Part 1

July 12, 2024

Originally posted March 24, 2024

I’m looking forward to June 22, 2024! I’m Susan, “former Minotaur Race Director”, and I’ll be racing my very first SkyRace. After years of creating the course and cheering on others as they take the challenge, I get to experience it myself. I am very familiar with the course, having run it in its entirely but never have I raced it!

Over the next few months I will share my training approach with you hoping that other first-timers, and those of you (like me) who are chasing cut-offs might pick up some tips.

With just under 3 months until race day here’s what I am currently working on:

• Visualization: Even though I know the course well, I am re-familiarizing myself. How long is the course, how much climbing is there, where are the big climbs, descents and flat sections, where are the Aid Stations and what offered? During quiet times and long runs I visualize myself running the course. This is a powerful tool to boost confidence.
• Long Runs: The race time cut-off is 12 hours. I figure that I will be out therefor at least 10 hours. I am increasing the length of my weekly long run/hike or ski, getting out for 5 hours or more when possible.
• Technical Terrain: It can be hard to get out on technical trails at this time of the year where I live in Crowsnest Pass. I was lucky to be away in Arizona recently, and ran on some rocky trails and felt “rusty”. Now that I am home I’ll do my best to get out on some steep trails with as little snow as possible to focus on my footing.
• Flat Running. The course starts with 1 km and ends with 2 km flat path running so I am already including flat road running and speed intervals every week.
• Strength & Power: I’ve added resistance training once or twice a week to strengthen my legs and core. This will help me on the technical descents. I need to add some plyometrics to my routine to increase power which I’m lacking!
• Mobility, Stretching, “Foam Rolling”: Always and every day!

Phew! I’ve got a lot to work on before race day but I am confident that my focused commitment will pay off!

-Susan

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