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South Sound Adventures: Dirty Girls, Cool Trails and Running Groups
University Place resident and Patch contributor, Kim Thompson, signed up for a half marathon on a whim. While training, she has happily discovered some gems: great running groups and trails. The biggest gem though? Inspiration!
Sometimes, things you do on a whim are really the best life surprises.
My whim? Signing up for a half marathon in the spring, having no experience and no clue what to do.
So, did I handle this situation with grace, maturity and wisdom?
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Of course not! I panicked. Big time.
After taking a large gulp and several deep breaths, I got to work. You see, I've lived around here long enough to know that Pierce County and the South Sound have some incredible people here. I knew there would be help and support out there.
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I just had to find it.
Happily, I did just that, in
I'm off to a good start!
But I'm well, a little lonesome.
I run alone. A lot.
Part of that comes from having an unusual schedule and friends who run (who aren't that many actually) that don't keep the same hours that I do.
I just don't know where to go to meet other runners. More runners, more inspiration. I need that!
I also tend to run in the same places all the time. Don't get me wrong, I love the running routes near home. But I wouldn't mind shaking things up a bit and trying something new.
So, by reaching out into the community, I got lucky again. I found a resource and believe me, she came with a big dose of personal inspiration, to boot.
It's now time to meet Alexa Martin.
Running dynamo and local author, Alexa Martin
Alexa Martin is on the run.
And she loves nothing more.
This South Sound dynamo wears many hats. She's not only an integral part of running store and training/event sponsors, she's a running fitness trainer, assistant cross country coach for 's junior varsity squads, running group organizer and fitness mentor to many.
Oh yeah, and in her spare time she recently had a book for teens published nationally called, Girl Wonder (check out the book here) so, you can add the author hat, too.
However, after talking to Martin a couple of times, I like to think of her as a trailblazer. Sure, she literally knows about some fantastic running trails locally like the back of her hand (more on that later). Yet, her energetic personality, great encouragement, and enthusiasm was contagious. She really made me feel like I could do it! And she assured me there is support and help along the way from the local running community at large.
To me, that's a trailblazer: one that could take you down the path of running goodness. I suspect, that for many others, Martin serves in this same kind of role and probably a whole lot more.
Beginnings
Martin's start as a runner at age 19 wasn't the most typical. She was overweight, a smoker and asthmatic.
It wasn't easy. But she managed through and fell in love with running. Now, about two decades later, she motivates others.
"I get the fear," says Martin. "It's hard to get through the psychological barriers. That's where I like to help."
She also understands what it's like to fight your way back to fitness. She had an accident that resulted in a neck injury, and in essence, had to start all over again with training, one step at a time.
"Going through that intense experience, well, for the first time, it really broke it down for me. That's why I do this for others."
Running the Martin Way
"Running should be fun for everyone! It's great to see people out there running for wellness. Just getting out there and doing it!" Martin notes.
She teaches classes and workshops through Route 16 on various phases of running, whether you want to tackle a 5k, take your running to a new level, or plan for a half marathon.
She also is involved in The Dirty Girls Trail Runs running group (affiliated with Narrows Bridge Running Club). This is an all women's running group that runs at McCormick Forest or Sehmel Park in Gig Harbor every Friday for an 8 a.m. running group or a 9:15 a.m. running group to hit the trails. The runners that meet are of all pace levels--there to exercise in a safe group environment and enjoy the camaraderie of other runners.
Running groups are key to Martin.
"Everyone's nervous to come out to a group. However, everyone is encouraged to run their own pace," says Martin.
Martin continues: "Groups help you tremendously. Basically, when you get to know people, you are showing up for them. It's a great way to get inspiration and support. It's a great way to find out what is going on in the running community."
Besides running groups, Martin loves trail running with a passion.
"Training on trails feels great," Martin advises. "It's a more natural surface and helps balance out muscles in a natural way. It's great for strength training and you end up taking shorter strides and these things result in less injury."
Besides her beloved McCormick Forest and Sehmel Park trails in Gig Harbor (see links above), Martin gave some recommendations on some other great trails, too.
Martin's Trail Picks for Running (And Walking, too!)
Here's the list of Martin's trail picks. Click on the links to get more information about each trail.
Let's start in the Gig Harbor area. For a great resource for ALL Gig Harbor trails, check out the Gig Harbor Trails Facebook page for some great overall information.
Other Running Groups to Check Out
In addition to the terrific Dirty Girls Trail Runs group, there are other great running groups to check out locally. Here's a list to give you a good start in finding the group that is right for you. Please click on each link for more information.
Route 16 drop-in weekly running groups (and a walking group too)
Original Slug Club, Port Orchard (running and walking)
Ready to run? I am!
Extra special thanks to Alexa Martin for her energy, enthusiasm and encouraging this runner to get down and dirty (and love it)! Also, special thanks for Narrows Bridge Running Club for photos.
