Published in the June 11-27, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Paul Rakitin
Paul Rakitin
The kids are out of school and the family vacation is drawing near. As excited as you are to take the family on that road trip, you know this time off could take a serious chunk out of your training plans and progress you’ve made the past six months for the big summer running races.
The trip and race training are equally important to you and logging miles are crucial to stay on track for your running goals.
Do you take a week off or spend some time scoping out routes to run? If the hotel has a treadmill, that’s great but it’s just not the same. Is there a recreation path you can hop on for a few miles or a trail you can hit before breakfast?
Just because travel may take you away from your regular stomping grounds does not mean you have to sacrifice a break in training. You can always use the time to incorporate shorter and higher temp runs so you’re not cutting into anyone’s itinerary and you’re still getting some great exercise.
Wherever your journeys take you, make sure you pack properly. Make sure you’ve packed your shoes, of course. Believe it or not, I’ve met plenty of tourists that end up buying a second pair of shoes because of lost baggage or they just plain forgot to pack them. Let’s face it, running doesn’t involve a suitcase full of equipment. You’ll be fine if you wear your favorite shirt or even socks an extra day or two.
Objective number two is plan your routes ahead of time. This can be done easily via phone apps like Map My Run or Strava. Locals usually post their favorite routes so you can see the exact distances and beginning or ending points from there. Make sure you bring your room key, ID, a small amount of cash or a credit card in case you get lost and need a taxi back to the hotel.
Your vacation may also be a great time to include some cross training if you don’t regularly swim or bike. Most hotels offer some type of pool no matter how small it might be. And many places also rent bikes. Even if you take the family out for a scenic bike ride or hike, you’re spending some much needed family time together and exercising at the same time.
The most important thing to keep in mind is to stay flexible with your schedule while on a family trip.
With our daily routines and responsibilities, being able to adapt to a minor change in training while on vacation may just benefit you in the long run. You might not have the chance to run every day on the road. But a little rest might be much needed to refresh yourself and jump back into the groove when you return home.
Paul Rakitin is the owner of The Running Shop, 16999 Monterey Road, Suite D.
