Some runners sign up for a trail race because they want to try something new. Nat signs up because this is where she feels most at home.
For Nat, pavement is the exception. Dirt, roots, climbs, technical descents, and that unmistakable Kitsap trail-race energy are the draw. So when the Dirty Turtle 25/50K came around, hosted by Evergreen Turtle Rocket Running, it was an easy yes.
“It’s one of the funnest races in western Washington,” Nat says. “It’s very well organized, and the people who run it are very kind and down to earth.”
A trail runner through and through
Nat is not a road runner dabbling in trail racing. It is closer to the other way around.
“I only really do off-road trail races now,” she says. “I don’t enjoy running on the road. The only time I do road races is when a friend invites me.”
Her training reflects that. Nat estimates that about 95% of her running happens on trails. She still sees a place for road and track work, but when it comes to a race like Dirty Turtle, nothing substitutes for time on dirt.
“Nothing can prepare you for elevation and singletrack like trails,” she says.
That trail-first approach paid off. Nat went into the race with one clear goal: beat last year’s time. She did more than that.
“I wanted to beat my last year’s time, which I did by almost an hour,” she says. “I crushed it. I came in third in my age group, which is a first for me for this race.”
The beautiful, brutal parts
Ask Nat to describe the course, and you get the honest version: fun, gorgeous, runnable in places, and absolutely not a beginner-friendly walk in the woods.
She describes the terrain as a mix of technical trail and easier forest roads, with enough bushwhacking, climbing, and ankle-aware footing to keep runners humble. Her strongest caution is for runners newer to the trail scene: pick your first off-road 25K carefully.
Dirty Turtle is not the kind of course where you want your first trail-race lesson to be, “Oh, this is what technical means.”
The part that still gets Nat, even after seeing it before, comes late in the race.
“There is at least one mile going downhill where you basically run through a narrow, dry riverbed with fist-sized loose boulders,” she says. “It is an ankle twister. Every time I get to that part of the course, it surprises me. It’s right at mile 15, which is awful.”
And then there is the climb: roughly one mile, about 1,000 feet, and placed exactly where the race has already taken plenty out of your legs.
But Dirty Turtle gives something back, too.
Aid-station magic at the top
Nat’s favorite moments came after that big climb, where the trail opens up into the kind of scene that makes runners forget, at least briefly, how hard they are working.
“At the top, there is a great aid station where you have a beautiful view and the volunteers are blasting music,” she says. “It’s super encouraging.”
A mile later, another aid station brought even more trail-race joy: a photo booth, good energy, and the kind of volunteer support that can change the mood of an entire race.
“The vibes are just very, very good,” Nat says.
The strategy that kept her moving
When things got difficult, Nat relied on a simple plan: fuel early, fuel often, and do not wait until the wheels start wobbling.
Her watch is set to beep every mile. Every beep is a reminder to take in something. She alternates between carbohydrates and electrolytes, including salt tabs, and she makes a point of eating real food at every aid station, even if it is just a small bite.
Her go-to race fuel includes CLIF BLOKS Black Cherry with Caffeine.
“I think being extremely regular with my nutrition plan is always a winning strategy,” she says.
That is the kind of advice that sounds almost too simple until you are deep into a technical trail race, staring down loose rock, a climb, or the next aid station. Consistency matters. Small decisions early can become big results later.
Why the Evergreen Turtle Rockets matter
Nat also gives a lot of credit to the community behind the race. The Evergreen Turtle Rockets are known locally for muddy miles, mountain trails, and a loose, supportive trail-running culture, but what stands out most to Nat is the sense of care.
“I really love the running club, the Evergreen Turtle Rockets,” she says. “All of the events that they host are fun. They really have a high emphasis on safety and community, so as a solo female runner, I always feel well supported by them.”
She also appreciates the practical details that only trail runners truly understand, including the legendary luxury of having a real bathroom option around.
“They even bring a motorhome with a toilet,” she says, “so there’s always a nice place to go to the bathroom.”
Trail running can be gritty. It can also be thoughtful.
Nat’s advice for your first off-road 25K
Nat’s advice for anyone thinking about signing up for an off-road 25K is encouraging, but realistic.
“Anybody can do it,” she says. “Just make sure you choose a race for your first race that is non-technical and doesn’t have a lot of elevation.”
Her ideal beginner-friendly format is a fat-ass-style looped event, where runners repeat a course and can decide how far they want to go. That structure takes pressure off, reduces fear of a DNF, and gives newer trail runners a chance to learn without feeling trapped by a point-to-point course or big mountain route.
In other words: do the thing, but set yourself up to enjoy it.
What’s next for Nat
After a huge Dirty Turtle day, Nat is taking the rest of the year without another race on the calendar. But the next big goal is already forming.
Next year, she plans to take on her first 50-miler.
Given the way she handled Dirty Turtle — nearly an hour faster than last year, a first age-group podium, and a clear sense of what works for her — it feels like the next chapter is already underway.
Nat’s trail kit
This post is not sponsored; these are the products and categories Nat mentioned using. A few model names were generalized where the exact version was not specified.
- Trail shoes: Salomon Speedcross
- Socks: Darn Tough Light Hiker / lightweight hiking socks
- Hydration: Nathan hydration vest / pack
- Sports bra: On women’s sports bras — Nat called hers an “OnCloud” bra
- Warm layer: Arms of Andes women’s alpaca wool sweater
- Eyewear: Ombraz Rx armless eyewear
- Sun protection: Unicorn Snot Sun/SPF and SPF Glitter Spritz
- Watch: COROS PACE 2 refurbished — Nat’s turquoise PACE 2 appears to be an older/retired model; current COROS watches are listed on the COROS products page
- Headphones: Shokz OpenRun Pro — Shokz now points shoppers to the newer OpenRun Pro 2
- Race fuel: CLIF BLOKS Black Cherry with Caffeine
- Other staples: neck gaiter and baseball cap; brand not specified
