I signed up for my first trail marathon

Posted on January 24, 2023•By John Kraijenbrink•Column

I signed up for my first trail marathon

Yes, I did it. I signed up for my first trail marathon. February 11 I will run the Run Forest Run Ommerland 43 kilometers trail race.

So technically I’m doing my first ultra, as everything above the marathon is seen as an ultra. As you probably know, the marathon is 42 kilometers and 195 meters. The Run Forest Run Ommerland trail is 43 kilometers. That’s 805 meters more. Not that much, but after a marathon 805 meters can be a lot.

Trail marathon

However, I still regard it as a marathon. A trail marathon to be precise. It’s a slight difference, and a big difference at the same time. A marathon is already hard, a trail marathon is extra hard, as you run off road. Yet, that’s the fun for me.

The plan was to run a mid-winter marathon at the beginning of this month, but I got injured. Last Sunday, when I ran the Houffa Trail, my knee felt fine again. That’s why I subscribed for the Run Forest Run Ommerland trail today.

I mean, I still have to take care of my knee, but I know if I massage it every day I can run long distances again. As my first, real ultra trail is getting closer, I think I have to. Before you know it, it’s March.

Sussex Ultra

Every race is a race on its own, but every race is also a training for the next one. So this trail marathon is a race I’m going to prepare for as well as I can. However, I will run it with the Sussex Ultra in the back of my mind.

Same for that one. I will run the Sussex Ultra with the Dolomiti Extreme Trail in the back of my mind, as that is the ultimate goal this year.

From 3 to 43 kilometers

But for now, I’m really looking forward to this Ommerland trail marathon. I mean July 19 2021 I was happy to run 3 kilometers, and that wasn’t even in one go. A bit more than a year and a half later I’m going to run a marathon. How cool is that?

RELATED: From 3 to 43 kilometers

Photo: Sportograf

John Kraijenbrink

I run for fun. I run to be in the mountains, in the forest. I run, because running fascinates me. That’s why I study all the science about running. What I discover, I share with you. To help you to be a better runner, but above all to help you having fun running.