Posted: May 1, 2005

Science of Sport: What Should A Running Camp Be Like?

By Owen Anderson, Ph. D. (copyright © 2003-2005)

About 10 years ago, I attended what appeared to be a very nice summer running camp in a lush, mountainous area of New England. The camp was well-attended, and a large crowd gathered together on the first night to get the low-down on the week ahead. Unfortunately, we were shocked at what we heard: In his opening remarks, one of the camp directors informed all of us that he was just then in the final stages of recovery from a bad case of Lyme disease which he had picked up on the camp trails the previous summer!

Since then, I have attended many other camps and have even coordinated a few camps of my own. Gradually, I have accumulated a list of “dos” and “don’ts” for summer running camps, and I would like to share that catalog of positives and problems with you.

Of course, it is only natural to avoid camps at which the owner informs you of the serious illness he has contracted at the camp. It’s true that candor is an admirable quality, especially in this day and age, but such disclosures take a bit of zest out of the overall camp experience and also create doubts about the camp-owner’s sanity and business sense.

It is also a good idea to eschew camps at which attendees are divided into castes, with the really cool, fast people at the top, the A-G competitors in the middle, and those horrid, just-trying-to-get-fit folks at the bottom. As incredible as it might seem to some camp directors, running camp is a place for relaxation and the building of self-esteem, not for anxiety about one’s running ability, de-motivation, and the destruction of the psyche. Research tells us that the individual completing the 10K in 58 minutes is operating at about 90 percent of his/her VO2max, almost the same relative intensity achieved by the 29-minute 10Ker. When you’re at camp, you shouldn’t feel like you have to try to keep up with the fastest runner in attendance, especially since you may be able to maintain a particular race intensity twice as long as he/she does. You should feel truly comfortable at all times.

What I’m trying to say is that it is really important to find a camp director who really values you and what you do. Runners are truly gifts to the entire world, demonstrators of courage, fitness, and never-give-up attitudes, and a camp director should be able to work easily and comfortably with you to strengthen your running in very specific ways, regardless of your marathon PR.

It also seems wise to stay away from camps at which particular products are shoved in your face. You have paid for your camp, so why should you waste time hearing about a particular brand of shoes or a specific type of heart monitor? It’s really nice, instead, to sit back and get objective information about the enormous array of products available to runners these days.

Of course, it’s best to stay away from camps which place mosquito repellant at the top of the list of the things to bring to camp. In addition, it is good to avoid camps at which you will be housed in dormitory rooms which remind you of scenes from Spartacus (always ask the camp director for detailed information about lodging; he/she should be able to provide you with pictures of the rooms in which campers stay).

Naturally, it’s best to attend a camp which features great weather. You don’t want to be holed up in a dorm room for two days because of heavy rain, nor do you want to carry out your runs under hot, sticky conditions. You would like to wake up in the morning to cool, fresh air, ride up into the mountains for a workout on shaded, soft trails, and spend your days relaxing under sunny skies with temperatures in the 70s. It’s also wonderful to have variety – the opportunity to train on the beach, on great trails, or on a well-maintained track.

Camp food should be varied and tasty, and the eating area should be extremely pleasant. Views of the Pacific Ocean from the cafeteria window (or outdoor terrace) work far better than glimpses of stark walls graced with nouveau-motel paintings.

Very importantly, camp should be fun (that’s a hard rule!). Workouts conducted at camp should not be muscle-macerating affairs but rather demonstrations of how to do things properly. The camp director should have a strong sense of humor and be comfortable with people. There should be breaks during the day, opportunities to explore the surrounding area, do a bit of shopping, or just rest. And of course there should be “nights out on the town” – trips to cool locales to sample the local cuisine and to enjoy the sights with your fellow campers.

Naturally, camps should be educational, too. You should learn the difference between VO2max and vVO2max, find out how to improve your running economy, and even discover how to carry out those crazy plyometric drills you have been reading about. You should be able to work closely with your camp director, telling him/her what you have been doing with your training and receiving – in return - some great ideas for improving your workouts. Without question, you should leave the camp with a firm conception of how you will put together your training in the future.

If the camp is a good one, you will also leave the camp with new friends, great people that you would not have met if you had not taken the plunge and gone to camp. To get a sense of the kinds of people who attend a particular camp, ask the director for some references before you sign on the dotted line. He/she should quickly provide a list of e-mail addresses of people who have attended his/her camp in the past. Those attendees will give you the inside scoop on what really happens at camp, and you will develop firm feelings about whether the campers are congenial and whether the camp itself is the right one for you. ©

Owen Anderson is the director of the Malibu Running Camp at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. For information about his camp, please go to www.runningresearchnews.com.

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