Postcard Tips from Camp Marafiki (Read 299 times)

stadjak

Interval Junkie --Nobby

posted: 8/13/2012 at 12:11 PM
modified: 8/13/2012 at 1:29 PM

Two of the sub-3s I train with went to Marafiki Running Camp. It's a week-long Kenyan running camp in New Mexico. They enjoyed the hell out of it and came back with some interesting tid-bits:

The Kenyans don't count miles. They don't wear GPS. They run on time and pace (which might be perceived effort -- unclear).
Q: What do you guys (elite Kenyans at the camp) drink on long runs? A: We don't. [Out there for 2hrs and they don't even drink water.]
Pace of recovery runs? SLOW. 16:00 to 8:00.
They do two/three hard workouts a week and KILL IT, but the rest of the stuff is all easy (see above).
The rhythm of life? Wake, run, eat, nap, run, eat, sleep repeat.

My sub-3 (2:45 & 3:01, actually) training buddies were by far the slowest at the camp. They had a great time.

MTA: "Kenyans don't count miles" missed the negative.

2013 Goals: 18:49 5K • 1:25 HM • sub-3 Marathon • run lots of races

Current Status 5/13: challenging my Achilles issue -- building some base

srlopez

Eye of Sauron

posted: 8/13/2012 at 1:21 PM
modified: 8/13/2012 at 1:58 PM

If they convert time to miles, then they must be doing that based on perceived effort. Unless they had a map or something.

I am not surprised they don't drink. Or not much. That's the old school "duh" that got munched by the "drink before you are thirsty" crowd and the sportsdrink companies. See: Waterlogged.

I am totally not surprised that recovery runs are slow.

I am totally not surprised that they do a bit of fast running within a shit ton of easy running.

WOOHOO! Sounds like a super fun camp. Plus New Mexico is pretty.

And once again Mr. Wizard (aka: Stevie Ray) explains the internet.