2021 and 2022 were not good running years for me. They were riddled with injury, frustration, and burnout. I tried to rehab my way through it by piling on the doctor’s visits and physical therapy appointments. There was progress albeit frustratingly slow. I finally reached a breaking point (more like my bank account from all the appointments), where I had to take a step back. What if I could never really run again? What would I do? Was there some hobby lurking within that I hadn’t yet discovered?
I ultimately decided that if I could never run again, I would still want to find a way to be on the trails. What can you do on the trails besides run? There was hiking which I love, and there was mountain biking which I fear. If you put both those sports together, add a canoe/kayak, and a compass, you’ve got the sport of adventure racing. I liked that the sport involved a team aspect, was done in nature, and had so many sports involved. I dedicated 2023 to training for adventure racing, and it was a blast. Towards the end of 2023, my body felt great running again and I think this training played a big part in that.
Here are 3 ways training for adventure racing improved my running:
Training for adventure racing increased my training time per week
This is the true gift of multisport – especially multisport that includes non-weight bearing sports. In the 2nd half of 2022, when I was just focusing on running, I averaged 10.5 hours / week of training. Compare that to the first half of 2023 when I was training for adventure racing, I averaged 12.25 hours/week of training. I had four weeks of training well over 15 hours with the biggest week at 17.5 hours.
My weekly training time while focusing on running.
My weekly training time while focusing on adventure racing.
Because my training was so varied, I was able to handle more time spent training in any given week. I was doing a mix of:
- Hiking with a pack on
- Short runs
- Swimming
- Stand up paddle boarding & kayaking
- Mountain biking & indoor trainer rides
- Weightlifting
When I went to my annual gynecologist appointment, my hemoglobin had increased from an average of 12.5 – 13 g/dl to 15 g/dl. I know there are multiple factors that can alter a woman’s hemoglobin, but an interesting observation nonetheless!
I felt fit & was recovering faster than just running alone.
Training for adventure racing improved my navigation skills
I will never think a marked trail race is hard ever again. OK, remind me of that statement the next time I get lost in a trail race! But really, once you have done an orienteering course searching for checkpoints off trail it gives you a lovely perspective. When there is no trail to follow, you hold on to that map and compass for dear life.
Besides running trail races, I also like to plan new and interesting routes. With improved navigation skills, it gives me far more confidence in reading maps and actually knowing how to use my compass.
In ultra trail races, there is often a false sense of security that nothing bad could happen like getting lost or needing backcountry skills with the terrain, weather, or medical incidents. Training for adventure racing taught me to have greater respect for what could happen and to be better prepared.
Training for adventure racing improved my overall strength and coordination
I used to struggle so badly with running even semi-technical trails. My comfort level and enjoyment trail running improved a lot while training for adventure racing. When mountain biking on single track trails, the roots, hills, rocks and turns come at you much quicker. I had to learn how to take the best line to avoid falling and commit to the line once I decided. Hiking with a heavy pack made me far more aware of my posture and core engagement. Finally, the paddle sports were something new for me and I had to learn effective techniques in stand-up paddle boarding, flat water kayaking, and white water kayaking. My spatial awareness and coordination improved doing all these different sports!
Although 2024 is a running focus year for me, I will definitely be returning to multisport again. It was fun, rejuvenating, and in the end – did nothing but help my running. Don’t be afraid to try something new for a few months or even a full year – you may just find new hobbies and strengths you didn’t know you had!