Van Life!

Alexa Hasman, Owner and Coach at Fit Life and Gorgeous Guru

What you should do and not do when living the #vanlife during a relay race.
If you have never done a relay race, spending 12-36 hours in a van with 5 other smelly, sweaty people can be the most intimidating and stressful part of the race. After years of relay race experience and as a running coach I am here to breakdown how to survive, thrive and run well while experiencing the relay race van life.

Food, Drinks and Gear:
You are going into a relay race and you are sharing one space among 6 people and a ton of running gear, clothes, shoes, blankets, pillows and food. Van space is small, in case you haven’t experienced it, and precious. 

My biggest tip for how to make sure you don’t over pack your van and end up sitting with mountains of gear surrounding you is to create a list of must-haves and have your team members sign up for what they want to bring. I make the list and post it in a team facebook group and everyone comments with what they want to bring and with anything extra and special they want to include (beef jerky is a popular add-on for my teams). Below I have an example list of items for you to get an idea from. Doing this ensures that you don’t end up with 65 bananas and 17 tubes of icy hot. 

Food:
Bananas
Muffins                   
Potato Chips
Fruit
Pasta Salad
Rice Balls
Granola Bars
PB & J’s
​

Gear:
Headlamps
Reflective Vests
Flashers
KT Tape
Icy Hot
Tiger Tail or massage tool
Wipes
Squirrel Nut Butter or Body Glide

Being A Good Van Mate:
Spending that much time with 5 other people when you are exhausted, sore and gross feeling can test your emotions. That is why it is very important to remember these things to make sure the relay is fun and everyone gets along.

1. Get out the van and help your runners get ready and cheer your other runner in.  Not only is this just the nice thing to do, but it also gets you moving around and keeping your muscles from locking up. But mostly, your teammates will appreciate it.
2. If you are feeling gassy, let your teammates know and if appropriate and available, leave the van to relieve yourself. No one wants to sit in extra stench.
3. Be kind. When you are tired, little things can get on your last nerve. Remember that everyone in the van is tired and everyone is doing their best job to be a great teammate. Kind words and actions go a long way to making the experience enjoyable.
4. Keep your space relatively in order. This just makes it easier as you are all swapping seats and looking for your long lost left shoe that things are easy to find and people have room to sit. 
5. Have fun!!!! Just enjoy your time! No one is winning Olympic medals here. Have fun and laugh at all the gross and weird things you experience together in the van. I can promise you will walk away knowing each other MUCH better!

 
Staying Healthy and Running Happy:
Being in a van after you just ran your heart out can be a sweaty and crampy experience. Knowing that you have to do it again in a few hours can be daunting as your legs tighten up and you feel muscles you didn’t even know existed. Being successful in relay racing means keeping your body healthy as you sit in the van. Here are my top tips for keeping your body functioning and working well.

1. Use a tiger tail or massage stick to roll out your muscles post-run as your van drives to the next exchange.
2. Every exchange get out, walk around and stretch.
3. Bring different shoes and socks to change into or even better, wear sandals between runs to let your feet air out.
4. Put your feet up when you can and when socially appropriate in the van.
5. Move and get your glutes and core activated before you run. Sitting directly prior to your run and hoping out just in time to run won’t do your body any favors. 

 
Relay running is an adventure with so many fun times and memories to be made. Remember to cherish this time and your ability to do this with all your awesome van mates. Have fun and happy relaying! 

If you need anyone one-on-one advice or want to train with our awesome groups, reach out to us at www.thefitlifepdx.com