TRAVELING BY BETHANY STRIPP


There’s no shortage of endurance events in the Chicago area. From triathlons to marathons, there’s something available for any athlete that enjoys pushing the limits of what his or her body can handle. Chicago- land isn’t the only place to fi nd endurance sports, though. With the right kind of preparation, your endurance sport career can take you across the country and world.


PLANNING As with any endurance event, the key to success lies in preparation. Kathy Loper, who runs travel event company “Kathy Loper Events,” sug- gests that you begin the process early.


“We want to make people aware of events a year ahead of time,” Loper says.


Jennifer Harrison, a triathlon coach in Chicago who has participated in endurance events in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, notes that events often close soon after opening, which also makes early registra- tion important.


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“The Ironman Arizona is in November,” Harrison says. “Registration for the next year opens the day after the race and usually closes within hours.”


Getting an early start on the planning process also gives you ample time to conduct research on the location. Knowing what type of food is avail- able in the country is particularly important. While it’s likely that you’ll be able to make the local fare work for you, it’s helpful to know what to expect before arrival.


“All countries will have fruit and milk, just different variations,” Har- rison says. “If you’re going to Germany, Italy or another country I would do research on the food options where you’re staying. Bring the necessities with you and from there you can usually find things that will work.”


Necessities vary from athlete to athlete, but all athletes should be pre- pared to bring the food and supplements they’ve trained with to help them perform at their best level during the race.


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