Yeah, carb loading is way overrated. I used to do it too, but now I just eat a normal meal the night before and I'm good to go. Don't need all that extra baggage weighing me down. Complex carbs are where it's at, keeps me fueled without the bloat.
Honestly, I'm a bit of a pace rebel. I mean, if I'm feeling good, why hold back? But I've also learned the hard way that going out too fast can bite you in the ass later on. My tip? Don't make a pace plan if you're not gonna stick to it. Either be realistic or don't bother. And if you do decide to go rogue, just own it and deal with the consequences. No use crying about it afterwards.
First off, congrats on ditching the roads for the trails! Biggest tip I can give you is to slow the hell down. You're not gonna set any records on trails, so take your time and focus on footwork. For technical terrain, keep your weight centered over your feet and try to roll with the punches. Steep inclines are all about power hiking - don't be afraid to walk if you need to. And for obstacles, just remember: you can always go around, but don't be a hero trying to jump stuff you're not ready for.
Duh, they're getting paid to run, of course they're gonna dope. Next thing you know, they'll be asking about water quality.