Friday, July 1, 2011

SUAR’s 5 Tips for Training While On Vacation

You will be happy to know I just got home from Vail and am back to sitting at my computer and looking out at an asphalt street instead of the gorgeous Rockies. Beautiful views and crisp mountain temperatures are for losers anyway.

This morning I got up early and did a 7 mile hilly run in the mountains. It was glorious. And challenging. They really need to pump more oxygen into these little ski towns.

I ran through Vail Village on my way back and treated myself to Starbucks, which is a good $1.00 more per drink than in Longmont. They obviously think only the rich with huge amounts of disposable  income visit Vail. They do not know I stayed rent-free and ate bow tie pasta in the condo last night. I also stole tea from the lobby and clogged the toilet. I may not be rich but I am surely classy.

A reader. SMESS from Inspirational Epiphany commented with a great question on yesterday's post:

“I'm going on vacation starting Monday and am in the middle of my half-marathon training... I know I will have to do at least three runs while away (Speed work, Tempo and Long) and I'm a bit uneasy about it. Any tips to fitting in training runs while not at home?”

Yes, in fact I do.

  1. Commit before you leave home. Never play the game, “Oh, I’ll see how I feel when I get there and then decide if I’m going to work out.”  There is far too much temptation to sleep in, go out for big meals, etc. Plan your exact workouts prior to leaving and pack your running stuff including fuels belts, powder drink mixes, protein bars, etc.
  2. Find out what’s available. Fitness center? Local trails? Plan beforehand and you’ll be much more likely to do what needs to be done.
  3. Get ‘er done first. Even if you normally workout in the afternoons or evenings, consider switching it up while on vacation and go first thing before everyone gets up. Once you start drinking margaritas by the pool or partake in three hours of exhausting body surfing, you probably will talk yourself out of your workout.
  4. Don’t give into peer pressure. The naysayers will try to talk you out of exercising because it makes them feel better about themselves for being lazy ass slacker who gain 29 pounds in five days.  Tell them to shut the eff up and then crush them in beer pong later on.
  5. Keep your eye on the prize. As extra motivation, know that once you’ve put in your ten mile run, you are done for the day and it is time to be in total vacation mode. Grab a big breakfast and a lounge chair and put your feet up. I promise you will NEVER be sorry you took the time to get it done. It will set the fine mood for the rest of your day.

What’s your best tip for getting in your training/workouts while on vacation?

SUAR

20 comments:

  1. Great tips! I just got back from a vacation where I felt like I did pretty well sitcking to the plan. I asked around beforehand found a group ride to attend one morning too. Nothing like spending all the effort to pack 4 bikes on vacation if you aren't going to use them! The group wasn't a bunch of slackers either, we did 28 miles at 19mph! The nice thing about working out really early before everyone gets up is that the temperatures were much more manageable. Our group ride started at 7:30am, which is early for a vacation, but I started a 10 mile run at 8am one day and was convinced I was going to melt. Yea for beach access showers for hydration/cooling!

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  2. My problem is always that my family like to stay up late drinking hanging out and then I feel horrible in the morning and just roll over and say "screw it". I pretty much just write off my vacation weeks as "recovery" weeks even if I don't have anything to recover from.

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  3. I'm taking a Women's Quest vacation the week after next to Colorado---5 days of running, mountain biking, ropes course, yoga and pilates. I tried to get friends to go, but they ALL would prefer to sit by the pool or on the beach with umbrella drinks. So I get to exercise and it is all thought of FOR me! Meals too. I just show up.

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  4. You got the one and only one you need to which is get 'er done. If you get it done then it is done and don't have to worry about it.

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  5. I just go back from my parents house and 3 weeks in 9,000 above sea level in Divide, CO. The really DO need more oxygen up there. But the weather was amazing. I ran almost every day knowing when I returned to Texas it would not be so easy to get outdoors. I really miss it!

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  6. You are right on the money!

    My tip would be to make sure you pack some of your "special" nutrition items (protein powder, gels, sports drink powders, snacks, etc.) so you have what you need/want when you are there. You might not be able to find your stuff in any store when you get where you are going.

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  7. Drink until you start feeling guilty?????

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  8. You've hit the good ones. But your blog name is the best one. Shut up and run. Tell your companions that it's non-negotiable. Bring your stuff and do it. And you'll get stuff they won't. One of my best memories from being in Venice was running along the Grand Canal in the early morning, before the tourists showed up. Wonderful!

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  9. Great tips for traveling. I had to do 2 training runs in Louisville, KY in May. The first one I did on the hotel treadmill, but the second one I did out on the hotel's frontage road. It was a little freaky at 5 a.m. but well worth it. I think what helped the most was telling everyone in advance that I would be running while I was away and it made it sort of non-negotiable.

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  10. What's a vacation? I know - sad but true, it's been awhile.

    That said, these book end perfectly into business travel as well. Except for maybe 4, which might need to be modified to involve telling you boss to suck it when homeboy gets all guilt-trippy on you about wanting to workout. Chances are he's got a pocket full of singles and his pressure on you to refrain has nothing to do with your job.

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  11. LOVE THIS!!! I HAVE to get up early and do it otherwise I just hang out and never end up doing it!!! I think a good tip is to be smart about what you are eating on your vacation because it is impossible to get up and work out when you have just eaten crap ya know!??! Glad you had a beautiful ride!!!

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  12. Get er done first.. that's what we did. We leave for Mount Rushmore Sunday so I had to do my long ride today and will do my long run tomorrow.. I'll be missing swimming on Monday though, not worried about that.

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  13. HA! I so should have gotten your tips before that family trip to France! I brought all of my stuff and even did plan out where I might go run... but i never didn't sleep in. I never went for a single run. I did walk all over the place and up a zillion stairs, but I know it didn't progress me in my training the way running would have. These are AWESOME tips :)

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  14. I am training for a half with team in training. I contacted the local chapter where I am going for vacation and am joining their group run while I am gone.

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  15. Vacations are a good time for crosstraining and trying sports you normally wouldn't.

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  16. sounds like me ... away for three days and I'm continuously on this friggen invention of Al Gore! :)

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  17. I take the running shoes and the workout gear. I pick how many days I'll workout while I'm gone and then I let guilt make me take the time to do it. I also track my workouts, so the thought of so many blank days is enough to get me out of there. If staying with people (family, friends) I tell them ahead of time that I plan on working out and make them hold me accountable too as extra motivation. It's also easier to get up early and run 4 miles when you know you can have that extra glass of wine that night.

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  18. Great succinct tips!! I live by #3 and know I'm a better person the rest of the day - endorphins!

    I pack all my workout clothes/shoes first when traveling... Whatever space remains then can be for nice outfits.

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  19. love the tips! You tell it like it is sista :)

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  20. Excellent tips. I would add though that you can incoporate fitness into your plans... maybe one day you don't go for a run, but you take the family for a hike.

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