What Are You Training For?
Half Dead but Never More Alive with Jill Jamieson
The Why
“The truth is that your body can endure a lot. Your mind makes you believe you’re weak. I don’t think I could have done this challenge at 20. My mental game wasn’t there. If you don’t stretch yourself, you’ll never know how far you can reach. I don’t care about how much I can bench press. I’m interested in how I can grow as a human being.” - Jill Jamieson
If you’re not using your fitness outside the gym, what’s the point?
Spending all that time in the gym and not using your fitness is like learning a new language but never speaking it.
You weren’t meant to be a spectator or a mannequin. You’re here to participate in life, and your fitness shouldn’t stop you from doing that.
Want to swim the route Edmond Dantes swam in the Count of Monte Cristo? Right on. There’s a swim for that.
Have you ever wanted to run around a volcano? Perfect. The Volcano Marathon in Pucón, Chile, is for you.
Is Sweden on your bucket list? The King’s Trail is Sweden’s longest and most famous hiking trail.
Are you a cyclist who dreams about tackling the Tour de France? Hell yea. Le Loop can make that happen.
There are dozens of once-in-a-lifetime experiences out there. “You have to get off your couch and out of your comfort zone to experience these things,” though, says Jill Jamieson.
Exploring the edges of her capacity is why Jill does what she does. For her, movement is life. She’s run through temples in Myanmar. She ran a marathon in Antarctica. And she’s one of the few athletes to complete the World Marathon Challenge.
The World Marathon Challenge is simple. Athletes must run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents.
The first marathon is in Novo, Antarctica. Runners then jump to Cape Town, South Africa. Afterward, they head to Perth, Australia, onward to Dubai and then Madrid. Athletes leave Europe and head straight to Fortaleza, Brazil, before ending their adventure in Miami, Florida.
Physical exhaustion aside, athletes must contend with the mental ramifications of jetlag, sleep deprivation, and airplane food. Participants run 183 miles over seven days and spend about 68 hours in the air.
“There were 35 runners the year I did the Challenge,” says Jill. “You have elite runners, and then you have folks who have never run a marathon. There were two wheelchair athletes. Dan Little did it at 80 years old. When you do these extreme events, everyone has their reason or their why.”
For Jill, that reason was her father. In 2010, her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Jill ran before her father’s diagnosis but leaned into the activity as a way to cope.
Running gave her a way to exert some level of control over an otherwise helpless situation. So, she started doing marathons to raise awareness and money for the Alzheimer’s Association.
Running is a way for Jill to honor her father’s memory. But it will always be a personal endeavor.
Every time Jill runs, there’s a conversation going on inside her head. On one side is a voice encouraging her to take one more step. On the other, a voice pleading with her to stop.
The real victory is not in crossing the finish line. It’s in choosing to listen to the soft voice in her head that says, “You can do this.”
“The truth is that your body can endure a lot. Your mind makes you believe you’re weak. I don’t think I could have done this challenge at 20. My mental game wasn’t there,” says Jill, laughing. “If you don’t stretch yourself, you’ll never know how far you can reach. I don’t care about how much I can bench press. I’m interested in how I can grow as a human being.”
Jill finished the World Marathon Challenge at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 - the same day as her father’s birthday.
The Training
Swimming a mile may seem insane to you. But climbing 5,280 feet sounds fun. The thought of running for pleasure could be a foreign concept. But banging out 100 miles on a bike is a no-brainer.
You may think spending a few hours at the gym is a waste of time. But you wouldn't hesitate to go for an all-day hike.
There are dozens of experiences out there. Find something that interests you, set a goal, find a community, and have fun.
Jill’s training philosophy
“Fitness is part of my persona. I can’t separate it from who I am. But fitness doesn’t always have to be this fight. Enjoy it. Cultivate it. Allow it to be part of your life. Training should be joyful. There’s so much joy in seeing how far you can go.”
It’s a consistency thing
Maintaining a baseline level of fitness through regular workouts is important. You can adapt your training to whatever challenge you’re pursuing.
Jill follows a consistent fitness regime. She wakes up at four a.m. and does a HIIT workout. Afterward, she’ll run four to six miles and then jump in the pool for a swim.
When Jill was preparing for the World Marathon Challenge, she hovered around 70 miles a week. So, she’d mix in marathons and other ultras to keep her routine from becoming stagnant.
Pro tip
Train the mind. And when in doubt, “just put one foot in front of the other,” says Jill.
The Food
When you think of training, you think of the physical. The physical piece is the fun stuff. You’re moving weight. You’re outside. You’re sweating. It’s enjoyable. It feels good to move your body.
But other aspects need training, like your stomach. Focusing on nutrition during your long run days will set you up for success on race day.
Jill likes to say she has a “weak stomach but a strong will.” So, she must be careful what she consumes before, during, and after a race.
Before
Jill prefers natural food before and during a long race.
Watermelon, bananas, and crackers are her go-to's.
During
Occasionally, she’ll opt for energy chews from Skratch Labs.
She’ll eat these sporadically, though. If you’ve never tried an energy chew or gel, it’s best to experiment before race day.
After
To replenish her electrolytes, Jill prefers Propel.
The Gear
Jill’s gear kit
Jill’s approach to gear
“I’m a minimalist when it comes to gear. When I first started running, I was more into it. But I prioritize shoes. I had to bring 5 pairs for the World Marathon Challenge. Your feet swell when you run that far, plus you’re on a plane.”
The Advice
Jill, on finding inspiration:
“When I’m doing these challenges, I focus on everyone around me. You can see in their faces who is overcoming something. I take inspiration from that. During the World Marathon Challenge, we felt half dead but never more alive.”
My $0.02
Saying you’re “training” for something can feel awkward.
But pursuing a physical challenge shouldn’t stop once you’re done playing sports. It isn’t reserved for the professional or the elite, either.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue a better version of themselves.
Whether that’s an open water swim, a thru-hike, a bike race, or a trail run, doesn’t matter.
There are dozens of experiences out there waiting for you.