View of Kamloops, right near the beginning of our hike.
Eric showing his feminine side by some wildflowers! Haha.
View of the city again, at a much higher elevation! It’s just peeking through the trees here. 
What prompted this hike in the first place is the fact that I signed up to do a trail run on July 11! A few weeks ago I sold a couple of articles to a new outdoor magazine in the area about trail running, one article was actually about the park me and Eric were hiking in on Saturday. Anyways, in writing the articles I ended up interviewing the owner of 5 peaks trail running company, they do trail runs all over Canada. Apparently this is only the second year that they are doing one in Kamloops and it’s up at the ski mountain, Sunpeaks. You can find out more info about it here. I signed up to do the shorter, 6.5 km (approx. 4 miles) race since it’s my first trail race, and really didn’t think it would be that big of a deal. 6.5 km is nothing compared to 21.1!!
Ya, it was a mistake to think that! Trail running is hard. It hadn’t even been a week since I ran my half-marathon and I was panting HARD climbing the hills on Saturday. We even ran up a few of them and once I got to the top I literally keeled over and steadied myself on my knees I was so out of breath. I’d been running on hills in Kamloops when training for the half, but my last two weeks of training were all flat-land in Fort St. John. I guess I lost my hill endurance or something!
Long story short, I’m SO glad that I signed up for the 6.5 km run instead of the 12.5 km (approx. 8 miles) one, which I was seriously considering! I think it will be a good experience and I will enjoy it though. I’ve always LOVED hiking and when I interviewed the lady for my article she said that the run at Sunpeaks is the most gorgeous run they do in all of B.C. and Alberta!
I’m still kind of trying to figure out training, but Eric said he wants to keep hiking every Saturday. So, I’m thinking I’ll hike with him on Saturdays, and do one or two other trail runs a week plus two or three road runs, one on the outdoor track doing speed. Plus, I’m seriously contemplating getting a Bikram membership, it’s SO expensive though, so I dunno…
Have any of you guys ever participated in a trail race? Any training advice? Also, do you enjoy hiking as much as I do? I think it’s one of my favourite parts about summer!
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
My husband LOVES hiking. He prefers trail running because he said concrete hurts his knees. I think it’s fun to go hiking with him (as long as it’s not too cold).
Good for you for registering for another race! Sounds like it will be quite a challenging one. Unfortunately there are no mountains around me, so a trail run like that isn’t an option for me!
I do love hiking, though. It is one of my favorite things to do. There are some trails in Northern MN that I want to check out - maybe this summer? I keep wishing/hoping that I’ll meet a fabulous guy who is outdoorsy!
Those pics are great!
I love going hiking!!!
I think we all got it from Uncle Danny, we’d almost always go hiking on Saturdays after church. We went everywhere and for however long. It was so awesome! I can’t wait for summer to actually get here so Steve and I can go hiking in the mountains.
That’s awesome your already signed up for another race. You rock!!
Katrina
I love hiking also, but as for a trail run, well good luck to you! Last time I went hiking we saw a guy who was running all over the trails/up and down the hills. It was pretty insane =) I’m sure you’ll do great but sorry I have no good advice for you!
i’ve never done a trail race, but i love going for trail runs. the surface is softer so it’s easier on my knees and ankles. and the terrain and elevation is always changing so it’s a good variety of workout.
have fun, that sounds like a great race!
That sounds like so much fun!!!! I’m going to check out their websites (so proud of you for those freelancing gigs you got, they sound so cool!).
You should do Bikram!
Maybe try to look around to see if any studios offer student discounts…or maybe even ask! You never know 
Kamloops look so beautiful!
Trail running sounds so fun! Sounds more scenic than a road race anyway, and running hills always used to give me amazing legs. Too bad my city is so flat. But seriously, your training sounds fine and I bet you’ll enjoy it
PS your weekend sounded lovely, who knew that the power going out could be so nice?
~Amanda
BEAUTIFUL trails!
http://www.pinkbites.com/2009/03/eggplant-parmesan.html
Here’s the recipe that I use for the eggplant parmesan. To tell you the truth that’s the only recipe I have ever used and it’s the only way I’ve ever had it, so hopefully you also find it good! It says to fry the eggplants which I do a little (not too much). I use whole wheat flour and shallow fry them in a bit of olive oil.
I really hope you like it!
i LOVE hiking
a trail run sounds so fun, thats really exciting! i’m so glad we have each other to push us to do the shred! you TOTALLY motivate me too, its amazing! thanks for the sweet comments girl, youre the best!
I’ve never done a trail race exactly, but I did run CC in high school and it is SO much harder than a normal race. BUT, that means it’s that much better for you! Good luck!
even though I hate working out and despise running because of my asthma, I love hiking! I think it is because of the scenery, the views. It makes it worth all the effort and sweat
As a kid I used to hike all the time in hills near my house but I haven’t done it as much as I have gotten older. I should really get back into this summer. I have heard there are great trails near me, too! just gotta watch out for rattle snakes!
Wow a trail run sounds awesome, but also very challenging! Good luck with that! I’m so excited about my half, a little nervous but can’t wait to say that I’ve completed it
First off its looks awfully pretty where you were!
Second, I’ve never done an actual trail race. But my college had a bunch of backwoods trails we’d go running on. They weren’t very hilly so not quite the same. But it was still a nice change of pace.
I had never run trails before, and then I went to a weeklong trail running camp last summer. It was sponsored by a local running club and it was SUPER fun… but I discovered trails are not for me
My 5 mile PR is around 42 minutes I think, but the end of camp culminated in a 5 mile race which took me about an hour and a half! Crazy.
As for rolling, I went to a running store and picked up a foam roller. Basically, it’s like a pool noodle that you put on the ground, lie on top of, and roll around - kind of like the princess and the pea, it applies pressure to your muscles to knead them out. Here is my post about it when I first got it and was in love with it
I haven’t really used it much since my injury went away, but most runners I know use it as a preventative thing too.
WOW! These photos are beautiful! Sounds like a perfect day! And that breakfast sounds delish! YUMMERS! Your post makes me want to go hiking!