My sopping wet ponytail flops back and forth, spraying the dusty trail with river water. I’m headed upstream and uphill on a trail that snakes alongside the Soča River–a trail I’ve run many times. I cross scree slopes, navigate roots and rocks and wind through pine forest and beech groves. After bouncing my way across a hanging bridge over the river, a pair of leisure hikers hear my footsteps on the gravel and move aside to let me pass. Wearing a light thermal and trail running shoes, I almost look like a normal runner. But my soggy board shorts, which suggest I’ve either been swimming, sweating excessively, or suffer from urinary incontinence, give me away as something else. If they are paddlers themselves, then they know exactly what I’m doing. I’m running shuttle. Literally.
Shuttle is a concept that is foreign to climbers and skiers. Mountain bikers get it, to a degree. But pedaling up the mountain to the trailhead is much more feasible than paddling upstream to the put-in. Shuttle is a necessity for paddling, a sport that follows the flow of a river and requires a significant amount of gear, which is cumbersome and heavy on dry land. Getting boats and people to the put-in takes a little planning. And setting shuttle (almost always) requires two cars. Unless, you can actually ‘run’ shuttle.
Of course, the ease or feasibility of running shuttle depends on the stretch of river. Running a mountain pass marathon after a day on grade V whitewater is quite impractical. But on many shorter paddling stretches–both in Europe and North America– humans have used the path of least resistance and placed roads alongside rivers, making running shuttle simple.
You don’t need to consider yourself a runner to be able to run shuttle. A pair of running shoes in a dry bag is all it takes, and you can start anytime. Try it and see: the perks to this alternative method of paddling logistics might just make you a believer.
Perspective
One such perk is the gift of perspective. Running upstream provides an appreciation for not only the ease and enjoyment of paddling, which makes use of gravity and the power of whitewater to cover large distances and pass through often technical terrain. But it can also present a chance to see the river from various vantages – both physically and psychologically.
Compared to traveling by kayak, changes in elevation and gradient are more tangible when hustling uphill on foot. And if the road or trail offers a view of the river, even intermittently, you will no doubt enjoy a glimpse of the rapids you just paddled or about to paddle.
On a trip in Corsica one spring, I packed my runners in the back of my boat and offered to run shuttle after our lap down the Asco River. With the roadside guardrail as my guide, I gazed at the river as I jogged, stopping to examine specific rapids, assess a line I took, or recount a move I missed. In the background, mist layered between the sharp granite spires and whimsical white pines, and a light rain pattered on my running jacket. This river-side perspective provided a learning opportunity, a chance for reflection and improvement. Running the asphalt road meant I didn’t have to pay attention to my footing and could enjoy the view of the river. That is, until the road turned a corner and led me up into the mountains.
Even when the river isn’t in sight, running shuttle provides time to reflect on the lap. The constant focus and quick decisions making skills required on the water are replaced by a sense of calm and perhaps even some mental clarity that comes from simply putting one foot in front of the other. Or…it could be a complete suffer fest that you can’t wait to be done with. Regardless, it will feel very satisfying when you get to the car.
Logistics
The logistics of paddling aren’t eliminated by running shuttle. But they can be simplified. Drive up with boats and gear. Paddle down. Run back up, then drive down. Or, maybe you drop your gear off at the put-in first, drive the car to the take-out and run back up as a warm up. The distance driven is the exact same for both options and it’s personal preference which order you do things in.
Maybe people can be psychologically profiled based on the order in which they ‘run’ shuttle…For example, I’m not a planner. I’m a seat-of-my-pants, make-it-up-as-I-go kinda gal. I sometimes squeeze in a quick solo lap after work, so running shuttle after I paddle is best, especially in winter so I can maximize daylight.
Pro tip: running is the dark is easier than paddling in the dark.
When I run shuttle on the trails along the Soča, I make frequent stops, peering through the trees to watch a pack of kayakers in the eddy above Toaster, or enjoy the display of boats hopscotching from eddy to eddy under the Solomon Pool hanging bridge. When it comes to paddling and running, for me there is no obvious distinction between the main course and the dessert, and I even look forward to running shuttle and the chance to see sections of the river again. My paddling mate on the other hand, always has a strategy set out in advance. And he likes to save the best for last, so he gets the shuttle run over with first.
