Lead Photo: Dan LaPlante

This is the fifty-seventh edition of The Duluth Runner Interview Series, where I get in touch with (mainly) local runners and athletes to share a bit of their story while inspiring others to pursue an active lifestyle.

Intro

“My name is David Cummings and I love trail running. I became a runner after a friend encouraged me to try the sport. I was very active, but the idea of running for more than 10 minutes seemed difficult. But I wanted to run the trails of Duluth/the North Shore and stay in shape.

My first ever race was the Harder than Hell Half-Marathon in Duluth. I did several of those before moving to marathons and 50k’s. Believe it or not this is my 6th year of trail running, never ran in my life before this. Every race I do I really enjoy and I just push myself to finish and beat my personal records.”

Interview

Why is running important to you?

Running is important to me because it helps me meet my fitness goals. I can still enjoy food I like to eat knowing my training will help burn it off. Training for and completing races challenges me mentally and physically and it just makes you feel good. I enjoy the challenge of racing and the feeling of accomplishment when it is done.  

What are the top two or three things that you do to prevent injury? Have you been susceptible to certain injuries in the past?

I make sure to have plenty of rest after long runs, avoid running on back to back days and run less in the winter. I have a hip muscle imbalance which has given me issues when running. Physical therapy helped a bunch with that. Fat biking and hockey help with cross training and I think prevent injuries. 

What keeps you motivated when you don’t feel like heading out the door for a workout?

Knowing I’ll feel happier and that if I don’t do this training run I won’t be able to achieve my trail race goals. Listening to a new episode of my favorite podcast while running provides more motivation for me. 

Who is in your workout support group (training partners, people to bounce ideas off of, etc.)?

I have a runner friend I bounce ideas off of. I belong to a running Facebook page where I can bounce ideas off if I need to. I currently train alone.

Photo Credit: Gowtham Es

When/what is your next race?

I’m running the Wild Duluth 50k on October 16th.

Do you prefer roads or trails and why?

I prefer trails because I enjoy being out in nature and exploring state and county parks and trails like the Superior Hiking Trail. It’s quieter than running near roads and often cooler as well. There’s always a good opportunity for some photos as well which is fun. The scenery makes it well worth it.

What do you think about while you run?

I first and foremost am thinking about the trail I am running on. I’m a geography lover so I think about the geography of the trail or park that I am at. I listen to podcasts when running so I think about those. I think about work, trips and life in general. I seem to come up with good ideas while I’m running. 

What is your most memorable race or running achievement?

Completing the Wild Duluth 50k in 2018. It had been a goal for several years to do a 50k and finally completing it was a great achievement. It’s really fun to tell people that you ran a 50k…they don’t know what it is! People are impressed you ran more than a marathon. 

@TheDuluthRunner

Name one racing experience you would like to forget (please describe).

The Superior Fall Trail Race. While I finished in the top third of the race I struggled with dehydration. I failed to refill my water pack at the last aid station and climbing up Moose Mountain with not enough water was very tough. I spent a good portion of the last 7 miles walking. I had mild heat exhaustion after the race. Lesson learned about running and ensuring I have enough water. 

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What is something non-running related you would like to share with readers?

I enjoy fat biking in the winter because it gets me to enjoy the snow and gets me outside. It’s my one winter activity I like doing outside. I’m also a rabid UMD hockey fan and have traveled across the US to see them play in 12 states from Maine to Arizona. If you see me at a game don’t be afraid to say hi! I’d love to talk hockey or running. Go Bulldogs! 

Closing

Many thanks to David for stopping by Duluth Runner to share some of his knowledge/experiences with everyone. I hope you enjoyed this edition of the Interview Series – stick around for more to come!