First non-road half coming up

[IrianOfW]

I'm doing my first (partially) off-road half next month. Really looking forward to it. But..... a bit nervous as I don't do that much off-road running - perhaps 20%. Does anyone have experience of both and tell me how different this is likely to be?

I am preparing to do a much slower pace and having to watch my footing a lot more. Any advice gratefully received.

Well it will be harder and slower, but probably also more fun! I love trail races, the scenery and the fun of running through mud etc. There may well be fewer spectators too, depending on location. Don't put a lot of pressure on yourself regarding time, just go for it and have fun. Before the race if you can do training off road and try if possible to replicate the race route with similar terrain & hills, that can help. And of course good shoes! Good luck!

Thank you emummy.

I think one of the things I am looking forward to is not worrying about time. With a lot of effort I took 3 minutes of my last half a few weeks ago and was so chuffed (that was mostly flat and on road) and it can be a bit of an obsession. I started a bit of trail running this summer after years of not doing any - our club hosts a really tough trail run in the summer and I ran that a few times while we were preparing it - I got the bug! I guess I am just worried about actually running like that in a race. I suspect I will just have to look at it as just for fun!

I bought some new balance trail shoes back in the summer and I have been wearing them for one of my weekly runs. I am finding myself liking them better than my saucony atm.

I have a 13 miler planned for this saturday with some off road and a few nasty hills!

Excellent! Have fun