I love trail running.

I've been doing a trail run every weekend for months now (thanks Jesse for supporting this). My runs start and end at the same spot... across from Skyline Ranch Equestrian Center. I have different loops, depending on how much time and ambition I have.

Sometimes I listen to a long interview. Sometimes I keep it quiet. There's more of the latter when I have cannabis right before the run. ...I'm more likely to vibe on the body and breathing and forest and thoughts.

The first few miles... I'm bothered by little discomforts. I have to pee. Hikers are coming, can't pee yet. The long-sleeve shirt is tied a little too lose around my waist, it might fall to my ankles. My breathing is awkward. My shoelaces aren't tight enough.

About seven miles into it... the little discomforts start to fade away. About twelve miles in... the mind is pretty quiet, and the little things don't bother me much. At this point, the mind has a bigger issue to deal with (the general challenge of a 12+ mile run).

I love to be in that head space. Simple in the forest, and on ridges with rolling-hill vistas.

I've been trying to keep my mouth closed while I run. I forget over and over again. Discipline and awareness, man.

I'm doing the Cinderella 50K trail run on Sunday. Over a mile in elevation gain. This is my second 50K, and the last one went well. Despite, as usual, falling apart around mile seventeen (getting a second wind a few miles later). I'm excited for it.