B.J.

The trail runner here. I've ran MMS twice, it's like 45 minutes away. But yes, all the trails in the main park seem pretty simple and maybe boring on a bike. Bu running through the woods on the edges, I found myself having to zig and zag quiet a bit, had to sway and duck and protect my arms quiet a bit due to the winding and skinniness of the trails, all the branches and vines poking out. I don't know if mtb.ers like that stuff. And there were plenty of places to go across the creek that seemed like they'd be crazy on a bike- some are drops and some just go down rockrockrock bumpbumpbump. And yes it seems to connect to lots of other trails. I ran from there west to Bauerle Ranch, and that was quiet fun. Anyway, have fun out there.

Thx for the info on those trails. I see that this whole thing can be stickier (stinkier?) than I realized. I feel totally dumb- of course Forest Ridge is gonna be out for bikes, duh! We wouldn't wanna disturb them Warblers. And River Place- too many steps anyway, who wants to ride their bikes on a natural stairmaster. Anywya, thx for the gracious replies. 🙂

And oh, everyone's been talking about the really hard trails. It's easier for me to judge which ones are easy. For some really easy trails, hit up Mary Moore Searight Park in the south, and Williamson County Regional Park in the north. I've only been the Mary Moore twice, but both time the more mtb trails where not crowded at all crowded, and Wilco bike trails are never crowded- so you're not having to dodge unsuspecting kids and dogs.

I'm just a trail runner and come here just for trail info and to ask the occasional "How annoying are we trail runners when you guys are trying to zoom past" type questions. Here are some random inquiries, just wondering if these trails are hard or more like "meh...", or maybe not for bikes at all or what. (I don't know all the mtb jargon and trail names, so please forgive my newb sounding questions) +I never see any on the Bull Creek Greenbelt itself. Does anyone actually ride that? +What about Forest Ridge Preserve/Balconies Preserve? +I've also never, ever seen any bikes at the River Place Natural Trail. It's entirely plausible that I've just missed the signs that say "no bikes" or "walkers, runners only". +To my knowledge, almost everyone comes at Mt Lakeway from the north, through Canyonlands. But there are actual mtb-specific trails (not trying to sound as if I'm telling y'all something y'all don't know) on the south side, and the climb from the southside is, I think, longer an with more switchbacks. Is the southside pretty difficult for MTBers compared to the north side? Forgive me if all this questioning is annoying, thx for anyone who gives their thoughts 🙂

I'm a trail runner and was there a few days ago. Yep, it's totally closed. So dumb. I turned to hit the trail then suddenly "What the-"

I hate that too. It’s usually the casual runners and especially casual hikers that are really bad about this.

Well sweet! I think I’ll hit it up sometime soon then.

I think Suburban Ninja counts as part of the Brushy Creek trail system, right? Anyway, is it ok for trail running? I don’t mean is it physically possible, some trail runners will run anything. More like do bikers frown on pedestrians running the trail? Is the trail pretty much tailored so much to biking that pedestrians should and are encouraged to stay off? Or is it ok for us to run (I generally don’t run over the obstacles specifically built for bikers, don’t wanna tear them up). I don’t want to be a nuisance, I’ve never run there before. But the exploration of new trails makes it super tempting. Thx

Anybody check any trails yet today? Still pretty muddy I'm guessing.

Overlook park parking and parking lot from Booty’s rd are closed due to civic restrictions. Went to Goodwater yesterday from Cedar Breaks. It was muuuuuuuuuuuudy! I was running carefully so as not to slip. I was surprised not necessarily at the amount of people, but at the amount of people who were carefully stepping around the mud, dressed up nice, with cut little manicured dogs, etc Anyway, yeah, muddy from Cedar Breaks to Crockett. But what else did we expect?

I’m not wanting to take this corona thing lightly, so please don’t take this info that way. I called the “covid non emergency” number, from Wilco.org, asked about shelter in place. (I don’t know about Travis county but I assume they go hand in hand). They said as of now a shelter in place has not been issued. When one is issued, all non essential businesses closed, and no nonessential going anywhere- among the essentials they listed for me was exercise. Cycling, mtb, and (for me) trail running is totally exercise. Just practice social distancing, for bikers you could say stay a bike’s length away and cough into your own helmet. Of course the trails are only good for extreme mud wrestling right now😆

And oh, to everyone: The head phones, ear buds problem is duly noted. 🙂

Who is willing to sit out there for hours in their ghillie suit? Bring snacks and take shifts. 😆

What do y'all call the trails west of the Rim trail? Other side of 183, behind the YMCA camp? Just curious, as I've seen and heard names for the other trails on Brushy Creek but not these.

What is SATN? Context tells me it's a trail/trail system, but I'm wracking my brain and nothing is forthcoming from those initials. Thx

I was at Walnut Creek Metro Park the other day, getting some high-stepping hill climbing workouts (powerline hill and close by). As I was going up on section of trail that gets fairly steep with large step-ups and lots of trees roots and rocks to navigate, I saw an mtber trying to go UP with his bike. His face was like, "This was a mistake", and when he saw me bound past him, I'm pretty sure he thought, "That guy's nuts". lol I feel sorry for those guys.

I've not been a part of any trail running groups, except for two on FB where I sometimes post, nothing "on the ground". -To my knowledge, most trail runners wouldn't want to take down any obstacles, we're just as aggravated seeing them being taken down or messed with. -Most trail runners just want to run somewhere other than on the concrete with car exhaust in their faces, to be in nature and all, like a lot of mtbers. There are a good amount who enjoy exploring, wandering on trails, going adventuring. Then there are the ones like myself. I too like to explore, but it's a ton of fun running on "treacherous" trails over loose rocks, scrambling up rocks, running through water, twisty and turny, between trees with branches slapping you, through high grass, etc. Why? I guess just the thrill of it. -A good trail is subjective. To be simplistic about it: The northwest of St Edwards is good for people who like nice, flat runs. The southeast, of course, gets into the likes of the more adventurous of us. All in all, the best trail is a "trail system", like Bull Creek or Brushy Creek, which have flat open trails and twisty technical trails. -There are competitive trail runs, even series, and there are wilderness runs where you run for more than one day across lots of wilderness, usually on teams. And of course Ultras, like 50K-100+mile races- yikes. I've only once ever run a competitive 50 miler (almost 20 years ago) in which I gave up halfway through because I'd never run on trails before, ALL my training was on concrete, then suddenly I'm surrounded forever by trees and the dirt was totally different on the feet than concrete. It was basically just hiking trails through the woods. -You know what, I've never really thought about this. Maybe I'll ask this on the FB groups and see what they say. Thx for all the questions 🙂

That's good to know. I usually try and get out of the way in the way you're explaining, mostly just to show "I promise I'm not being a jerk, see?" But maybe I'm worrying too much. 🙂

I actually do like the twisty trails. Pretty much any trails- long flat trails can get boring but they're ok I guess. I probably run the most at Brushy Creek, Bull Creek, and Walnut Creek. And I personally don't like "disappearing" as you mentioned, so we're good there.

I'm not an mtber but a trail runner. I run on trails and often pass (or get passed by) mtbers. I'm just wondering, please be totally honest I'm a big boy, how do mtbers see trail runners? Annoying, nuisances, in the way, etc? I always keep my eyes and ears peeled, and move over quickly and let the biker(s) past. I try not to run on muddy trails (sometimes you hit a seemingly dry trail then there are muddy spots, you know) and avoid trails that are "bikes only" (Emma Long is the only Austin one I know of). Anyway, just wondering. Thx :)