This week my son and I drove his car to Waco, Texas, and I helped him move into his apartment (he’s now a sophomore at Baylor.) I’ve been to Waco two times before, and both times only saw the Baylor campus. This time I was determined to see the town of Waco!
We arrived on Monday night, and my son spent the day on Tuesday preparing for an audition. So I had the day to myself, and I knew EXACTLY how I wanted to spend it. I love my Florida trail running, but the thing I wanted to do most was explore some different trails. I wanted woods and hills, something more challenging,
Waco has an incredible trail system in Cameron Park. I got the All Trails app and found a “moderate” 5.9 mile trail. The app connected to Apple Maps, so I had directions from where I was staying directly to the trail head.
It wasn’t part of the hike, but Jacob’s Ladder was right near the start, so I immediately took a detour to climb those steps. In this post I talked about my conflicting desires to seek out adventure while not doing anything to hurt myself, and there was a little debate about running or walking up Jacob’s Ladder.
Well, even if I was in the greatest shape of my life, it really wasn’t a runnable situation. The steps were uneven heights- some were very high and others were shorter. If I tried to run up them I would either have re-strained my hamstring and/or tripped and fallen flat on my face. I was more than happy to walk up, and actually considered it a good warmup for my run. Oh, and the funny thing was, there weren’t any spectacular views from the top. It was just a staircase to go up and down. On to the trail!
Since I had been run/walking after hurting my hamstring, I knew I wasn’t going to run the entire 5.9 mile trail. I figured I would run the easier parts and walk up any hills. Let’s just see how that worked out!
The beginning was a lovely, mostly flat trail along the river. I ran and walked- there were a few areas that were hard to navigate because of rocks or roots, but generally it was easy running. And THEN…
The trail branched off into the woods, and became very, very difficult. I don’t think most of it was runnable for even experienced trail runners- it definitely wasn’t for me. I quickly learned to run any parts that were possible, even if it was just for a minute, or ten steps. Then I would be climbing, descending, navigating very, very difficult footing… then back to another short burst of running.
At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about the All Trails app- I mean, I don’t want to be staring down at my phone while I’m out on a trail. But I also got into a rhythm with that. I realized I could put my phone in my belt, and the app would notify me anytime I went off course- which was about, oh, a hundred times. This was a HARD trail to navigate, and I was really glad I had the app to help me.
A word about the weather- it was HOT. Hotter than Florida. Because the two days prior we had driven 20 hours, I didn’t get up super early, so I knew I would be out there in the heat. But I also knew that the trail was shaded (based on the reviews) and I had my hydration vest with water, so I figured I’d be fine.
I was fine, but towards the end when I was back on the runnable section near the river I noticed that every time I ran, my heart rate spiked way up. I wasn’t actually checking my heart rate, I could just feel my heart hammering away. I was so fatigued at that point, I started to wonder if Waco was at a high altitude (no, that can’t be right!) and then I looked at the weather:
Oh, that’s why. I’m used to the Florida heat, but my runs usually take place earlier in the morning when it’s in the low 80s. I finished hot, but happy! And I had “trail feet.”
The next day, Wednesday, I headed out for Trail Adventure Part 2. This time I went to a smaller park closer to where I was staying. It wasn’t as spectacular as Cameron Park, but it was still really nice, and had several hiking options on All Trails. This time I picked a shorter one that was marked “easy” because I was hoping to do a little more running.
Who rates these things, anyway? If anything, this trail was even more difficult than the one yesterday. In all fairness, it seemed like most of the reviewers were using it to mountain bike- but I still don’t see how it would be considered an “easy” trail.
I did the same method as the day before, a run-walk. But after a while I was longing for just a nice, flat, place to RUN. I found a couple places to leave the trail and do just that.
The app was very alarmed by this, and let me know repeatedly that I had gone off-route. But I had some pretty views.
In the end I had mixed feelings about the All Trails app. For the second hike, I felt like I wouldn’t have been able to navigate without it. But that meant I was hiking with a phone in my hand. Then at one point I saw this:
Oh! These trails are MARKED, which I hadn’t noticed because I was relying so heavily on the app. I wonder what the experience would have been like without All Trails. I would have had to research these trails the old fashioned way, study a map and then locate the markers. I think on the first day I would have been hopelessly lost without the app, and on the second day I might have enjoyed it more doing it all on my own.
And the funny thing is, after all my complaints about the Florida trails, I really was most comfortable and happy on the long, flat, unshaded stretches. I loved my hike-runs through the woods in Texas, but I’m happy to be home.
I’m linking up with My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida for Fit Five Friday!
Join me on Sunday for the Weekly Rundown where I answer the burning question of how my hamstring held up… and share my workouts on the road. It was not like other weeks!
27 Responses
Yes. I want to know about your hamstring.
I do love trails. But I never run in them. Too easy for me to trip and fall.
It’s nice to experience them in different states. So different.
Yes, it was really fun to see a complete different type of trail than what I’m used to! But I was cautious- I REALLY didn’t want to sprain my ankle or have any other kind of injury.
