Flirt With Dirt Trail Race Rocks

O.K. If you were ever thinking about trying out trail running and you live in the Michigan area, this is the race to do. It's got everything you need to get addicted to the trails.

I should say that I do love running trails - more than any other choice out there. The trail run should be included in every Training Sheet, every weekly schedule, and every muddy day. The trail is a blast to run - it offers different flora and fauna on every run, beautiful scenery, squirrels and other wildlife, and smells you'll only experience in the woods. Not only that, it is a great workout - you get a hill session while working all of your stabilizer muscles....I drifted.

Back to the Flirt; it is a great race. This was my second time running it and loved it both times. Last year, it rained the days before the race and so the trail was filled with mud and puddles throughout. It made for a slower, challenging race. This year, besides the bit of rain on race day, the trail was for the most part, dry. The race times were fast. Two years, two different races, even though they followed the same route.

But the reasons I would suggest this race over others is that if offers just the right everything for the person who would like to try a trail race.

First, this race offers two distances that are good for trying out trails; a 5K and a 10K - both of which are not too long. But if you wanted to do the distance, the race directors set up the times so you could run the 5K first and still make it back in time to run the 10K, making it a 15K day.

Second, this race is easy to get to for anyone in Southern Michigan; just 10 minutes north of I-96 in Novi. And, once you get there, the parking is ample for everyone.

Next, the trail is great. It offers good views, good single track, good passing areas, and nice hills (especially the last one). And, Running Fit sets up the race with a limited amount of entries so the run isn't too congested for the trail - as long as you know your pace, you'll be able to move it.

And last of all, Running Fit does a great job at promoting and organizing the race; they got their stuff together. I've run several races by them - the Flirts, Martian, Bayshore (sponsored), and the Trail Half - and have been more than impressed by how they handle each event.

I'll definitely be doing this one again.

P.S. If you can't wait for next year, Running Fit has "Run Woodstock" coming up this September - a weekend full of "Peace, Love, and Running".