With all the heat in the car, it’s ironic to find NASCAR driver Jamie McMurray, 41, of Chip Ganassi Racing, out for a run in the heat of summer in the south. But this is part of McMurray’s 2017 plan to get stronger, fitter, and be more badass.
In fact, his racing plan includes a long-distance event without wheels: a full marathon.
For the racer, running was first a side-piece for cycling. He picked that hobby up in February when he purchased his first road bike. He quickly ascended to the Assault on Mount Mitchell ride, which consists of a 102.7-mile ride with a vertical ascent of more than 10,000 ft.
“But with four to six hour rides twice a week and hours for other rides during the week, I was really burned out,” McMurray said. “The bike rides were exhausting and the runs on off days were relaxing. So I decided to do more running.”
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He labeled his running days his “fun” days. Soon, he graduated to a half marathon.
With the cardio he built up through cycling, he thought he was in good shape. He was, but running was a different monster he was not totally prepared for.
“My first 10-mile run was my first come to Jesus run,” McMurray said. “I wasn’t sure I could do it. As I did more longer runs, I realized everybody is in pain on longer runs, and now I look forward to them.”
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Then he announced on Twitter that he was thinking of a marathon.
McMurray is early on his marathon training and he has set his sights on the Kiawah Island Marathon December 9 in South Carolina. This allows him two weeks off after the race season ends and will be much better than the heat he’s run through this summer.
He knows that running in the morning is easier because of the cooler temperatures. But he prefers the heat not for the added challenge; rather, he tries to mimic the heat of the car that he sits in on most Sundays.
“We start a lot at 1 p.m. when that heat index is 100 or higher and trying to get used to the heat and elevated heart rate,” McMurray said. “Temperature controls your heart rate so much so riding and running in the heat is a huge advantage in the car.”
Running long distances between races does have its drawbacks. He sees more knee, ankle, and foot soreness from his runs. He has to balance training between team meetings, practices, family, and races.
Luckily, McMurray is determined to complete his marathon, as is his team. Teammates are getting on the cardio grind as well and they even host a “lunch bunch” run around noon every day so they can get a good workout in instead of eating a big lunch.
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The team also hired Josh Wise, a motorsports trainer and former driver, who is helping McMurray every step of the way just as he did for the big race. Together, they laid out a marathon training schedule that details every day between now and the race. Though it may change, McMurray likes to know what’s in store for him, especially when he’s still fairly new to running.
“If I can do nine-minute miles, I’ll have come a long way,” McMurray said. “My first goal is to get to the end, but I hope to get faster and stronger as I train because I also want to do well. First I want to make sure I can make it to the end.”
With months to go before the big day, McMurray is calm. As temperatures start to drop for the fall, he is noticing his times bettering on cooler runs.
His concerns stem from potential injuries, exhaustion between training and driving, and any number of things that can occur between now and then. But that will not stop him, especially since he is psyched about the progress he’s made.
“Thirty minutes of cardio a year ago was a big deal to me,” McMurray said. “Now two hours of cardio a day is what I do. I’ve become addicted to it.”