{"id":16619,"date":"2012-04-27T09:43:10","date_gmt":"2012-04-27T13:43:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomeatathlete.com\/?p=16619"},"modified":"2020-02-27T16:40:53","modified_gmt":"2020-02-27T21:40:53","slug":"plan-running-getaway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nomeatathlete.com\/plan-running-getaway\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Steps to Planning the Perfect Running Getaway to Re-energize Your Training"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is a guest post by Doug Hay of Rock Creek Runner<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

It happens to everyone.<\/p>\n

No matter how good your intentions are in the beginning, sometimes training becomes a real drag. In any prolonged training cycle, what was once one of the most exciting things you ever started can feel more like that new friend that wants to hang out … every … single … day.<\/p>\n

Sometimes you just need a break, and sometimes you just need a little reminder about why it is exactly that you still like that needy friend.<\/p>\n

This recently happened to me (not the friend part, the training slump part). After a long winter of training for the No Meat Athlete group event<\/a> for the Rock n Roll USA Marathon, I was beat up and burnt out.<\/p>\n

I would have just taken a few months off, but my next big race, the North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Miler<\/a>, is just around the corner — and training to run 50 miles knows no long breaks. So what did I do?<\/p>\n

I took off to the mountains.<\/p>\n

With nothing but a car full of camping gear and a pair of running shoes, I found my retreat, rejuvenated my soul, and now feel better about my training than I ever thought I could.<\/p>\n

Planning your perfect running getaway<\/h2>\n

Running camps and retreats are not a new thing.<\/p>\n

If you ran cross country or track in high school, you might have gone with your team to summer training camps, where hundreds of pre-pubescent teens with pale legs in short shorts run around large fields. Or more recently, it seems like nearly every issue of Runner\u2019s World highlights a runner\u2019s dream getaway, where like-minded athletes jog pristine trails<\/a> and eat food from the retreat center\u2019s garden.<\/p>\n

But chances are you aren\u2019t in high school anymore. You don\u2019t have the thousands of extra dollars lying around to pay for one of these retreats. And with a family and job, you don\u2019t have more than a weekend to spare. So what do you do?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m here to help! With a little planning and a few bucks, you can plan your own running getaway to reenergize your training, challenge your legs, and reset your weary head.<\/p>\n

Below I\u2019ve highlighted three easy steps to get you out of your slump and off on the running getaway of your dreams.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Find the perfect getaway location<\/h3>\n

If you’re hoping to reenergize the body, you have to first reenergize the soul. Everyone finds solace in different places. For me, being in the woods, with little more than a tent, some fresh food, and a few tasty brews<\/a> will bring me to a place near total contentment that few places ever could.<\/p>\n

For others, that holy grail of retreats is a white sandy beach with warm sunshine and seagulls as your company. So when planning your retreat, one of the most important steps is picking the right place works for you<\/em>.<\/p>\n

To find that place: first dream big.<\/p>\n

Close your eyes and envision your perfect place to run. Only once you’ve got it should you come back to reality. Then it’s time to consider the basics, like how far you want to travel, how much you’re willing to spend, and for how long you wish to go.<\/p>\n

Here’s how it went for me: My magic spot is deep within the Andes. Considering I live thousands of miles away from those snow capped mountains, in downtown Washington, D.C.<\/a>, I picked the closest major mountain range and national park (Shenandoah<\/a>) and took off on the short drive out of the city. Just ninety minutes later, I had arrived.<\/p>\n

Here are few important things to consider when choosing your location:<\/p>\n