As a running instructor I've read many emails telling me how it is extremely difficult
to get training runs in while on the road for work or for pleasure. And even though I have been instructing for
more than 8 years, I have yet to read one that asked me how to get runs in while traveling.
Before starting Dream Travel back in 2004 I felt that I was
spending large portions of the year on the road. As a regional manager I slept in my own bed
between 0 and 2 nights a week for the majority of my final year with the company. At the time I was training for marathons and
like some of my clinic members, I felt it extremely difficult to get in the
necessary runs.
Now, however, I don’t even own a bed. I live on the road, never in
one location for more than a month or two at most, and yet, I train
considerably more now than before. If I
have a marathon or an ultra coming up, I find that I really have all the time I
need to properly train, and, always have.
The only thing that changed was how I approached the situation.
The Away Game
If you are a dedicated runner who routinely gets in a minimum of 90% of your
training runs, and, you are off to the tropics for a week or two, I say leave
the shoes at home. Giving your body a
much needed rest is never a bad thing.
Have you ever noticed how you seem stronger and faster after recovering
from an injury that forced you to take a week or so off? This is because as runners, we rarely take breaks.So, leave the gear at home, enjoy the sunshine and piña coladas, give the legs a vacation as well and when you come back, dust off the shoes and get back at it!
If, however, you are fortunate enough to have a job that routinely
gets you out of town, you need to find a way to incorporate your training. Proper training, that is.
There is nothing better than going for a run after sitting
in a car or airplane for an extended period of time. You may be jet-lagged or beat up from sitting
so long at the wheel, but a 30 minute run will cure that faster than a nap or
digging through brain-numbing spreadsheets. You’ll
return to work energized and refreshed and hence be more productive.
Don’t feel like hauling the “extra gear” to go for just one
or two runs? Does the water bottle and gel
holder, powered drink, watch and charger, headlamp, anti-chaffing cream, etc take up too much suitcase room? Leave it all at home and bring what
you really need: Shoes, socks, shorts,
shirt. Done. I assure you that you have space to bring
these items. Everything I own fits in my
two carry-on bags, and no, I’m not a hippy living on the beach. I don’t have the hair to be a hippy…otherwise,
maybe I would be.
Are you stuck in your cubicle Monday to Friday? Go for a lunch time workout! Ask the boss.
Better yet, show him a study that shows that active employees take less
sick days, are less stressed, are happier and live longer…that sounds like an
All Star employee to me!
No place to
shower afterwards? Talk to a nearby gym
about paying to use just the shower facilities.
Take some nice chocolates when you go and ask!
So, what was the difference for me between the old days of
haphazard training and now? Simply put:
my attitude. Before I felt that I couldn't fit my running necessities into my already over-stuffed luggage, felt
concerned about getting lost running in a new place and told myself I was too
tired to run after a hard day of work. I had more excuses than I can remember.
Now, I bring only what I truly need, I look forward to running in new
cities and countries and know that I will feel fantastic afterwards. And really, when was the last time
you ran and wished you hadn't?
For me, I now fit my runs in regardless. Just like brushing my teeth or putting on
fresh undies each day. No matter how
busy or stressful your day is, you always do those two things, right? No excuses!
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2013 BMO Vancouver Marathon Weekend
We were very excited to be part of the BMO Vancouver Marathon this year! Did you see our new flyers in your race packages!
We were very excited to be part of the BMO Vancouver Marathon this year! Did you see our new flyers in your race packages!
We want to extend congratulations to all of the runners at this wonderful event, and, thank the hard working organizers and the Running Room for putting on such a great yearly event!
This year the
Vancouver marathon put on four separate runs (Marathon, Half Marathon, 8K and a
1 mile kids run) as well as the Healthy Life Style Expo. All of the
races ran very smoothly and experienced very beautiful and sunny weather!
John Stanton was at the start
line again kicking off the Race with Bro Jake from the local rock radio station!
And, there were a ton of elite athletes signing autographs for people at the
expos and 1 Mile event on Saturday.
The Vancouver marathon
was named top 10 destination marathons and incredibly almost 50% of the 17000 people
running were from out of town!
Dream Travel loves to take you to Vancouver and other amazing
places to run! We have groups to run the Great Wall of China marathon
in May which is another one of Forbes' top 10 marathons as well as Istanbul, the ING New York City Marathon in November and many more!
