Class in Session!

​Training Tips by Brandon Stapanowich

Intro by Katie Benzel - Pikes Peak Marathon

Many of you are getting ready to run the Pikes Peak Marathon in a few weeks. Maybe even the Double: the Ascent AND the Marathon in one weekend. Crazy, right? Well, local legend Brandon Stapanowich has completed four consecutive round-trips of the mountain in a single weekend. He is an accomplished ultrarunner and as a longtime Manitou Springs resident, he knows this mountain like the back of his hand. Additionally, Brandon is co-race director for our Barr Trail Mountain Race, and as of July 14, 2021, he is a brand new father!
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So you're in for a treat: Brandon has gathered some of his time-tested training tips just for you. When he isn't working as a physical therapist at local school districts or dreaming up how to test himself next, he and his wife, Melissa, love exploring their backyard trails on the Pikes Peak massif with their dogs. Look for them in the wee hours most days crushing the Manitou Incline, or donning various costumes at races across the state to cheer on friends along the trail.

Stap Stats (aka why you should take his advice)

• 4:36 Pikes Peak Marathoner
• Competed in the Barkley Marathons
• Completed Nolan's 14 in under 60 hours
• Fastest self-supported time on Colorado Trail westbound
• 3rd place at Hurt 100
• 3rd place at Whistler Alpine Meadows 100
• 5th place at Run Rabbit Run 100
• 6th place at Hard Rock 100
• 12th place at Western States
• Invented 24 hours of the Incline: 22 ascents and descents for 44,000 feet gain/loss

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Training Tips from Brandon -
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With the passing of the longest day of the year, we are now officially in the summer season. This means that the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon are now less than 2 months away! I’m betting many of you are ramping up for the burliest parts of your training and, while I hold no running coach certifications, living and adventuring around Manitou Springs has taught me a thing or two about how to have a fulfilling experience on America’s Mountain. Below are some tips that come to mind:
 
What’s in your legs:
 
-In training, you want to simulate race conditions as closely as you can, particularly as you get closer to the event. Ideally you’ll be able to incorporate uphill running on your long runs, but don’t forget about shorter hill repeats (3-5 minutes).
 
-If you don’t have hills nearby, you may consider trying to find stadium stairs or a treadmill. If none of those are an option, get creative by including speed work which will help you recruit additional muscle fibers, an outcome that is similar to that produced by uphill running. Doing a higher intensity workout for say 5 repetitions of 3-5 minutes will make that grind up the W’s a little less tiresome.
 
-Don’t underestimate the power of a power hike. The vast majority of runners will be hiking at some point in the race, most likely above treeline. If you’ve practiced “walking with a purpose” in training, you’ll feel confident with doing it on race day. You can structure your power hike intervals just like running intervals and experiment with arm swing or placing your hands on your thighs to find a technique that suits you best.
 
  What’s in your pack:
 
-Aid stations will have fluids and calories available, but if you’re interested in shaving some minutes off your time, use aid station resources as a supplement to what you can carry.
 
-I typically aim for consuming 200 calories and 20 ounces of fluid an hour. Gels and chews can be easily consumed on the go, but for some, real food like bits of a granola bar work better. Either way, you want to be periodically sipping and snacking throughout the race rather than guzzling and gorging. 
 
-Running packs, handheld bottles, and waist packs come in a number of different varieties, each with their own pros and cons. Try different systems to see what works best for you, but whatever you choose, be sure it practice with it in training. That way, when you reach in that front left pocket, you’ll know with 100% certainty that you’ll be pulling out a gel and won’t spend any extra mental resources thinking about where it is.
 
 What’s in your head:
 
-Limit the impact of the unknowns by studying the available information regarding the course, aid stations, and weather forecast.
 
-Rehearse in your head how you’ll respond when things are going as planned or even better than planned. Then rehearse how you’ll respond when things don’t go as planned and how you’ll recover.
 
-On race day, don’t over-think. Sometimes that’s easier said than done, but if you stay present and aware of your surroundings, and how you’re feeling, you’ll be more likely to make productive decisions when needed.
  
One training workout will neither “make” or “break” the race. So as you continue to prepare, focus most on building consistent running throughout the weeks and months leading up to the race. In my eyes, the ultimate goal of racing is to have the most fun. Sometimes that means achieving a specific time or place goal, and sometimes it doesn’t. That’s up to you to define!

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