NatNews

Spend enough time with a runner who competes in road races often, and it’s possible you’ll learn all about his or her PRs, upcoming races, general training, and maybe even some Boston plans or aspirations. Spend enough time with a trail runner, and your conversations might be a little different.

If you spectate or participate in a road race, you’ll see water stations with water (obviously) and maybe some Gatorade or Powerade, and runners going longer distances might take some energy gel packets or chews. Do the same at a trail race, and you’ll probably see aid stations with sodas and chips and maybe some quesadillas or PB&J sandwiches, especially for those running ultra distances. The trail running and road running worlds sometimes overlap with the individuals who are part of them, but they are not exactly the same. Dallas-area resident Natalie Smith runs on trails at least once a week and would more often if logistics (e.g., coordinating with her husband and other running friends) lined up.

“I prefer trails over the roads,” she said. “The time on the trails goes by faster, as your mind is more occupied with watching each step, navigating, and nature. Even though my pace is slower on the trails, I feel like my trail runs are better for training. The elevation and more difficult terrain help me be a stronger runner.”

Dallas resident Jack Finn doesn’t run trails as often as he used to, but he ventures to Colorado a couple of times each year to hike 14ers (mountains that exceed 14,000 feet of elevation).

“I used to be in much better mountain shape to run them, but almost 10 years of living at sea level in Dallas has taken its toll,” he said. “But city running gives me enough fitness to hike big mountains to my heart’s content.”

Even though he doesn’t run the less-mountainous trails of Texas much anymore, Finn said he loves the scenery and challenges that trails offer, especially long and technical mountain trails.

“They offer a tough grind on the way up, gorgeous views at the top, and—if your quads are strong enough—a lot of fun bombing back down,” he said. “I love the primal feeling of being totally self-sufficient in the mountains—navigating completely on your own, carrying everything you need to stay alive in your pack, and being miles from anything or anyone is a feeling you can’t find in the city.”

Trail running on the mounds and hills in areas surrounding Dallas are not as isolated, though. In fact, one thing Smith enjoys so much about leaving the pavement is the community she has gained through racing on trails.

“Trail ‘racing’ should be called ‘trail runner with a huge group of people/friends with amazing snacks, great views, sometimes mud, and a medal at the end,’” she said. “The paces are slower, the vibe is more chill, and the camaraderie is amazing. It’s like a family party! Aid stations are mini-parties—you can stop and grab a snack, fill up your water packs, and rest if needed.”

Finn also recognizes that the environment (other than the obvious one of not being on concrete in more urban settings) of trail running is vastly different than that of road running, though he believes that there has been quite a transition more recently.

“More than 10 years ago, trail running felt more grassroots and much less competitive than road running,” he said. “There weren’t as many brands in trail running, and trail runners had more of a DIY attitude. But over the years, the trail community is becoming more commercial, competitive, and similar to road running—not that it’s necessarily bad. Either way, trail running is less about time and speed. It’s too hard to compare trails and conditions, so people care a lot less about things like your trail marathon PR.”

But Smith, who ran in the Running the Rose 11-miler in Tyler over the weekend, doesn’t necessarily see the gap closing as much and believes one thing that truly makes the trail running community unique is the constant unfailing encouragement individuals offer all participants.

“On the trail, everyone you pass smiles and says ‘good job,’” she said. “People cheer you for coming in first, last, and in-between. They cheer you for falling, and they cheer you even if you don’t finish. There’s so much support and [not as much] competition. You seriously feel so proud of yourself when you finish. It’s amazing!”

For those interested in escaping from the city every once in a while and embarking on some trail adventures, Finn advises to have a plan, let someone know where you’re going if you’re running alone, expect to be much slower, and don’t be too surprised if you come across a few unexpected creatures.

“Load routes on a GPS watch so you don’t get lost—it’s so easy to get lost,” he said. “Know what kind of wildlife you could encounter and how to identify them and react if they are in your way or become aggressive. Even in city parks/trails you can run into wildlife. I ran into a mother and baby moose just a mile from downtown Anchorage, Alaska. I’ve seen mountain lions in California and bears in downtown Vail, Colorado. The Dallas area is known for copperheads.”

And you might as well expect to take a tumble sometimes.

“You’ll trip and fall over rocks and sticks, scrape your knees and elbows, and be covered in mud from the waist down,” Finn said, “but that’s all part of the game.”

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As previously reported in NatNews, not everyone eats breakfast or considers it to be the most important meal of the day. However, perhaps breakfast doesn’t necessarily need to be enjoyed at breakfast time.

