Comments on: Twisted Ankle Trail Marathon Race Report

By: Christian

Christian — Sun, 23 May 2010 23:50:02 +0000

Oak Mountain is very runnable and lots of single-track …it’s similar but not a lot.

By: Katrina

Katrina — Fri, 21 May 2010 17:06:59 +0000

I just ran this one but only the half. How does this terrain compare to Oak Mountain? I’m thinking of the Oak Mountain Mud Run Half in a couple of week.

By: Maryanne

Maryanne — Sat, 15 May 2010 23:51:56 +0000

Oh how I wish I’d found your blog BEFORE I ran the TA today!!! My running partner and I are on our long drive back to Raleigh after TA kicked our butts (2 hours + slower than previous marathons). I’ll be checking you blog Christian, before I sign up for another trail marathon. This race is SO different than a regular marathon they can’t even be considered the same sport! I think in a few days I’ll be able to say I enjoyed it…

By: Ty

Ty — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 03:02:26 +0000

Thanks for the informative report. TA 09 will be my first trail marathon and until reading this I thought that my training was sufficient, now I am not so sure. O well, I’ll just have to rely more on enthusiasm than physical ability.

By: Chris Trawick

Chris Trawick — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:47:49 +0000

Christian -

Great, great race report. I came across this AFTER i signed up for TA 2009. This will be my 7th marathon (or so), but my 1st trail marathon. This might just get intersting….

I’m a running IDIOT, so I am absolutely pumped about this race. The sicker, the better!!

Hope to shake your hand at TA.

Chris

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:53:41 +0000

Christian – great blow by blow. I did the race in 06 and in all the same ways, it was every bit as difficult for me as for you – one of the toughest runs Ive done, including several 50K’s and even a 100 miler. Havent had the guts to go back… Maybe in 09. Stay strong brother. MK

By: David Ray

David Ray — Sat, 31 May 2008 00:25:15 +0000

I was wondering when you’d lose the run50miles tag.

Nice work on the website.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:20:44 +0000

Christian, TA is a hoot, ain’t it? Thanks for your high-fives along the course. I read your kind words on the Rogue Runner site, and wanted to thank you. Truth be known, YOU inspire me more than you could ever realize.

I thoroughly enjoyed all 7:10+ HOURS (a whole 2 hrs. longer than my worst marathon time) on that awesome course, and I now realize my purpose in races… when folks pass me, they can think, “Whew! At least I won’t be out here as long as HER!”… and they feel refreshingly invigorated.

Life is short, so I thank God for allowing me the gift of spending that day running through His creation with a buddy (with whom I shared imaginary pizza & smoothies), past rarely seen wildflowers (including those tall grasses where the people of Liliput hid & shot miniature arrows at our ankles)– and just hanging around awesome athletes like you.

Thanks for sharing another great report, even though everyone’s going to read it, and TA will fill up even faster next year. “Lord willing & the crick don’t rise”, I plan to be there… maybe even “shave” my time to 7 hours! ;o)

By: David Ray

David Ray — Wed, 21 May 2008 19:07:34 +0000

Good report! I wanted to do this one but went to the beach with the family instead.

Thanks for writing it up. Good info for next year. I don’t like gravel either.

By: christian griffith

christian griffith — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:16:49 +0000

hahahahahahaha

I can definitely see why those runners switched from full to half after becky’s bluff, although that was the most difficult section of the whole race, so maybe they were a little hasty…

Reminds me of a quote I stumbled upon once when learning about ultrarunning:

“NEVER make a race decision on an uphill”

…it’s good advice.