South Sound Adventures: Dirty Girls, Cool Trails and Running Groups

Sometimes, the things you do on a whim are really the best surprises.

My whim? Signing up for a half-marathon in the spring, despite having no experience and not a clue what to do.

So, did I handle this situation with grace, maturity, and wisdom?

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.

I just had to find it.

Happily, I did just that, in

I was off to a good start, but I was well, a little lonesome.

I run alone. A lot.

Part of that comes from having an unusual schedule and friends who run (there aren't many) that don't keep the same hours that I do. 

I didn't know where to go to meet other runners. More runners, more inspiration. I needed that!

I also tended to run in the same places all the time. Don't get me wrong: I loved the running routes near home. But I didn'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 Gig Harbor's Route 16 running store and training/event sponsors, she's a running fitness trainer, assistant cross-country coach for Gig Harbor High School's junior varsity squads, running group organizer and a fitness mentor.

Oh yeah, and in her spare time she recently had a book for teens published 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 prefer to think of her as a trailblazer. Sure, she literally knows fantastic running trails like the back of her hand (more on that later). Yet, her energetic personality, great encouragement and enthusiasm were 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, someone who 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, nearly two decades later, she motivates others.

"I get the fear," Martin said. "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. An accident resulted in a neck injury, and in essence, she had to start all over again with training.

"Going through that intense experience, well, for the first time, it really broke it down for me," she said. "That's why I do this for others."

Running the Martin Way

"Running should be fun for everyone," Martin notes. "It's great to see people out there running for wellness; just getting out there and doing it."

Martin 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 at either 8 or 9:15 a.m. The runners are of all pace levels and there to exercise in a safe group environment with the company of others.

Running groups are key for Martin.

"Everyone's nervous to come out to a group," she said. "However, everyone is encouraged to run their own pace."

Martin continued, "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 also 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," she 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, Martin gave some recommendations on some other great trails, too.

Martin's 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 local trails, check out the Gig Harbor Trails Facebook.

Crescent Valley Trail (Gig Harbor)

Cushman Trail (Gig Harbor)

Banner Forest (Port Orchard)

McCormick Woods (Port Orchard)

Gold and Green Mountain Trails (Seabeck)

Other areas:

Point Defiance Trails (Tacoma)

Fort Steilacoom Park (Lakewood/Steilacoom)

Other groups to check out

In addition to the terrific Dirty Girls Trail Runs group, there are other great local running groups to check out. 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.

Narrows Bridge Running Club

Route 16 drop-in weekly running groups (walking group, too)

Guerilla Running

Ft. Steilacoom Running Club

Original Slug Club, Port Orchard (running and walking)

Ready to run? I am!