Space camp is for nerds. Basketball camp is for jocks. Running camp is that sweet spot in between: five days of running, stretching, meeting new runner friends and trying to find time to nap. It might be the best week of your summer.

I went to running camp while in high school (I also went to space camp and basketball camp) and was a counselor for three years at Blue Ridge Running Camp in Harrisonburg, Virginia, when I was in college. While each camp is unique, they share running and fun. Running Times tried to put together a guide to camp so that you can be ready for a challenging week. Give it a read before you go.

Pack It All
Bring every bit of running clothing you own. You’ll be running twice a day—a lot of time in the heat or possibly in the rain—so you want to have dry clothes available. Plus, bring some reading material or cards to play during free time. Frisbees and other lawn games aren’t a bad idea either, but a lot of times camp will have those. Most camps provide a checklist of things to bring (towel, sheets, blanket). Be sure to follow those recommendations.

Rooster Crow Means Go
Bring an alarm clock or three. At running camp, there is a shortage of sleep. Lights out is in the 10­–11 p.m., range, and a mere seven hours later you’re taking roll at 6 a.m. for the morning shakeout run. Then it’s off to breakfast before a quick break (take a nap if you can!) before speaker No. 1 on the day. Then it’s lunchtime and another short break (another nap opportunity) before meeting for drills and stretching before the afternoon workout. Then it’s time for dinner before the evening session where there’s another guest speaker. Because you want to hang out with your friends, you use the hour before lights out to chill and relax with buddies. (And let’s be honest, you’re not falling asleep at 11 anyway. It’s the perfect time to chat with your roommates and share funny stories while the counselors are fast asleep, because they’re just as exhausted as you are.)

Camp Mush
We’ve told you to eat the foods that make you feel good, but at camp, you need to eat what’s available. The cafeteria food available may be top notch, but even if it’s not, you have to eat to stay fueled. Remember, with two runs a day—often in the sun—always have a water bottle with you to stay hydrated and always eat a full meal when it’s available. It’s also smart to bring snacks like granola bars and trail mix. That way, if the meal option is unbearable, you can grab fruit and have a big snack. Plus, there’s usually a peanut butter and jelly station, so do that if you’re struggling to find food you like.

Expertise Everywhere
With coaches who know what they’re talking about and counselors who are likely college runners, don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you’re curious what a college runner’s social life is like, just ask. If you want to know what it takes to run for a college, talk with a coach. The point of running camp is to learn as much as possible while getting in a great week of training. Take advantage of the resources available.   

Workouts, Workouts and More Workouts
A lot of camps like to have you try one of each type of workout they find important to running (e.g., tempo run, intervals, hills, speed and fartlek to name a few). This sounds good in theory, but then you remember that you’re only there for five days and there are more than five types of workouts—that’s one workout per day. On top of that, there’s the morning run and the drill and stretching routines you’re learning. Something to remember: It’s OK to sit back in one or two of the workouts. A lot of runners at camp get competitive and run one another into the ground by going all out in every workout, but be careful. That can increase your chance of injury and burnout. Go by feel at the workouts. If you’re tired, just get in a solid effort and don’t worry about time or where you are in the pack. Remember, camp is supposed to help you in the fall. It won’t help if you wore yourself out in the summer.

Do Runners Make Good Dancers?
The last night of camp is usually set aside for a dance. Runners and rhythm aren’t necessarily two things you put together, but as long as the DJ puts together a good playlist, the camp will be rocking. Plus, the dance is the last chance to get your summer camp romance* in.

* Be careful, romance at summer camp is like dunking chocolate chip cookies in milk: awesome while it’s happening but then you end up with a stomachache. Meeting a guy or girl at camp is sweet; you can flirt it up all week. But then camp ends and heartbreak sets in when you head your separate ways. It is definitely possible to keep in touch with someone you start dating at camp, but it’s not easy being at two different schools. If you do have a one-week relationship at camp that ends once you head home, be prepared for a fall of awkward hellos at invites.

Best/Worst/Hardest. Week. Ever.
Five days of running camp will leave you feeling so many things, but mostly: exhausted. That’s OK, everyone is tired after a week of running, minimal sleep and a lot of fun. Take a day off or a few easy days once camp is done. Then, take everything you learned and apply it to your training and life. It’s easy to get sad that camp is over, but there is a silver lining: The season is almost here.