like it will never stop. But as far as climbs go (I hate climbing) it is one of the best. You get to test you legs on a long climb that build a lot of elevation gain, but it is not so steep that it completely kills you. Then shortly after that long climb, if you are running the 25k, you come to my favorite descent on trails. A long winding trail section over a variety of terrain. The path is technical in areas but not so much as to make it unrunnable. It lasts long enough and has enough grade to it to keep your legs going even after the long climb.
Running this race and getting to know all of the people who also run it and the people who host the event has been one of the best things that has happened in running.
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