s2/e07 Winning Dopey & Training for Multi-Race Events with Brittany Charboneau (@funnyrunner26.2)

Mental Prep

Brittany Charboneau's mental preparation was crucial for her success in the Dopey Challenge. She emphasizes the importance of mental resilience, noting that during the marathon, she had to rely heavily on her mental toolkit developed through training. Brittany shares, "I had done all that training. I trusted it from my training that I felt like I was able to really pull from that in the marathon" 1. Living in the present was another key strategy, as she focused on each race individually rather than the entire weekend, helping her manage the pressure and stay grounded 2.

   

Physical Training

Brittany's physical training for the Dopey Challenge was meticulously structured to handle the demands of multi-race events. Her experience with trail marathons, which require running on tired legs, seamlessly transitioned into her Dopey training, preparing her for the physical and mental endurance needed 3. She highlights the importance of building on past fitness, likening it to stacking Lego blocks, where each training cycle adds to the foundation rather than starting from scratch 4. Brittany notes, "Your fitness is always building on what you've done previously" 4.

   

Race Strategy

On race days, Brittany Charboneau employed a combination of pacing and effort strategies to manage her performance. She set pace ranges to avoid overexertion, allowing her to adjust based on how she felt during each race 5. Recovery was equally important, with a focus on refueling immediately after races and keeping her body moving to aid recovery. Brittany shares, "My number one thing that I did that was consistent after every race was just getting my refueling in" 6. These strategies helped her maintain energy and focus throughout the demanding Dopey Challenge.