The Santa Maria Valley Trail Runners started when a group of runners and open space enthusiasts sat around having breakfast after a run and discussing why Santa Maria didn’t have such a group. With the quick setup of a Facebook page, the group was instantly born.
The group meets to run together at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Orcutt Community Park at Bradley and Sage Crest streets.
“We’re just a group of people trying to get out and run,” one of the group’s organizers, Chad Hinkle, said.
Hinkle said he got into running just a few years ago. His support of open spaces is what brought him together with another runner and SMVTR participant, Luis Escobar, who encouraged him to run.
“It turned out I have an aptitude for it. Now I run ridiculous distances for fun,” Hinkle said.
Christopher Norling is also one of the group’s founders. He said he got into running about 15 years ago when he was in junior high school.
Coincidentally it was Escobar who also got him into running. Norling wanted to run in the annual Bull Canyon Run and so his parents called Escobar, who is a cross-country coach, and asked for his advice. He encouraged Norling to run with his group. He’s been running ever since.
Norling said the SMVTR is about getting together to enjoy a run and being outdoors.
“The goal is kind of to spread trail running and the enjoyment of trail running to other people,” Norling said. “We know there are runners out there, but we don’t know if they know about trail running.”
There are distinct differences between trail running and road running. Running on the road generally provides flat surfaces and a faster pace. Trail running involves a slower pace but varied terrain and weather. Norling said trail runners run in any kind of weather.
In terms of which style of running is more difficult, Norling said that both offer different challenges. However in terms of endurance, he said trail running requires it for the steep slopes, the climbs, and the descents.
There’s also another benefit to trail running: There’s less pounding on the body.
Hinkle said that people who go trail running are surprised at the difference between the two styles. “People who run on the road, you get them out in the dirt and their eyes open up and they’re like, ‘Why was I running on the road? This is so much better,’” he said.
Norling said he likes running because of the effort it entails. “Definitely it’s a challenge that requires a lot of focus, and a lot of training. I like it because it gives me a goal and a purpose.” He added that trail running, and running in general, provides camaraderie and positivity.
“In running, no matter what, everyone is super positive. It’s a community where we all work together to make each other faster and push our limits. I think it’s very unique to the sport,” Norling said.
Hinkle said he’s often a cheerleader encouraging new people he comes across on the trails to run with their group.
“We’re just trying to get people out moving around and enjoying the run, and on a side note to get people interested in open space,” Hinkle said.
Support for open space to recreate is an important issue to Hinkle and one that goes hand in hand with trail running.
The Santa Maria Valley has nearly 130,000 people but only about 6 miles of open space trails.
Runner Escobar said it’s shameful for such a big city to have such a lack of trails. “Santa Barbara has 88 miles of trails available to its residents,” Escobar said.
Hinkle and Escobar were part of the Santa Maria Valley Open Space group that helped negotiate permission for public access to the 6 miles of trails at Orcutt Community Park. Prior to that, people often jumped fences and hiked, biked, or ran those trails illegally.
“There should be a safe place where it’s legal for people to recreate,” Escobar said. “It’s an essential component to a good quality of life.”
He said outdoor recreation enhances the quality of life, and a better quality of life enhances an area’s values.
Hinkle said that a big reason why SLO and Santa Barbara have so many trails and open space areas to recreate is because of the culture.
“Al lot of it is we haven’t really had the culture here. In Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo those folks worked hard to have what they do have,” Hinkle said. “No one is going to come by and give it to you because it’s neat. You’ve got to ask. Well who’s going to ask? People who want to use open space. That’s where the trail runs come in.”
Hinkle said everyone is invited to join the group during its weekly runs. Right now the group has between eight and 10 regular runners but it has also had as many as 20 people show up for a run. He added that no one gets left behind no matter his or her skill level.
Norling agreed. “I would like to see everybody out there, from someone who’s never run a step in their life, to someone training for a 5K,” Norling said.
Editor Shelly Cone can be reached at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Sep 22-29, 2016.