Member Spotlight: Nate Ford
Nate Ford has been with Trail Roots since 2017 after looking for an Austin running community that would push him to stay consistent and improve his overall mental and physical health. Over the past few years Nate has gotten serious about running marathons and has 7 under his belt. His latest was the Richmond, Virginia Marathon where he ran a speedy 2:49. Nate is a consistent member of the group and always gets his miles in. When Nate is not in training, he can be found in the backcountry of Utah, Big Bend, and other far-flung places soaking in the great outdoors and blazing new paths. We wanted to ask Nate about his experience with running and Trail Roots.
What inspired you to start running?
When I was growing up my dad was a marathon runner. I was always fascinated with the sport’s ability to draw in so many people and I enjoyed watching him and others run. As a kid I started on my bike, riding next to him in Yorktown, VA while he ran, and then eventually started running some smaller fun runs around town. I’ve been hooked to the idea of distance running ever since.
Why did you join Trail Roots?
When I joined in 2017, I was overweight, a fairly-regular smoker, and was focused more on spending the weekends riding out hangovers by lying on the couch and eating fast food. I finally decided it was time to get in shape and start taking running/my physical health more seriously. I stumbled across trail roots and was impressed with Erik’s accomplishments as the leader of the group. While the trail running was an added bonus, I figured I would enjoy the variety of trail runs, hilly (and occasionally flat) road runs, and track workouts.
How has training with a group helped you? How did your running change after beginning to train with Trail Roots?
My running has DRAMATICALLY improved since starting with Trail Roots. I love to tell the story of my first day with the group, and how I was scared that a slow 1.5 mile warmup (I had no idea people ‘warmed up’ with more miles) was longer than most of my entire runs up to that point. The group kept me consistent, the people in the group kept the runs fun, and the competitive push was/is there when you need it. I absolutely owe my improvement in running to everyone in Trail Roots. There is no way I would have continued to stay consistent and improve on my own. I also don’t think that I would get the same healthy mix of fun and competitiveness from the other groups that I had explored in town.
What’s your favorite post-run snack/meal?
Cold brew with Chocolate Milk, and of course Breakfast Tacos with other Trail Roots members (I’ll always be a TacoDeli fanboy, no matter how pricey they get)
What’s your dream run?
This is a long way away, because I still have yet to dip my toes into the ultra world, but I definitely have a strong desire to somehow make it to Western States one day.
How many races did you run this year? What was your favorite?
2020 was a pretty rough year for me, running-wise, so in 2021 I wanted to focus solely on seriously improving my marathon time in the fall. In doing so, I ran the Trail Roots Switchback Trail Half Marathon in May, a small road half marathon in Fort Worth in October, and finally the Richmond Marathon in November. All races have their benefits and high points, for sure, but hitting my goal in Richmond really capped off a great year of running for me, making that my favorite one of the year. My two brothers and dad ran a mix of the half and full marathon as well, so it was cool experience to have everyone there.
Do you have a race ritual? Do you have a race mantra?
I focus all of my race-week energy on practicing mindfulness and staying present in the moment as much as possible. My day-of ritual is a little more specific, but once I get to the line I try as much as I can to get rid of any thoughts outside of what is currently happening. While I don’t have a specific mantra, I try to use mindfulness as the tool to keep me going, even when it gets tough in the later miles. I fully enjoy and embrace being present and taking it one mile, one quarter mile, even one step at a time.
“My running has DRAMATICALLY improved since starting with Trail Roots. I love to tell the story of my first day with the group, and how I was scared that a slow 1.5 mile warmup (I had no idea people ‘warmed up’ with more miles) was longer than most of my entire runs up to that point. The group kept me consistent, the people in the group kept the runs fun, and the competitive push was/is there when you need it. ”
What’s your favorite trail with Trail Roots?
I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for the Sweet 16 loop on the Barton Creek Greenbelt, since it was my first true trail run. The Barton Creek Greenbelt in general is my preferred place to run, it’s incredible how many miles of hidden trails there are.
What is your favorite place to travel to for running?
Big Bend National Park and State Park, hands down. The vastness of that area is very inspiring, and it’s never crowded enough to slow you down or take away from the enjoyment of the parks.
What’s next for you?
I’d like to get back to running some longer miles on the trails this year. I focused so much on the road that I sort of lost the enjoyment of just being out in the woods and running with my friends. I’ll plan to convert that into some trail races through the spring and summer, but will then focus on getting back to another road marathon in the fall where I can hopefully continue to improve my time.
What advice would you give someone who is interested in training for a marathon?
Above all, consistency is key in marathon training, and I definitely think that the majority of people can run a marathon with the right training and commitment. Very few sports can use the quote of ‘quantity over quality,’ but I’m a firm believer in the strength of consistency when it comes to distance running. The quality will naturally follow and you can start to fine-tune some things when it does.