First Day At The Summer Training Camp

Can you guess I am really excited for my second ever running training camp happening right now? :) My first was this spring in Portugal and it was a great experience! I wanted to go out with the same group at first again to get ready for the Chicago Marathon I will run on October 12. But then I had the idea that altitude training might be beneficial, like seriously, every elite athlete out there is going to altitude! I have never done it - except for feeling crazy out of breath when I go running when we are at skiing holidays. I did little search and decided for Alpe di Siusi, because it is high enough (1 800 m above sea level) and it is not as far as Livigno and not as expensive as Switzerland :)

First realization before I left - checked the forecast ... it will be "little" colder at 1 800 m :D So I needed to pack little more gear, also given the 13 days of at least 2 phase trainings...

That is not even everything!

Can you see I am excited? I love driving my car and haven't gone far and fun for some time :)

Beautiful view on the "Schlern" ... the dominant of Alto Adige :)

Really beautiful ... little did I know that it was first day of nice weather since really long time ago.

I am staying in an apartment with a little kitchen that belongs to a hotel and I do have half board and also spa access included. Call this heaven! :)  Nutrition / workout plan is: fasted morning easy run, nice filling healthy breakfast (it's buffet), rest & little computer work, nap, little meal, afternoon run (usually harder session), refuel a little (hello Generation UCAN!), spa, enjoy dinner with occasional glass of wine (max 1.5 glass).

And then it was morning ... I went to bed at midnight, but was widely awake at 6 am, so I decided not to push myself to sleep more, especially since I can nap during the day :) Did little morning yoga, my pre-running activation exercise and before 7 am I was out there running ... cannot describe how beautiful and amazing that felt. I am very grateful I can be here and really enjoy it! Even though breathing and hills are little tough :)

I just like the decor of the bath room and the fact that it has been recently renovated.

Well, runner needs proper nutrition / supplementation, gear etc. :D As I drove by car I really took everything I need :) Even my 12 kg kettle bell!

Tiger colorful Nike Pro action :)

And great chillax after the second run today. 4x 2 km at harder effort followed by 10 x 60 m uphill strides... and espresso with a view!

Do you dedicate your holidays to running or do you take it as time off running?