Last March here in this space, I wrote an article espousing the virtues of a three-day training camp in preparation for a 100-mile race. Over the years, I have realized the importance of this kind of camp, when it comes to maximizing the chance of success for athletes taking on a challenge as big as a 100-mile event. Last weekend, since I am myself preparing to run my first 100-mile race in several years, I endeavored to complete my own training camp and to experience, first hand, the impact of such a camp on my own preparation.
The event for which I am preparing is the Javelina 100 Mile, a 100-mile trail event held on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona, on the last weekend of October. Comprised of five loops, the Javelina 100 Mile traverses the pristine desert landscape of McDowell Mountain Regional Park. The first loop of the race is approximately 22.3 miles, while the subsequent four loops are 19.5 miles.
My plan was to run the 22.3-mile loop on Friday morning; the 19.5-mile loop on Saturday morning; and a 30-mile race, organized by Aravaipa Running and held on a 15-mile section of the Javelina course, on Saturday evening. I convinced a couple other competitors, Roger Young and Dana Roark, to join me, and at 6 a.m. sharp on Friday, we were off and running!
For me, I believe this kind of training camp provides four key benefits: concentrated volume, course recon, nutrition and gear preparation, and nighttime running experience.
AJW with Dana Roark, Roger Young, and Paul Baltutis on day two of their training camp. Photo: Dana Roark
Concentrated Volume
Over the past decade or so, I have observed runners of all abilities stacking long runs together in an attempt to concentrate overall volume and mimic race day conditions. For our camp, we ran 70 miles in three different runs, spread out over a 42-hour period. This concentration of miles allowed our bodies to adapt to running while fatigued, and also gave us the chance to see how quickly, if at all, our bodies recovered between efforts.
Course Reconnaissance
I am fortunate, in this case, to live about 30 miles from the Javelina race course, so I was able to have my camp on the course. While I don’t believe this is essential in designing a camp, it is certainly beneficial, as there is really no substitute for getting onto the course to map out your race-day strategy, and essentially get a sense of just what you’ll be in for on race day.
Additionally, training specifically on the course gave me the chance to see which sections played to my strengths and which sections will expose my weaknesses. From there, I can now tweak my training in the last few weeks before the race to mitigate against those weak points.
Nutrition and Gear Preparation
Sixteen hours of desert running certainly gave me ample time to test out my gear and dial in my nutrition plan in advance of the big day. In the case of Javelina, one thing I have been struggling with is determining which shoes to wear. So, with these three runs, I was able to run each one in a different pair of shoes to see which ones suited me best, and by the end of the camp I had found my shoe.
Additionally, I was able to experiment with different hydration carrying strategies and nutrition choices to see which ones are likely to be most suitable for me come race day.
Nighttime Running
Most people who run 100-mile races or longer have to, at some point, run in the dark. And, as most folks know, running at night has its own unique challenges. As a result, in designing my camp I planned the last of the three runs to take place at night so I could prepare for those unique challenges, test out my lighting system, and get a sense of the nighttime environment of McDowell Mountain Park.
AJW recently running the 2024 Javelina Jangover Night Runs. Photo: Jesse Ellis
In the end, I am happy to report that our camp was a success. As a result of packing in 70 hard desert miles into a long weekend, I feel more confident about my chances of success four weeks from now, and more comfortable with my fitness going into the Big Day.
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s beer of the week comes from Pipeworks Brewing Company in Chicago, Illinois. Blood of the Unicorn is a much-sought-after amber ale, brewed in the old school malty style of classic amber ales. Rich and dark, Blood of the Unicorn boasts a balanced blend of hoppiness and sweetness that goes well with just about anything.
Call for Comments
Have you tried a three-day running camp while training for a big event? How did it go?
