In my neck of the woods, families are just returning from or going to spring break. My family and I spent a week down south in an attempt to get away from the awful winter that’s held the Midwest captive since about October. It was quite lovely.
Just because you are on vacation doesn’t mean you need to let your training go to pot. Face it. If you’re anything like me, you’re going to want to try and combat some of the dietary damage you might encounter.
No excuses. Staying active while on vacation is 100% do-able. You may not be able to follow your training plan to the letter, but you can still burn some calories and maybe even have fun in the process.
Here are a few of the things I did this past week to try and stay on track.
- Research the area you are planning to visit. Many larger areas and historical cities offer running tours or walking tours. This is a great way to do some sightseeing while also burning a few calories. If you go with an organized tour, you also will avoid areas that may not be safe to explore on your own. Another option is to look into running groups affiliated with local running stores.
- If you are a runner who likes to plan vacations around races
not that I’d EVER do that, see if there are any races in the area you are planning to visit. I ran a 10k with one of my girlfriends while in North Carolina. The fact it was at a brewery had nothing to do with why we chose that particular race. *wink, wink* - Find some new training surfaces! I was able to get in both a 2 mile beach run at sunrise and a HUGE bridge run of 5 miles while in South Carolina (that’s the bridge in the post picture – The Arthur Ravenel Bridge in Charleston, SC). The beauty of my surroundings almost made it feel like I wasn’t running.
- Staying in a hotel? Most now offer fitness areas and while the quality definitely varies from place to place, you can probably find SOMETHING to use. Most will have a treadmill, some type of bike, and maybe some weights if you’re lucky. If there is a pool, head down early and you might be able to get in a few laps before the munchkins show up.
- There are tons of fitness apps that require no equipment. Two of my favorite options are Nike Training Club and the Gorilla Workout App. Or, just wing it! Squats, lunges, planks, etc can all be done in the comfort of your hotel room.
10 miles on that thing! Where’s my medal?
While I still didn’t burn enough calories to combat all the deliciousness I consumed over the week I was gone, every little bit helps. Make sure your family is supportive of your efforts, too. Mine didn’t seem to mind too much getting to sleep in a little bit while I went out for my run or to the gym.
I loved being able to have that little bit of “me” time as well. Being crammed into a car and hotel room for 8 days is rough. Those hour long workouts did a lot to help maintain my sanity. Plus, I got some great pictures for the photo book.
What’s the best place you’ve been able to fit in exercise while traveling? Any other tips?
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