Some restaurants and fast-food establishments serve breakfast all day long, while others only offer it during what some people consider standard breakfast hours (though some may extend this time on weekends and call it “brunch”). Dallas resident Elizabeth Cruz, who said she loves breakfast—especially breakfast tacos (specifically migas tacos with red salsa and jalapeño ranch from Taco Joint) as well as pancakes and bacon—doesn’t typically choose to enjoy such a meal in the evening.

“It’s best at breakfast time,” she said. “It’s not bad at dinnertime, but usually when it’s eaten at dinner, it’s because it’s a lazy dinner, and breakfast was easy and fast to make.”

Others, however, likely celebrate that places like IHOP and Waffle House don’t discriminate on when one should eat meals that are more commonly served in the morning. Dallas-area resident Emmanuel Amadi, who loves steak and eggs with a side of avocado or warm biscuits as a breakfast-for-breakfast meal and pancakes with a generous portion of mixed berries as a breakfast-for-dinner meal, said he believes breakfast is simply better at dinnertime.

“Arguably, breakfast meals are incredibly convenient to prepare and include more variety that we rarely get tired of,” he said. “Just picture a plate of chicken and waffles or granola pancakes with strawberries on a Friday evening after work.”

Like Amadi, Dallas-area resident Josh Odegard is an avid fan of breakfast food. He said French toast was the first meal he learned to cook, and he used to eat a dozen-egg omelet every Sunday.

“I’ll eat breakfast food at any time of the day,” he said. “It’s great for breakfast, but it’s even better for dinner. I’m not sure why, but maybe it’s just because it’s not normal. It’s not wrong, but it’s different, and that makes it more exciting.”

Not everyone has a definitive answer to the pressing question of when breakfast food is best enjoyed, though. Nicole Storrs, former Dallas-area resident who now lives with her husband and two daughters in the London area, finds herself torn and unable to choose one option.

"I feel very neutral here,” she said. “Breakfast is better at breakfast because, well, it’s breakfast. And breakfast is better at dinner because it’s a solid meal that’s quick, nutritious, and easy to prepare with minimal ingredients.”

Similarly Laurie Shea, former Dallas-area resident who now lives in Park City, Utah, also isn’t willing to take a side on the obviously quite controversial issue. She said breakfast is a great option at breakfast and dinner for different reasons.

“At breakfast time, it’s a nice way to start your day with all of the good proteins and carbs to get you going,” she said. “At dinnertime, it’s good because it’s a complete meal and has that ‘comfort food’ appeal that sometimes you need and crave after a long day.”

One might begin to wonder, then, are traditional dinner foods acceptable options to eat at breakfast time? According to Storrs, they are not, more for logistical reasons.

“There are far too many options to think of and plan for the morning,” she said. “Breakfast is simple, and it should stay that way.”

For Amadi, he said he passes more on the reasoning that a dinner meal doesn’t sound as appealing that early in the day.

“I can’t picture eating a bowl of pasta and shrimp for breakfast,” he said.

Odegard, however, disagrees. In fact, he said he heated up leftover pasta and vegetables for breakfast one day last week—and that’s not abnormal for him.

“I also love eating leftover pizza for breakfast,” he said. “I don’t think different foods have lanes they need to stay in. I love all food, and any food should be enjoyed whenever you want it.”

He’s not alone. Shea said she might be going against the grain in her viewpoint, but she thinks dinner meals can make excellent breakfasts.

“There have been many times when some leftover cold pork tenderloin with a giant dollop of cream cheese is nothing less than magical,” she said. “Don’t diss it before you try it.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Congratulations to NatNews dear reader Libby Shewski for coaching her club volleyball team to a first-place finish in its regional bid tournament over the weekend

Monday, January 29: Mavs vs. Magic at the American Airlines Center
Tuesday, January 30: Free Rooftop Movie — The Princess Diaries at Sundown at Granada; Golden Girls — The Laughs Continue begins at Wyly Theatre
Wednesday, January 31: National Hot Chocolate Day
Thursday, February 1: Craig Robinson at Addison Improv
Friday, February 2: Club 90s — Lana Del Rey Night at House of Blues Dallas; Mania — The ABBA Tribute at the Majestic Theatre Dallas
Saturday, February 3: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; ATP Dallas Open begins at Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex at SMU
Sunday, February 4: Free First Sundays — Access for All at the Dallas Museum of Art