The practicality of shuttle is also situational. Running is obviously more time consuming than using a car or bike. And knowledge of the route–be it road or path–is beneficial. Are you on a paddling holiday and using the shuttle run to explore a place, or are you on a lunch time lap and running shuttle to maximize your time outdoors? When paddling with a group, running for the car after the lap works best so your paddling buddies don’t have to exercise patience and restraint while waiting to get on the water.
Cardio
The fitness and ambition to retrieve the car under your own power can provide benefits for both the runner and the group. (But only the runner gets the health benefits.) A splash of cardio can help the body recover, flushing lactic acid or other metabolic waste products in your muscles, possibly preventing (or, depending on your fitness level, creating) stiffness and soreness.
I learned to paddle while working as a raft guide on the Ottawa River and there were times when I voluntarily ran shuttle–either an excuse to burn off a hangover or get some cardio. Other times, it was my only option. The 10 km run on rural farm roads exercised my lungs in ways that lengthy big water beatdowns didn’t. Jogging along the vibrant yellow fields of mustard seeds or a sea of green soy plants, I shared the road with tractors, rafting trucks and even Mennonite horse-drawn carriages. These runs allowed me to get to know the area better, and enjoy the details missed when rocketing along in the rafting truck.
Sure, biking works too, and it’s fast and efficient. But then you have another piece of gear to deal with and without bike racks or a big vehicle, it gets a bit complicated. A pair of running shoes, however, takes up little space—a dry bag tucked in the back of your kayak is all it takes.
Pro-tip: Running in your paddling shoes is not recommended.
With waterlogged soles and poor stability, running in shoes designed to hop from rock to rock could lead to injuries. Proper running shoes are especially key for longer distances. The specific shoe you pack into your boat will vary depending on the terrain; a shoe with some solid treads for grip and traction for wet or root-covered trails, or something with more cushion on lengthy road runs.
While you can always run in your paddling thermals, bringing a few options in a drybag with your shoes is recommended, allowing you to adapt if the weather has shifted during your time on the water. Layers are your friend. A sweltering hot morning on the water can turn into a windy rainstorm and warrant a wardrobe change at the take-out. Oh, and don’t forget socks. Speaking from experience, blisters will ensure you do that only once.
Balance
Paddling and running are natural complements. Running builds lower-body strength, stamina and cardiovascular fitness, while kayaking strengthens the upper body and improves core stability.
The skills gained reading whitewater can help with quick decisions and adaptive movements when navigating technical terrain on foot. Conversely, a kayaker who runs has good legs and lungs, which makes long portages less painful. Plus, the endurance and mental toughness learnt by running can be useful on paddling descents that require arduous and sustained effort over days on the water or long hikes out from the river.
By engaging in both activities often, you can create an all-round balanced body, possibly even preventing or minimizing over-use injuries. When I’ve been putting in too many km on the trails, I try to spend a few more days in my boat to give my knees a break. When a wrist injury flairs up, I head back to the trails. If water levels are low, I turn to running. But if it’s a rainy season and the trails are muddy or washed out, you’ll find me on the river.
Hero Status
Whether I’m running the long, flat stretch along the Ottawa River or jogging the riverside trail in the Soča Valley, these post-kayak runs have become more than just a way to retrieve my vehicle—they’ve become a way I balance my time and physical fitness. They allow me to recover, reflect, and further explore the rivers and the landscapes that I play in. The push of running paired with the pull of paddling makes paddling trips, my visits back to the Ottawa and my everyday life in the Soca Valley richer.
But be warned: once you become an established shuttle runner, your status amongst the group may change. You chiselled calves and perky ass might become the envy of your sedentary paddler friends. You might have to get used to people constantly buying you beers, or always letting you ride shotgun. Maybe you get more invitations to paddle and meet new people. Or…maybe nothing changes, and you just become paddler with solid cardio and running shoes hidden in the back of your kayak.
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Editor’s note: Artwork courtesy of Carmen Kuntz.