I use the all-trails app for hiking, but I don’t use it while I hike. Usually in the mountains I lose signal, so I just use it to get to the trailhead and then use the trail markers, if any. I wanted to say that I think the rating system is based more on elevation gain and length, so a longer trail will be considered harder or moderate, and even if a trail is rocky, if it’s short it tends to be rated easy. That’s been my experience, anyway.
The trails look lovely! I’ve only ever been in Houston when I’ve been to Texas, so this was a nice look at a different part of the state.
Yes, I can see how AllTrails would be helpful just to identify the trails and get you to the starting point. Then you could do your own thing.
i’ve never been to Houston. It’s not far from Waco- we passed it on our way. I get the idea it’s not the most exciting city in Texas.
I would have had to climb Jacob’s Ladder just for the joy of climbing it. Last year I put a good faith effort into doing a trail run which immediately turned into a walk because the terrain was just too treacherous. I don’t think that I’ll ever be a trail runner but for sure you get to see some beautiful things out on the trails.
Yeah, I realized that there’s a difference between “running on a trail” and actually being a trail runner. It would take a lot of skill (and practice) to run on trails like that.
Gold star for hiking up Jacob’s Ladder! What a climb.
Love the picture of your dirty sneakers/calves. A few weeks ago I did a trail run (crusher dust) and my sneakers were covered in a thick coat of grey dust when I got back. My sneakers went from darkish purple to…very dirty!
Ha ha… I’ve never gotten my shoes THAT dirty before. The trails I run on around here are mostly gravel.
AllTrails is an extremely handy app — although I only use it for hiking, not for running. But the ratings are hit or miss. You always have to at the very least look at the elevation gain (which is one of the features I really like!). The trail we hiked on Monday was rated easy/moderate and that was pretty much spot on.
Glad you were able to find, and come back from, and enjoy, those trails. One of them looks like the trail I was on on the way to my mom last week — very narrow, somewhat steep, and with a steep dropoff. It made me nervous, I admit. I would have felt much better if I’d taken the hiking pole I’d left in my car, but the rest of the trails were easy peasy.
I’ve only ever driven through Waco, and that probably only once or twice. My husband had to stay overnight there once due to an ice storm. No joke! I mean, Waco is less than 2 hours from Austin!
I really wish we had more trails around here! I searched on AllTrails but didn’t come up with anything great. Being a newbie, I didn’t think to look at the elevation gain (oops.) But I knew it would be hilly.
I’ve only used ALlTrails for hiking – I honestly don’t trust myself with trail running LOL. I do wonder who rates some of those trails though…
Great job trying out some new terrain! Hope your hammy held up.
Well, I didn’t trust myself that much either which is why I walked a lot of it!
I can see how that trail would be an easy MTB trail! I thought it was super helpful to read the reviews of the trails and see the pictures. I used AllTrails a lot in Hawaii! Good for you for getting out there in that heat. I would have melted!!
Ooh! Now I want to go to Hawaii and see the trails there!
Oh, gosh. I do love trail running, but I think I’d be scared I’d twist an ankle on those trails! They’d have to come pull me out of there in one of those tractor things. 🙂 I’m glad you got a chance to run in Waco and hope that your son is settling in nicely!
Yes, I was definitely cautious, but even then I tripped several times- always when I was walking, luckily.
Your Waco trails remind me so much of the trails in South Africa! Very difficult with sharp rocks.
It’s ok uphill, but downhill I take it very slowly.
Like you, I always think “no one can run down this” – until I’m overtaken by some lunatic trail at breakneck speed. 🙂
Looking forward to your hamstring update, Jenny!
Yes, I’m sure there are people who are able to run up and down these trails- definitely not me though!
The “fun” of trail running… I mean, it sounds challenging… and like an adventure. 🙂 I am glad you got to try it out in TX.
It was definitely an adventure! And fun.
I do not love trail running because it is so easy to get lost. And I am so prone to falling! But I like the idea of trail running since you are out in nature and it’s more zen than road running… but I just hate feeling lost/confused about where I am supposed to go!
All that said, I am glad you got a chance to get out and explore some trails in the area. It looks so pretty there!
I used to feel the same way about trail running- well, I was sure I would fall and hurt myself. That’s why I had to slow way, way down on these trails- they were just too challenging. You said in another comment that your out-and-back route on the road got a little boring during vacation- maybe a trail would have been nice!
All Trails is great for finding great locations! Sounds like you had an amazing time!
Yes, it really was amazing. I tried to use AllTrails around here but there just aren’t a lot of interesting trails in my area. Interestingly, the one I run on doesn’t even come up on AllTrails- I guess it’s not an “official” trail?
Those trails look challenging, but fun, and you were smart to slow down. I’ve not use an app when trail running so it’s interesting to hear your perspective about the two days and your app experience each day.
If I hadn’t slowed down I would probably be on crutches right now! There was no way I could run those trails fast.