Back in 2012 I decided to try something new - running races. My  first event was a local trail run put on by the Zoomers Running Club. The exhilaration of completing the 5K coupled with the spark that comes from lively competition gave me a whole new appreciation for running. Over the next few years I would take part in 15 more such events while taking photos of the races and writing stories for their newsletter. Zoomers is more than a race promoter, they are a community of local runners. They hold a casual group run every Thursday night at Englewood Beach ( Check here for updates ). They hold an annual awards ceremony for their own race series along with other social events. Most importantly they support each others ambitions. The Twisted Trails Series is proud to sponsor the Zoomer's efforts and events. I have dusted off my running shoes and signed up for the same race where I started four years ago, now called the Trick or Trot 5K . This is a Halloween race so the...

You know that instant when you get over yourself and start enjoy the moment? That finally happened to me. Two years ago I was an active runner competing in a race series and obsessing about beating my competition. I chose races based on how well I might place. How ridiculous is that? I was constantly suffering from injuries incurred during training and I was killing myself during the events. After one year I was beat down by my own efforts. I had missed the point entirely. This time around I decided to stop training and start having fun. Instead of methodically building up to a race, I will sign up spontaneously. Instead of pushing myself to get faster, I will run at an agreeable pace. This is an attempt to stop the crash and burn cycle that has plagued all of my athletic endeavors. So far it appears to be working. At the 2015 Trick or Trot 5k in Englewood (My Favorite Race), I threw all those unrealistic expectations in the garbage. In the spirit of Halloween I dressed up...