Running in Mauritius
How to get involved with the running community if you have never been a fan of running? You can start by discovering great places to run in Mauritius.
Hopefully, this will get you motivated. So put one foot in front of the other and chase your dreams.
Trail and road running in Mauritius have become quite a tradition when it comes to choosing a healthy living lifestyle. This growing community has lifted social and demographic barriers, enabling anyone to join for the experience.
There are events and social gatherings every weekend that enable friends to meet and interact while taking in the beautiful landscape that Mauritius has to offer.
Approximately 20 major trail and marathon events are held in Mauritius throughout the year so if you are planning a holiday around your next running adventure, you can be sure to secure something special to add to your trip. For the local enthusiast or beginner, there is definitely no lack of options in this activity.
GETTING OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Although there are not many designated running zones in Mauritius it has not stopped the thousands of enthusiasts to get out and keep fit.
Running in Mauritius is, for the most part, a very safe sport and one can generally find isolated roads and tracks to go out for a good run. If you are running on the roads in busy areas, be especially careful of busses.
The roads can be narrow at times. Running against the traffic can make it easier to give way if ever you need to. If you are living or staying in the North, Mont Choisy public beach is a nice place to run in the morning. The beach is about 1.8 km long with access to swimming the full distance.
Ideal for a swim/run workout. Not recommended on weekends as its too busy. The east coast is also a nice place to run. There is approximately 14km of beach access along the Eastcoast from Belle Mare to Trou D’eau Douce with stunning views of beautiful hotels and picturesque seascapes.
TESTING THE LOCAL TRACKS
Freaking out about the roads! It’s ok there are plenty of alternate solutions for trail running.
In the last ten years, Mauritius has not only developed a positive awareness of healthy living in communities. But it has successfully drawn crowds of local and international athletes to its now-famous starting lines.
There is a trail league all year round with a nice diversity of distances for every event. Runners from all levels and ages can participate in these short stages averaging from 10km to 35km. Races are held mainly on the weekends.
Most of the training for trail runners occurs in the Black River Gorges on the west coast. There are a few scenic hills around the capital city “Port Louis” as well as in the highlands like Floreal and Curepipe.
If you want to get out of town and off the beaten track. I would definitely recommend going down south for your next weekend run. Discovering Le Morne by foot has become a popular activity. So if you do find yourself down there and the tracks are busy, remember to be patient and safe.
PREPARING FOR THAT
SPECIAL DAY
Do you remember your first event?
Race preparation is not a one size fits all solution. There are a number of factors that define how someone will need to prepare.
Your race preparation will depend on your current fitness at the time of registration as well as the level of difficulty your event will be. This can be associated with distance requiring endurance or sprints which require more active cardio.
Whether you have just signed up for local school fun run or you are trying to smash your marathon PB. It is advised to have a plan that can be easily followed. Using specific guidelines will help you monitor how you are training and monitor the progress you are making. A good general tip is to work back from the event day so that you can plan your training days to match the effort you will need to put in for the event. Without having to
Race preparation can only really work when you give yourself enough time to train. Put together a shortlist of your strengths and weaknesses. This will help you to decide how you are going to break up your training sessions to ensure you have enough practice. Some examples could be.
- To Loose a few extra kilos.
- Build a physical base for something more challenging.
- Simply get back into shape.
- Work on beating a personal best.
- Maybe just finishing without injuries is your priority.
Nutrition, hydration, and muscle development are the key elements to consider while you prepare for any event. If you are unsure of where to start we recommend seeking professional advise from either a coach or your personal doctor before embarking on any major challenges.
GET SOME REST
Rest and sleep are essential to your pre-race preparations.
Try to get a good night’s sleep 2 days before your event. You might need to be up early on race day, and traveling to the destination may require you to be wake earlier than your general habits. You want to avoid getting to the start line feeling like you would rather crawl back into bed.
START CARBO LOADING
You want to be paying closer attention to your nutritional habits 2 to 3 days before any major event, especially if you are undergoing a race longer than 2hrs.
What you eat or drink leading up to your race day will certainly have an impact on your performance. That being said, if you are just in it for the fun, there are exceptions to the rules.
If you do want to follow some sort of nutritional guideline there are a number of options to try out. Nutrition is a personal discovery that requires some testing and patience. You might not see the results you are looking for until you have tried a particular method for a certain period of time. If you are going to Carbo load then it is worth doing some additional research into the science of its purpose. There is a fine line between overcharging your body and depriving it.
Too little and you risk hitting the wall, too much and you may experience discomfort midway through your race.
SHORT EASY WORKOUT
24hrs before your race is not the time to worry about your performance or setting new records during training.
Keep that for race day. Go easy on your body as this is the time to reflect on what you have done to be prepared. A light jog, mixed in with some stretching and warm-up techniques is a good way to avoid feeling lethargic without overextending your body. Your taper phase will also vary on the intensity and distance of your event.
PREPARE YOUR GEAR
Prior to any race or event, you want to gather all your gear and check that everything is working.
What hydration packs you will use as well as lights for early starts, shoes, nutrition
PLAN YOUR MORNING
Race morning is always a special time.
Up early, breakfast in time to digest and generally hit the road to your event. Be prepared for traffic issues, try to estimate how long it might take in the worst-case scenario. This way you are relaxed about the expected arrival time. If everything is prepared and checked the night before. Then you only have to worry about your nutrition and preparing some coffee when you wake up.
The most important item to remember on your checklist is to have fun and embrace the learning process as you become fitter and more experienced. Running isn’t for everyone and it might never be for you and that’s fine too.
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David Lagesse
