zhangjiakou 100 with my son is the perfect first trail

It's been eight days since I completed my first trail run, and I feel that if I don't write something down to record it, my first trail run won't be as perfect.

Yes, it's already 23:38, and I've just finished my weekly work summary. Now, let me take you back to that trail running day!

One

Memory takes me back to 9:00 AM on August 11, 2018. My brother Thomas and I were both very excited that day. At least for the 10 seconds before the gunshot, my brother was always striving hard.

It rained continuously that day. While the kids were running, I saw many parents running alongside with umbrellas. Some experienced parents even brought raincoats. And me? I'm the careless type; neither of us brought raincoats. Later, I even realized that the shoes I prepared for my son were problematic, and I felt deeply guilty for a moment.

The entire route was uphill. Although we borrowed a big umbrella from the hotel in advance, the rain still frequently soaked our clothes, and soon we were drenched. Mud stuck to my brother's shoes and splattered on his legs. Before long, my brother started to lose heart, saying, 'Mom, I don't want to run anymore.'

I could totally understand him. If it were me, I wouldn't want to run either. He usually doesn't like getting dirty, and he had never walked on such muddy roads before. So, I started to comfort him along the way, 'Look, we're already doing great, ahead of many kids. Today, as long as we reach the finish line, we'll be the best.'

'Mom, does everyone get a medal?'

'Of course, as long as we persist to the finish line. And I believe you can make it!'

'Mom, I really don't want to run; my shoes are full of mud.'

'It's okay, kiddo. Look, my shoes are dirty too. Let's not focus on the shoes today. Since we're participating in this event, let's just enjoy it. When we get back to Beijing, we won't have a place to play even if we want to, right?'...
                                     

The downhill path was very slippery, just as my brother described—soft and wet mud, really annoying. My brother held his pants with one hand and held my hand with the other. Without holding hands, it would have been nearly impossible for a five-year-old to finish the race. And me? I didn't feel tired at all; I just wanted to hold my beloved brother's hand and enjoy the embrace of nature, finishing the race smoothly!

Later, a small incident occurred. We had already descended the mountain when my brother stopped and started crying loudly, saying, 'I hate this wet and dirty mud.' My reaction was, 'Why don't you take off your shoes and run barefoot?' When I took off his shoes, I found that his socks were soaked, and there were small stones inside his shoes. I was stunned; under normal circumstances, he would have cried long ago. His little feet were already turning white from being soaked in water...

Feeling helpless, my sister, who had come with us, came up from the foot of the mountain and started cheering for my son from afar, 'Brother, keep going, I'll run with you.' At this moment, my son seemed excited, running barefoot in his shoes. Perhaps this is the world of children—simple and easily forgetting pain!

Let's go back to 12:00 PM on August 11, 2018. Before this, I had already met up with our group members. Most of them were people I hadn't met before, but we greeted each other like old friends...

Aren't the group members adorable? Haha~

At 12:00, the gunshot sounded, and everyone started running, completely ignoring the bad weather that day. Here's a little tip: no matter what race it is, try to stand as close to the front as possible. Since you're participating, give it your all and do your best. During my first marathon, I didn't have this awareness and just hoped not to be picked up by the sweeper bus. In the end, I did finish the race and wasn't picked up.

The group members set off. Some started running right at the starting line, while others walked slowly. And me? Of course, I ran whenever I could. Initially, I wanted to run with a group member for mutual encouragement, but she soon fell behind. I hesitated whether to stay with her, but then I decided to challenge myself and set off after saying goodbye. Later, I met another group member and thought of running together, but he didn't want to leave the others behind, so we parted ways again. From then on, I was alone. Whenever the path was slightly better or downhill, I ran with both legs. But even the so-called good paths were mostly muddy!

Slowly, I overtook many people. The joy and excitement made me forget that it was still raining. My legs never stopped. I have to thank my husband for preparing a trekking pole for me that day. It not only provided anti-slip support but also gave me strength on the uphills and downhills.

I remember around the 6th kilometer, I reached what seemed like a nice grassland, and my view suddenly opened up...

