ESCAPING WINTER

have fun following me around during my first weeks of training camp in Dullstroom, South Africa. part two will be uploaded shortly!
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Bob's Instagram: berte.bob?...
Vera's Instagram: / vera.hoffmann1500

[@smilligan]

Love the video! So cool to see! Will there be a part 2?

[@dokutaaguriin]

Such a beautiful country! So lucky to be training there

[@VeraAndBob]

yes, so beautiful! hopefully will be going back!

[@pranaykumar5478]

Nice video

[@VeraAndBob]

thanks!

[@FrederickFongTW]

lovely video! Can i ask if there are any safety issues at Dullstroom? Read that Johanesberg can be "rough". And Lastly, I believe there is only an outdoor 400m track (grassed) right? Planning for either Dullstroom or Flagstaff (Doing some research).

[@VeraAndBob]

hey! we didn't have any safety issues although there are warnings by the locals to not go to certain areas/be outside when it's dark/... I've never been to Johannesburg, only landed there and "immediately" left by car to drive to Dullstroom. there's indeed a 400m grass track around 25mins from Dullstroom, and a 400m track around 2hrs drive from Dullstroom. from the running routes/facilities/life around sports, I'd say I prefer Flagstaff. Dullstroom is great because for us, there's almost no time change and if we go there during our winter, it will be good weather. and it is much cheaper than Flagstaff.

[@laurenmillyx]

It would be interesting to know how many miles/cross training hours you do? Does it change with camp?

[@VeraAndBob]

in the build-up I do around 115km/week, with no crosstraining sessions. I double with running on Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursdays. So during the camp, I just added two cross training sessions to put in more work but still do the same amount of mileage. I'm planning to go up in total volume over the next years but I have been doing maximum 90km/week for the past two years so we're slowly increasing mileage.

[@laurenmillyx]

@@VeraAndBob Wow that’s impressive! Is the cross training just easy effort/HR based? Does this reduce during the competition season? Sorry for all the questions!

[@VeraAndBob]

@@laurenmillyx exactly. It was HR based but just so it really is easy (staying below 135bpm). Yes the overall volume reduces by quite a bit during the racing season. No worries, ask away :)

[@laurenmillyx]

Were there any specific nutrition or body composition things you focussed on during the camp?

[@VeraAndBob]

no, just eating enough (and I incorporated a few times a "sugar drink" like Sprite after a session when it was really warm)

[@laurenmillyx]

@@VeraAndBob ah okay! Doe you find that you needed to eat more with the altitude and/or more training? Did you try any South African foods? (I was born there!)

[@VeraAndBob]

@@laurenmillyx yes I definitely do feel that way :) no unfortunately not really … Oh nice! I really enjoyed my stay there, such a beautiful country :)

[@laurenmillyx]

@@VeraAndBob ahah maybe you will have to try some bobotie or koeksisters next time! I would love another video on what you usually eat on a training day/rest day? And maybe another one you and Bob chatting about your nutrition approach! I just find it a really interesting topic! Best of luck on your season- I’ve been following along with all your races and you are smashing it!

[@VeraAndBob]

@@laurenmillyx yes if I go back I will definitely try some local food! I can do such a video and will see if Bob wants to say something about it;) Thanks a lot!

[@laurenmillyx]

Did you feel safe running out there alone?

[@VeraAndBob]

yes, totally!

[@laurenmillyx]

@@VeraAndBob do you recommend any other altitude training locations? (Anywhere in the world!)

[@VeraAndBob]

@@laurenmillyx my favorite place to train at is Flagstaff (USA). Amazing trails, good gym, nice coffee shops and just overall a good place to train and live :)

[@laurenmillyx]

@@VeraAndBob do you recommend any cheap but also nice places to stay there?