Isaac Gardner embodies coastal fitness
Isaac Gardner is a distance runner and one of the founding athletes in Perspect's P1 programme. Ahead of the BPN Go One More Ultra - a backyard ultramarathon held at Bare Ranch, Texas, where runners complete a 4.2-mile loop every hour until only one is left standing - Isaac spent two weeks training on the coast of Hawaii.
Discover our short conversation with him about the training and upcoming event.
You chose Hawaii to train for a backyard ultra in Texas. How does a place like that shape the way you prepare?
"Any direction you go, especially near where I was staying, is either a steep climb or a steep descent. Great for building muscular endurance. Not to mention getting used to the heat and humidity."
The Go One More Ultra has no finish line and no target time. You run a loop every hour until everyone else has stopped. How do you prepare for something like that?
"You can't truly be fully prepared, but there are a few things I've kept in mind. Physical fitness has to be high - large volume weeks are essential. But the mental side is huge. Training in bad conditions, especially when I don't want to. Long overnight runs - dark, cold, alone, no music. And nutrition. Learning what my body needs to sustain an effort like this."
Walk us through a typical day out there.
"A little out of the norm of daily life. Up early before my wife would wake up. Log my miles - routes changing depending on the type of stimulus I'm looking for. Hydrate immensely. Protein and carbs roughly thirty minutes to an hour post-workout to refuel. Then beach and sunshine. Surfing and snorkelling are usually the go-tos."
A moment from the trip that stayed with you - outside of running.
"Many beach days and wildlife encounters with sea turtles and memories with my wife and family. One day after a long run I stopped at a local market and bought a handful of mangos. Perfectly ripe. A juicy mango hits different post long run."
You spent two weeks training, what products were picked out the draw most often?
"Basically the same thing every day - the mesh Ventura shirt and the Core Shorts. Material is everything, and in Hawaii you sweat a lot and it rains a lot, so having something that could perform is essential. I never chafed once."
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Quickfire Questions
Favourite Perspect product?
"The Core Shorts. Particularly in Emerald."
Running with music - yes or no?
"No. Maybe a podcast or audiobook. But there's something about the tranquility of no added noise."
Pre-run meal or post-run meal?
"Both are important, but I definitely look forward to a smoothie post-run."
Worst running habit you'll never fix?
"Stretching is basically non-existent in my routine."
If you weren't running the ultra, where would you be on April 10th?
Isaac Gardner: Most likely logging some miles in the mountains of Idaho, training for a different event.