Two friends look forward to running the Paul Bunyan Trail

It’s not a race, it’s a journey

By Alexandria Leister

            Breathing hard perseverance keeps you going down that road, never stopping until the end. Come winter, spring, summer or fall there are many reasons why someone might be running. It could be for a sporting event, exercise or in high school PE. Derrek Matson and Jeff Sands are two friends who love to run with the goal in mind of running the Paul Bunyan Trail.

The two friends have been running together since they were in high school and try to do it on a daily basis. During the last two years alone, they have competed in six races together. However, they have wanted to run the Paul Bunyan trail since October 2010. But why would you want to run 110 miles and how do you prepare yourself for such on long journey on foot?

            Matson has enjoyed running since he participated in cross-country skiing and running, track, biathlon and triathlon in high school. “Because I can,” says Matson on why he likes to run. Jeff was in cross-country running and track in high school as well. He mainly did sprinting but after doing a long-distance run, he realized he loved running farther distances. For both of them, it’s a great social bonding time. Sands said “Running with other people is what keeps us coming back.”

            According to many runners, running is as much physical as well as mental, so how does one prepare for a run or a race?  Sand says it’s all about baby steps and starting from square one. You have to build yourself up to it and get acclimated. But you have to keep a positive attitude, because a negative one will just bring you down. Matson tries to always compete against his personal best. He just tells himself no matter what, he’s going to finish. Eating right is a big part in staying top physical shape. You may think that you can eat just like you have been, but according to an online article from Runner’s World. “To run your best, you need to eat differently than the rest of the population…on top of eating more calories as your training intensifies, the ratio of carbohydrates to fats to proteins in your diet needs to change as well.” Matson and Sands also have an article on their blog site at www.minnesotarunners.blogspot.com  that is about the post-workout fuel you need to help those of you interested in running.

            They have completed many races and runs since they started running in high school. Sand’s biggest accomplishment is doing the Walker North Country Marathon in September of 2007. It was 26.2 miles and he finished in 4 hours and 12 minutes. Matson’s was his high school triathlon his senior year in 2004. It consisted of a one mile swim, 50 mi bike ride and a 10 mile run. He finished that in five and half hours, not only winning but setting the record as well.

            So if you have been debating on running or not “Just run,” Matson says. Sands added by saying “Any little bit of time you do run does add up.” These two friends hope to run, what is going to be their biggest accomplishment yet the Paul Bunyan Trail early this fall. They have trained their bodies for years, now it’s just the matter of having the time in their busy life to mark this off their bucket list. If they do not do it this fall they will just keep on running and one day accomplish their goal. 

Matson on left and Sands on right, picutred with their medal from the Walker North Country Marathon

Sands on right and Matson on right pose for a dramatic picture