The Long Run: Train Or Bust
Updated: Aug 10th 2011 1:43 PM UTC by Competitor.com
Ultrarunning star Scott Jurek shares his tips for logging miles while traveling.
Written by: Scott Jurek
It was a classic case of air travel gone wrong. In 2001, my team and I were stuck in the Vancouver International Airport for an extra 12 hours while on our way to the Hong Kong Trailwalker 100K. In an instant, we lost half a day and missed out on a training run on the course. It would have been easy to grab some dinner, curl up on the airport floor and call it a day, but my teammate, Ian Torrence, had a better idea. Before I knew it, we were running along the sidewalks of the departures entrance. Although the 90-minute run took place alongside roaring planes spewing jet exhaust, we made the best of things and didn’t miss our training run. I maintain a busy travel schedule amid training for the world’s longest and toughest ultramarathons; combining pre-travel planning with adaptability is my strategy for running while on the road. Before leaving home, I front-load training. My advice:
A busy schedule that changes on the fly can obliterate training plans. Here’s what I do:
Written by: Scott Jurek
It was a classic case of air travel gone wrong. In 2001, my team and I were stuck in the Vancouver International Airport for an extra 12 hours while on our way to the Hong Kong Trailwalker 100K. In an instant, we lost half a day and missed out on a training run on the course. It would have been easy to grab some dinner, curl up on the airport floor and call it a day, but my teammate, Ian Torrence, had a better idea. Before I knew it, we were running along the sidewalks of the departures entrance. Although the 90-minute run took place alongside roaring planes spewing jet exhaust, we made the best of things and didn’t miss our training run. I maintain a busy travel schedule amid training for the world’s longest and toughest ultramarathons; combining pre-travel planning with adaptability is my strategy for running while on the road. Before leaving home, I front-load training. My advice:
- Plan the week preceding travel as a higher volume week and the travel week as a recovery week.
- Do quality sessions such as tempo runs, hill workouts and long runs the week before travel.
- Use the Internet to research running routes; I like www.mapmyrun.com and www.usatf.org/routes.
- Search for restaurants and grocery stores to save time and fuel right.
- Check the weather forecast to pack appropriately. This may appear to be a no-brainer, but you’re more likely to skip a run if it’s pouring and you forgot a running hat and waterproof shell.
- Research nearby running specialty stores and running clubs to join group workouts and explore hidden routes. Before a trip to Asheville, N.C., I contacted resident trail running legend Will Harlan, who gave me a great tour—complete with lessons on botany and history—and workout on a local trail.
A busy schedule that changes on the fly can obliterate training plans. Here’s what I do:
- Look over the next day’s schedule and plan when a run will fit; it’s often best to train first thing in the morning before obligations pile up.
- For tempo and specific pace workouts, a GPS or speed-distance watch is an important tool for knowing splits on routes without mile markers.
- Evenings are a good time to squeeze in a flexibility or short strength session. If a hotel gym is not available, consider a portable gym unit (such as TRX or resistance tubing) that packs easily.
- Make do with the time and environment: Thirty minutes of running in traffic can be better than a zero for the day.
- Make the most of unexpected schedule changes. Have running gear on hand for unexpected opportunities to train.
- Factor the day’s stress into whether getting out for a late-day session is worthwhile. Sometimes rest and sleep may be the best choice.
About the Author:
Based in Boulder, Colo., Scott Jurek is a seven-time winner of the Western States 100-mile trail run. Read more from Scott every month on the back page of Competitor Magazine.
http://running.competitor.com/2011/08/inside-the-magazine/the-long-run-train-or-bust_34677
Based in Boulder, Colo., Scott Jurek is a seven-time winner of the Western States 100-mile trail run. Read more from Scott every month on the back page of Competitor Magazine.
http://running.competitor.com/2011/08/inside-the-magazine/the-long-run-train-or-bust_34677
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