At this point, a staff member told me, 'You're the 6th woman,' which made me even more excited. I quickly asked him to take a photo for me and then ran off...

I didn't feel tired at all. Because of my high ranking, there were very few people in sight. After that stretch, I ran deeper into the mountains. In the past, being alone in the mountains would have scared me to death. But in that environment, as my body adapted more and more to the terrain, running or walking in the mountains felt like dancing a light-hearted dance with nature. The joy in my heart was indescribable.

I remember a long stretch of mountain climbing. For a long time, when I looked around, I was the only one in the mountains. I wanted to shout loudly, but I was too busy moving forward to expend the energy. I remember a girl catching up to me near the top, but she didn't speak to me and quickly overtook me. Later, the red ribbons guided me into a small forest with a seemingly endless downhill path. This was the infamous 'butt slide' section that everyone talked about. By then, I had covered about 10 kilometers. The rain was drizzling, and thinking back now, it was terrifying. But at the time, I wasn't scared at all. I used my trekking pole to move forward step by step. What kind of path was it? If you weren't careful, you could slide all the way down. I later learned that some people slid down on their butts.
                                                          

How I managed to walk through that small forest alone, only I know. At one point, I hugged a tree and stopped because I finally saw someone passing through the forest not far from me. If I didn't speak up, that person would soon be out of my sight. So I shouted, 'I can't get through, please help me.' A kind group member quickly came over and told me to follow his path (he wasn't on a path but was stepping through the bushes). When I said my calf seemed to be cramping, he immediately offered me some Yunnan Baiyao and asked if I needed it. After showing me the way, he quickly disappeared.

So I started to change my route and went through the bushes. Thinking back, I was wearing shorts and a short-sleeved shirt, with my arms completely exposed. Yet, I managed to get out of the small forest without falling. When I emerged and saw the sky, it felt like a rebirth. I was as happy as a bird released from a cage and started running again!

After experiencing the 'butt slide' path, at least the road ahead had the sky as a companion!

Around the 12th kilometer, I met a highly skilled group member who was willing to accompany me. Under his guidance, I took a salt pill and an energy gel. About 45 minutes later, I took another energy gel. Indeed, along the way, I only drank plain water at the supply stations to save time. Thinking back, I really pushed myself!

After that, everything went smoothly. I even met the 'Yunnan Baiyao' guy again. The three of us started running together. Although I had two leg cramps later, having the expert by my side made it manageable. With their encouragement and companionship, we quickly reached the finish line.

Here's a photo with the experts at the finish line. Thank you for not minding picking me up. Because of you, this trail run was even more meaningful.

Hehe, let me show off my report card~
                                                        

And here's my finisher certificate and medal~
                                                        

Thanks to the thunderstorm that day, my first trail run felt so authentic. If a marathon lets you get to know a city, then trail running lets you truly experience nature. In a trail race, you'll encounter various unexpected terrains and unpredictable weather. One moment it's sunny, and the next, the rain blinds you. One moment you're running on a rugged muddy path, and the next, you're climbing a mountain. It's because of these experiences that this first-time trail runner is filled with awe and longing for nature. If a marathon is a chronicle, recording every difficult step, then trail running is a story, filled with the people you meet and the events that happen. My first race was so exciting.

The newbie wants to give a thank-you speech:
First, I want to thank my family for their support, for preparing trekking poles and trail shoes in advance, booking the hotel, and taking care of everything so I didn't have to worry. Secondly, I want to thank the group members for their enthusiastic help before and during the trail run.

Trail running is a pit I've fallen into and can't get out of. I look forward to my next big adventure.

Here are some tips for trail running newbies:
1. Trail shoes and gaiters are essential (there are too many stones and sand on the trail; if you're not careful, you'll kick your toes).
2. Trekking poles are essential (preferably two, for support and anti-slip; the lighter, the better).
3. A trail running pack and hydration bladder (the lighter, the better, so a hydration bladder is more suitable than a water bottle).
4. Waterproof jacket, sun-protective clothing, and a windbreaker (depending on the race distance and actual conditions).
5. Salt pills and energy gels can be prepared (for short distances, eat appropriately at supply stations).


I hope to meet you on the next trail running course.

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