With the early signs of spring comes the renewed energy to explore. Trails transform from ice and snow to their summer state, earthen and inviting. It can be hard to remain patient and not attack and expend some of the pent-up enthusiasm that’s been cloistered in a gym or attached to a treadmill for the winter.
While I have always preferred running outdoors, my experiences in Finland’s wilderness have made me a trail runner. Since 2010, I have trained for and raced in 6 big-city marathons including NYC, Boston and Paris. I have trained through the rigours and triumphs that come from preparing for road races and seeking a sub-3hr performance. Only after moving from Vancouver to Helsinki did my transition to becoming a trail runner really begin.
In Finland we are fortunate that even in major cities the wilderness is remarkably close. Trails work their way through neighbourhoods, connecting with parks and inevitably leading to unknown forest adventures. While my “running explorations” began in Helsinki, I’ve spent countless hours get acquainted with the Finnish wilds from Nuuksio to Ylläs, to Koli and Oulanka.
(Photo: Nuuksio National Park, home of the Nuuksio Classic Marathon, Matt Mitchell)
Increasingly I have come to seek out these wild places, captivated by their intricate ecosystems and sprawling ranges of exquisite grey rock. Here nothing is contrived, nothing is rushed. This context has influenced me as a runner. I have become less hurried, more aware; it only takes a couple of good tumbles on rugged, technical trails to let you know road-running expectations need not apply. I had to release my pre-occupation with pace. The arbitrary has no place in the wild, only the necessary endures.
These days I rarely have a plan for my runs, other than duration. Finding unknown paths is a goal and getting lost it’s natural companion. My runs have become less scripted, more fun. I have not stopped pushing and challenging myself, but now it is in ways that are less about about pre-conceived notions of performance and more about technical aptitude and fulfillment.
Some of my adventures in the wild have been epic in scale, including ultra-marathons in far-flung forests and fells in Lapland. These events have inevitably brought forth the most human qualities of camaraderie and compassion in runners despite their demanding and extreme circumstances. It is as though nature has set the tone for our human interactions as trail runners, and I am at once, a part of the environment as well as its steward. This connection enriches my life, and my running.
I am thrilled this year to look out at a full season of trail running events around the country. There are so many opportunities to join in, see a quick list of events here. I hope to meet some of you on the trails, happy running!
Matt Mitchell | @hamiltonguevara
Photo: Poppis Suomela: Matt @ Bodom Trail 2016.
