CENTRAL TEXAS RUNNING: BROM HOBAN

Living in a trail-running mecca

By Brom Hoban
AMERICAN-STATESMAN CORRESPONDENT
Monday, June 16, 2008

I'll never forget the day after I arrived in Austin. A friend took me down to Town Lake, near Deep Eddy pool, and gazing east, I took in the series of bridges spanning the Colorado River and the crushed gravel trails on either side.

I knew I had found a runner's paradise.

Although I put in as many miles on the roads as anyone else, I love trail running and am always amazed by the variety and accessibility of the trails to run around Austin. It's a mind-blower that the 17th-largest city in the United States has more than 50 miles of forested greenbelt trails to run on.

Runners here have truly embraced the trails. Aside from the vibrant Town Lake scene, a closer look reveals a whole trail sub-culture going on here.

Just ask Joe Prusaitis of Rogue Training Systems, a veteran ultrarunner and trail training director for Rogue who also runs Tejas Trails, a trail running business.

"It's gone wild," he said. "Trail running has been here for a while. But Rogue is really growing it. Most of the people who try one of the trail programs are looking for something different. And trails look like a fun thing to do. Probably about 50 percent discover they love it."

In 2006, Rogue hired Prusaitis, a former software programmer for Freescale, to coach runners for trail running. He responded by creating a series of trail training programs for Rogue that have become very popular locally.

The programs typically target a trail race that's suitable for folks who haven't done one before but also offer fun for serious trail runners.

The Saint — a combination 10K/30K jaunt in the rugged hills behind trails behind St. Stephens School off of Loop 360 — fits that bill. It's a new race that uses the "Toughest 10K in Texas" course. The June 29 race, will feature a hilly, twisty series of paths winding through the woods and rocks.

Other races take participants to far-flung locations in Texas and beyond. A Rogue program that starts on July 26 is designed to prepare local runners for the Palo Duro Canyon race outside of Amarillo on Oct. 18, where they can choose from a marathon (26.2 miles), a 50K or a 50-mile.

"It's the second-largest canyon in this country. But the race is not especially difficult," said Prusaitis. "I would recommend it for people wanting to get a taste of trail racing. But you do have to watch out for changeable weather."

Prusaitis is coaching about 15 people who are planning on running 100-mile trail runs, and seven of them will run the Bighorn Trail 100 Mile Endurance Run — or its 50K and 50-mile brethren — next week in Sheridan, Wyo.

Regardless of the target race, Austin's got the trails to prepare runners for any of them.

"The rest of Texas is jealous," said Prusaitis. "I have a lot of friends that come to visit from out of town just to run on the trails here. And there's endless variety. We can train people for races in the mountains or flat trails. That's how much variety we have here in Austin."

A personal favorite is the Barton Creek Greenbelt. "It's 15 miles out and back. It's got the Hill of Life at one end and lots of rocks and stuff and a few creek crossings," said Prusaitis. "It feels wonderful to drag your feet through that cold water on a hot day."

Dr Pepper champ

Bernard Manirakiza won the Dr Pepper 10K Saturday in Dublin in 31:03, ahead of Michael Budde (36:52). Debbie Arzola clocked 37:13 for the women's title, and Lori Stich came in second in 40:09.

Upcoming races

Sunstroke Summer Stampede Race #6: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Town Lake Trail (Interstate 35 at Riverside Drive), www.summerstampede.com.

Belterra Sprint Tri:9:30 a.m.Saturday at the Belterra subdivision, (512) 699-7429.

Lake Pflugerville Triathlon: 7:30 a.m. Sunday at Lake Pflugerville, (512) 415-2523.

New Belgium Urban Assault Ride: 8 a.m. Sunday at RunTex's store at Riverside Drive and South First Street, www.urbanassaultride.com.