Where are some of the best places outside of the US to train considering:
- Low cost of living (rent or AirBnB cost less than $1800 per month)
- It’s safe. I don’t have to worry about getting mugged running early in the morning or off the beaten path.
- Good access to training grounds (roads, dirt roads, track, etc) for high-mileage training (120+ mpw)
- A plus would be altitude, but doesn’t need to be.
Anywhere in the world. What are some places you would recommend?
How are you going to get out of the country?
Mexico
Any others besides Mexico?
Anywhereintheworld wrote:
Any others besides Mexico?
My moms basement
Anywhereintheworld wrote:
Any others besides Mexico?
El Salvador. Great training camps. Very safe. Flight, lodging and food sponsored by US taxpayers.
If you can find a cheap way to live there, St Moritz and the Engadin Valley in Switzerland is hard to beat. Dirt roads everywhere, no car needed, altitude, sporting culture.
Ecuador
Nutcaker wrote:
If you can find a cheap way to live there, St Moritz and the Engadin Valley in Switzerland is hard to beat. Dirt roads everywhere, no car needed, altitude, sporting culture.
Just live in the woods
Sounds like someone got their self-deport orders!
Nutcaker wrote:
If you can find a cheap way to live there, St Moritz and the Engadin Valley in Switzerland is hard to beat. Dirt roads everywhere, no car needed, altitude, sporting culture.
St. Moritz in Switzerland of all cheap places.
Yemen and South Sudan are quite nice.
The Sarawat Mountains in Yemen are at elevation. Cooler temperatures due to being above 6,000ft.
The Sarawat Mountains of South Sudan offer areas at a suitable elevation for training and cooler temperatures.
Very economical living for those on a budget.
Africa
Detective P wrote:
If we're only considering altitude and weather:
I don't know about the other factors.
Assuming you're training for track or XC or roads and not trail running since you mentioned wanting to have access to a track? If so, I don't know why people are posting about places in South America that are way too high to get the right benefits from training up there. I think 6000-8000 is ideal for track and roads, but higher than that only could make sense if you're pursuing trail/ultra running training.
Flagstaff is still pretty cheap as far as mountain towns go.
Park City is great as well, closer to airport and major city, but sometimes more air pollution in SLC. More expensive than Flag but more dirt paths, I'm sure there's lots of other comparisons to be made between these two by people who know more than me.
Dullstroom South Africa seems like a great place that hasn't been mentioned? A lot of European mid-d squads go there during the winter, get summer weather, lots of dirt, safe environment, track facilities, and at 7000 ft.
For a non-altitude option I'd throw in the northeast kingdom of Vermont. Rural and safe, probably harder to find housing, but some of the best dirt roads that go on forever, a small community and culture of people serious about endurance sports (running, rowing, XC skiing at Craftsbury), and a great place to be away from distractions and focus on just training a lot. Slightly cooler than the rest of New England in the summer too.
Mexico City would be pretty cool and cheap, get altitude AND humidity training, and have plenty of facilities. I think Nick Symmonds did some training stints in or around that area? Back when Flotrack posted good content
Leuven, Belgium.
Athens, Georgia
Font Romeu. You can get a studio or one bedroom apartment for well under your budget, there's basically an unlimited number of miles to do on the trails, with plenty of choice between flat or hilly, and there's a track and a gym. And you can head over to Les Angles to use the amazing mountain view sauna for your heat training. Plus good air quality and it's safe of course.
