Brandon Wood Braves The Elements To Experience All That Is Alaska
Brandon Wood will be joining me on the show today and it’s safe to say he knows a thing or two about running in less than ideal conditions.
Brandon was born and raised in Alaska and I’m looking forward to comparing and contrasting running up north versus down in the lower 48.
It’s a pleasure to go a few easy miles with Brandon Wood today.
Brandon Wood
The Day It Clicked
Brandon Wood was not the picture of health while growing up.
He was overweight, out of shape, and had zero interest in running or working out.
Brandon’s unhealthy lifestyle continued into adulthood.
The birth of his first child in 2010 was the day something clicked for him.
He had a reason besides himself to get healthy and active.
Brandon refused to pay for a gym which eliminated most activities except for running.
The more weight he continued to lose, the easier running got.
As he continued to increase the distance he ran, he found that he actually enjoyed running.
Far With Friends
While running a race during the winter of 2012, Brandon and a friend began throwing around the idea of a 50-mile race.
The allure of going longer took hold of Brandon and the following year he ran his first 100 miler.
As of today, Brandon has completed multiple 100-mile races.
Training hasn’t changed much between his first 100-mile race and how he currently trains.
The biggest change in finishing more ultra distances is that he has gotten stronger mentally.
The DNF’s that Brandon experienced were a mix of mental and physical challenges.
Brandon is still figuring out the balance of rest during a 100-mile race.
There are multiple trade-offs that he must consider when determining how long to rest during a race.
Alaska Native
Brandon has lived in Alaska his entire life.
Running in the cold and braving the elements is nothing new for him.
Through experience, he has learned the proper way to layer and what works for him.
Dressing too warm can be a recipe for disaster.
Being too warm can lead to sweating which could make one more prone to hypothermia.
According to Brandon, there is a fine line between being warm and too warm.
Brandon Wood
Must-Do Races
Brandon has no shortage of recommendations when it comes to races in Alaska.
The Equinox Marathon takes place in Fairbanks in September of each year.
September in Alaska is one of the most beautiful times of the year.
The race takes place on a combination of roads and trails and includes a fair amount of elevation.
The Lost Lake Run is another race that Brandon highly recommends.
It is a 16-mile race that covers some of the most scenic areas around.
The locals in Alaska take great pride in the races and welcome all runners.
24 Hour Race
Brandon’s next challenge that is quickly approaching is a 24-hour race.
He has done a 24-hour race format before and enjoys the mental and physical challenges.
This particular one is a 4-mile loop and he will run as many loops as he can in the allotted time.
Looped courses that are timed are a fun low-pressure environment for individuals to explore going longer.
The participants and crew typically camp if spending the night and it’s one big trail running party according to Brandon.
Brandon enjoys encouraging other runners to venture to Alaska for running, exploring, and all that the state has to offer.
There are several misconceptions about Alaska and the people there and Brandon loves to debunk the myths.
Mentioned In This Episode:
Stay connected with Brandon by checking out his Blog and/or following him on Instagram and Twitter.
Brandon Wood is an ultra runner that isn't afraid of a little cold and ice or even a LOT of it! He has plenty of reasons why everyone should visit Alaska and all that it has to offer. Click To Tweet
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