Brandon Yonke Always Finds His Way Back To the Trails

Brandon Yonke is on the show today for round two.

A lot has happened in the 4 years since we last spoke.

I’m looking forward to going a few easy miles with Brandon today.

Brandon Yonke

More Than “Just” a Runner

For Brandon, running has always been just as much about his surroundings as it is about the sport itself.

Shortly after graduating from college, Bradon moved from Michigan to Colorado.

Colorado is the mecca of all things outdoors and has no shortage of trails to explore.

Brandon dove even deeper into ultra running and set his eyes on some big goals.

A year ago while training for a big traverse across the Rocky Mountains, Brandon had a misstep that would set him back.

During his training run, Brandon broke his foot and was sidelined from running for 14 weeks.

This injury forced Brandon to admit that he was more than “just” a runner.

Even if not able to run, Brandon found other ways to mentally stay engaged and positive.

Patience Required

Brandon learned firsthand how much patience is required when recovering from an injury.

The healing couldn’t be rushed and he had to learn to trust in the process.

Taking a forced break from running was a way for Brandon to explore other activities.

Brandon found that he actually enjoyed biking and could keep some of his aerobic base while injured.

When Brandon was cleared to run again, he only had about 6 weeks before his next big race.

He readjusted his goals and came up with a strategy to be successful.

Heat Training

Brandon has learned a lot over the years in how to prepare for running races in the heat.

The process of acclimating to the heat is a delicate process and must be approached with patience.

Heat training stresses the body on multiple levels.

Brandon recommended never doing heat training on the same day as a long run or when working on speed.

The added stress from the workouts along with the heat training would be too much on the body.

Some tips that Brandon recommends to his athletes when preparing to race in the heat are:

• Sleep cool. Sleeping in a cool environment will aid in the recovery process.
• Electrolytes should be replaced following the run.
• Focus on getting quality nutrients from food to replenish the body and aid in recovery.
• Drink more during a hot run then you think you should.
• Pre-hydrate before the run.

Layering clothes can also help with heat acclimation.

Brandon suggests starting with a long sleeve shirt on a hot day and adding another layer each week.

Brandon Yonke running the trails

Coaching

Brandon has always been passionate about running and he recently decided to take the steps to become a coach.

He is a USATF and Lydiard certified coach.

Brandon is motivated by his athletes and enjoys helping them to achieve their goals.

He has been coaching for 2 years and has learned quite a bit along the way.

When preparing an athlete for a race, Brandon strategically works on each system of the body.

Brandon always includes downhill training which can sometimes be overlooked.

He enjoys working with all athletes but really connects with the trail and ultra runners.

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Run Infinite
• Brandon Yonke Has a Bright Future in Ultra Running (Round 1)
• Black Canyon Ultras
• Pfiffner Traverse (CO
• Wasatch100

Stay connected with Brandon Yonke by checking out his Blog and following him on Instagram.

Brandon Yonke is on the show again for round two. Since our last chat, he has come back from injury and is now helping others achieve their goals. Click To Tweet

As Always, I’d Love to Know What Stood Out to You From this Episode! Let Me Know Your Takeaway in the Comments Below!

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