Travel Day Over-Distance

Two years ago, my coach John Callahan and I came up with a strategy to help me sleep while travelling: do long over-distance sessions (over-distance sessions, called ODs, are any session longer than the length of my longest race, about 2.5 hours) the day of or day before travel. When I do these sessions, I have to be careful not to get too dehydrated and to eat well because it is hard to replenish in an airplane. I have never heard of anybody else doing this, but I believe it has helped me handle travel and be ready to train or race when I arrive at my destination.

Today I am flying to New Zealand. I departed Salt Lake at 5:10P.M. Before I left I did a 5 hour, 100 mile bike ride around the Oquirrh Mountains. It was a fun, new loop for me, but it was hot. When I came through Tooele, with about 45 minutes to go, one of the digital thermometers read 90 degrees Fahrenheit. And parts of the route were long, straight, and lonely:

There were some nice views of the Great Salt Lake (in the distance):

I am currently in the Phoenix, Arizona airport. From here I fly to Los Angeles, then Aukland, then Queenstown, before driving to the Snow Farm. It’s going to be a long day.