Happy New Year!
So I have a bit of exciting news to share! If you read the title then you know what it is. I am officially a Trail Racing Over Texas ambassador! We are known as the TROT Tribe!
So what does that mean? Basically, I get to promote TROT races and be part of a kick-ass community. What does that mean for you? More posts about running and racing and an invitation to join the community by running and interacting with us.
As you lived in 2020, you probably noticed that not many races were held. TROT actually held some live races in the Fall and even with the awesome COVID protocols, due to my parent living with me, I just didn't feel like I could risk it. So in 2020, I ran Running the Rose (11 miles), which was a TROT race, and then the Race for Hope Half-Marathon here in Lufkin, both pre-Covid.
Now in 2020, I more or less kept my commitment to run 40 miles per month. I got a total of 700 miles for the year but I'll be honest, I didn't always get 40 per month. I used running to survive working from home so in May and June I got 100 each month then I more or less coasted to 700. Had I actually kept my 40 per month then there is no telling how many miles I could have gotten? Part of my running was I was training for my 1st 50k and then when I saw that running a race was just not safe enough for my family, I just felt like the wind was out of my sails. Getting the TROT ambassadorship means I'm back at it. Back to training for my 1st 50k. I will be an ultramarathoner by the end of 2021. Actually, I'm targeting late April at the TROT Brazos Bend 50.
Okay back to the point of this post, I want to tell you about TROT and why I wanted to work with them. So like I mentioned earlier, I have run a few races with TROT. I have also run with a different trail racing company and I can tell you TROT is the best. Rob, the race director/owner, has created a community for all runners. So many races are focused on elite athletes. If the back of the pack runner finishes great but the race isn't really for them. Rob does not operate that way. He wants everyone to run and enjoy trails. Rob makes sure he has plenty of food and drinks at the aid stations and that aid stations aren't so far apart a runner would be in danger. Trust me, not all racing companies worry about that.
You know I'm a fluffy runner. I'm a plus-sized runner. I'm a "back of the pack", I just want to finish runner. My run at Tejas in September 2019 is the race that made me love TROT. Y'all I almost didn't finish. It was hot and humid. The trail is hard. Rob saw me come into the aid station and talked me into finishing. He gave me tips. He gave me encouragement. Everybody at that race did that for me. When I ran Running the Rose, Jan 2020, just weeks after recovering from pneumonia, I did so knowing that if it when south on me, I would be safe. I knew someone would find me and help me get to safety if I just couldn't move anymore. There might be world-champs on the trail but when I run with TROT, I feel like I'm an elite athlete. I get fed. I get hydrated. I get love. All of that comes from the top down. It starts with ROB!
So run with TROT! On January 16, from 2pm-7pm CST, TROT will be hosting a Signupathon. 25% of race entries and race credits, y'all races will be on sale but just during that time so hop on to the TROT Facebook page and join in the fun.
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