FEATURE: FOR THE LOVE OF RUNNING really struggle— whether it was digesting It’s quite funny watching me travel. I do food or getting the right amount of sleep. not sleep on planes and I have accepted Because most of the time you arrive, you that. If you have to sit next to me on the still need to train. plane it’s going to be awful for you. I make sure I get an aisle seat, and I’m wearing It’s about finding the right balance; what’s my awful compression pants and socks. the right amount of training, what’s the I generally have this huge over-jacket right amount of food—eating enough with a hood as I’m terrified of getting fibre so you are regular once you arrive. sick while travelling. I also have all my It’s all those little things, especially if you hydration going on: I use a large amount Instagram @brittsheruns are traveling for 24 to 30 hours. It’s those of pawpaw, I learnt this from Hannah things you didn’t necessarily think about England [1500m silver medallist] at the when you were younger. When we went world championships and she’s a really to world juniors, we didn’t think about good friend of mine. Basically, you put those things— we were kids, we were pawpaw cream or Vaseline around your young and excited— you just arrive and nose and mouth to prevent anything from you just get on with it. But when you get getting in, so yeah, I’m a freak. I’m always older, you start thinking about it a lot walking around, stretching and usually in more and your body starts to react a lot my stop-over I will go for a walk, go to differently. the gym, have a shower and try to feel as fresh as possible. Even on the plane, Eventually, I found that I would race lot I will try and have a mini shower in better two weeks after arriving, but you the bathroom. I think that’s the most would always have to get your first race important thing: if you feel fresh, you will out. I never got it quite right in terms of generally walk off better. I have never that first week, but I think just knowing walked onto a plane with just one bag, that first week is going to be hard, and I have about 7 bags stuffed into this that your first race is going to hard, then massive coat. James is thoroughly it’s just about making sure you don’t over embarrassed whenever we travel. train and push it too hard. Even with short travel from Sydney to Perth, I found that THERE ARE A LOT OF STUDIESInstagram @brittsheruns the three-hour time difference was ON ATHLETES AND TRAVEL difficult. Throwing in a nap during the day HABITS— FROM RESPIRATION water that you’re swimming in water can help you get through it. MASKS, EYEWEAR TO to stay hydrated, but there is still that COMPRESSION GARMENTS. chance that you’ll arrive dehydrated. BRIT, WHAT TECHNIQUES DO HAVE YOU EVER UTILISED We haven’t really tried a lot. We travel YOU USE FOR TRAVELING? THESE? with recovery boots and throw those on between flights, but getting up and BM: When I first started travelling, I was JK:It’s quite funny, in 2016 we had a walking around for 20 minutes could shocking. When I got on the plane for my couple of athletes come over to Cologne do the same as sitting there with the first international race in 2014, it was just with those oxygen masks to prevent them boots on. awful. I think it’s only something that getting sick on the flights and after all comes with experience. Every time that that, they were the only ones to get sick. JAMES, WHAT ARE YOUR you do it, you get a little bit better and I don’t think there is a right or wrong way. GOALS FOR THIS YEAR AS you can learn from other athletes, see You could do whatever you want, but THE COACH FOR BRITTANY? what other people are doing and can there is always that chance you will be come up with your own plan. exposed to something. Travel is just one JK: I would love to see Brittany make the of those things. You could drink so much Commonwealth Games and get through VOLUME 36 • APRIL ISSUE 2018 11 oaliahciv/kcotsknihT