Thanks for helping to build this community! I have a long history in sport – mostly as a competitive figure skater growing up. I dabbled in rowing and track and field in university. As an adult, I have always considered myself a “non-runner”. In 2019, I was speaking to someone who listened to my long list of everything I despised about the sport and surmised that I hated road running! He opened my eyes to the world of trail running and I haven’t looked back. It is hard to get the elevation I crave living in Toronto, but I make the most of all the ravines/valleys and supplement with all the box jumping and stair climbs I can find. I escape the city and head to the Laurentian mountains in Quebec for long weekends and in the summer.

My absolute favourite shoe is TOPO Athletics Terraventure. It has a wide toe box (probably similar to the Altra, although I have never tried those) and the perfect amount of cushioning/stability for me.

I also love the book Endure by Alex Hutchinson. The influence of the mind over body is fascinating.

And my most recent find that I’m telling everyone about is tart cherry juice before bed as a sleep aid 🙂

Hey all,

I started running on the roads, just to get rid of physical energy as a compensation to my office work. Like Meighan I found this rather boring and was really happy when I discovered trail running 🙂 I’m doing that together with my husband for some years now, mostly for our pleasure, competing in races isn’t really important to me. I just love moving in the nature, especially in alpine areas, but also through woods… I love the fresh air, not meeting other people and the feeling of my tired body after some hours out there.

Nevertheless we are participating in races from time to time, so this summer we’ll participate in the so called Gleterschwelt-Trail and a two stage race called Run2.

The Run2 is part of a longer race which lasts for 8 days during which participants are crossing the Austrian Alps starting from Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany and arriving after 8 days in Vals, Italy.
Doing the whole thing is a big dream of me but it seems so incredibly hard to me that I’m not sure if I could do it… It really scares me – so this year we’ll try just the two days and decide on the big thing afterwards 🙂
Ah, both distances have to be done as a couple – so if I can’t convince my husband to participate I can’t do it either.

Living in Vienna (Austria) we use nearly every weekend in spring-summer-autumn to escape to the mountains, so training always becomes kind of holiday and adventure 🙂

So am I, Maya… I’ve never done anything like this before, so I’m really curious!
🙂

Hey, great Meighan!!! Where do you live?

Yes, it seems like a perfect couple goal, in addition to the sports challenge it’s also a great proof of marriage, I think 🙂

Hello Pia,

I think the Wonderland plan could be a great fit for you! I do not think that it would be too much coming off of FUA. The start of the Wonderland plan is at fewer hours than the end of the FUA Intermidate, so you could even start a couple of weeks into the Wonderland plan if that works with your timeline better. The Wonderland Trail is 150km total; the plan is designed to have you run comfortably around 50km/day, which is more than the RUN2. Additionally, the total elevation of the Wonderland trail is over 7,000m of elevation gain, which is also greater than the RUN2 totals. You can never be too fit for anything, so I would recommend you use this after FUA.

I hope that makes sense!
Best,
Maya

PIA! The Wonderland is my favorite thing ever. I’ve done it every year since 2016, running or backpacking. Running it is really amazing. DO IT!