Trail running is a skill - and I can prove it

I wouldn't consider myself a good runner, while I've done dozens of races, mostly spartans, I haven't gotten close to podium on anything.

But then I did a 1/2 marathon which was 90% road and 10% true trail. This was a very small event, with 26 runners almost exclusively from a running club. The road varied between proper asphalt and 4x4 gravel/rock utility road; plus 1500+ ft of elevation. The 10% trail was maybe 3/10 difficulty. Rocks, but something runnable for sure. It was also mostly mildly downhill.

Trail started at mile 9 and over the course of that 1 1/2 mile trail section, I passed 4 people, fully 15% of the runners. I passed one more person on the last big hill for a 17/26 finish.

Talking to 2 runners after, both talked about how technically difficult the terrain was, and one person specifically called out the trail section. Checking my strava, the trail section was my fastest pace all day, including the flat asphalt. I personally didn't feel the terrain slowed me at all, just my own fitness level.

So there you go, run more trails.