Despite the relaxed attitude of the runners, I knew what was coming as we lined up for the start on a narrow paved road. A hundred yards along, we turned right onto a two foot wide dirt path covered with leaves, rocks, and tree roots. Although the runners ahead of me seemed to be jogging along comfortably, I found it difficult to negotiate the trail, having run almost exclusively on the roads in training. This way, you are less likely to encounter obstacles when lifting off the ground. The most expert of trail runners skim over the ground like deer.
Time takes on a strange dimension on the trail.
The Nipmuck course took us out 6 miles, then back on the same trail to the start, then out 7 miles in the other direction and back to the start. With few mile markers, and one's concentration focused on the immediate obstacles ahead, elapsed time is a secondary consideration. Anyway, without really knowing how many miles have passed, it doesn't really help to look at your watch. As we ran on, I realized I's once again overestimated my ability level. Several runners passed me in the early miles, scooting by on the right and left.