Lions chewing on the course markers at the Big Five Marathon. photo credit: Big Five Marathon
In this episode we talk about running adventures with our special guests, some well-traveled runners, who use running to see the world, meet cool people, challenge themselves and stay healthy.
Take a Running Adventure!
If you were to save up the money to take a “runcation” where would you go? Here are a few ideas . . .
This year Coach Steve Waldon took part in the Zugspitz Ultratrail 100k in the Bavarian Alps. Even as a well-travelled runner he said it was “the most beautiful race I’ve done.” He finished 31st overall.
Zugspitze 100k
Steve Waldon is a RRCA Certified Running Coach, 2:53 marathoner, and one of our amazing MTA coaches. He’s also assistant coach at one of New York City’s largest running clubs. In this conversation you will hear about some of his most challenging running adventures and get some great pointers on running downhill. Read more about Steve here.
Coach Dominique Hamel was born in Quebec and has lived in South Africa, Switzerland, and the U.S.. She is most comfortable speaking French. We talk to her about her love for Comrades Marathon and the Two Oceans Marathon in South Africa. The name “marathon” is a bit of a misnomer since these races are 90 kilometers and 56 kilometers respectively.
Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town, South Africa
This past April she ran Two Oceans for the 10th year in a row. That’s her getting down and dirty in the mud! Read more about Dominique here.
Courtney Schoch is an Academy member and coaching client of Lynn Grieger (another one of our wonderful MTA coaches). She works as a pilot and flight instructor currently living in Cleveland, Ohio, and Leon, Nicaragua.
We debrief Courtney about her most recent running adventure –The Big Five Marathon, a race across a game preserve in South Africa. We also ask her how taking a “runcation” compares to a regular vacation.
Be sure check out her website at www.runucate.com!
One of the cool things about a running adventure is the interesting people you meet. Courtney is in the center.
The scary crocodile lake
Also Mentioned in this Episode
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I loved everything about this podcast … EXCEPT when Courtney mentioned that she was a back of the packer and then said that the Big Five had a time limit of 4hrs 15min (or something similar).
That pace in a tough marathon like that – does NOT indicate a back of the pack runner unless you are racing 3hr runners. While I understand that her pace might seem slow in her mind, the term with her pace downplays the actual back of pack runners who run marathons in 5-6+ hours.
Thanks for the comment. Courtney actually said that there was a course cut off at the 16 mile mark. If you didn’t reach the 16 mile mark before 4:15 you get pulled from the course.
She was nervous that she wouldn’t make it to 16 miles before 4:15 because she’s a back-of-the-backer and the terrain was so sandy.