Finding time to run while traveling...
 

ok... so... I'm doing the C25K program.

The thing is... I'm going to be traveling and busy during my regular running times (7:30 to 8:30 PM).

I've thought about doing it in the morning... but I'm just... well... completely out of it in the morning. :p

I know I need to do it... I'm just trying to think of the best way to do it. I'll be in Orlando, FL for the next week (leave tomorrow afternoon), and so I can't really do much during the day without suffering possible heat stroke. :p And we're not staying at a resort/hotel... so no gym available.

So... do you guys think I should just switch to something else that I'd be able to do on the plane/room/at the park instead of my regular running? I'm doing one this afternoon... and Thursday is my next time to do it. I'm sure I could find a way to get it done... but... we're going to be in the park from early in the morning to late in the evening (like... 10 PM or later, depending on how late things are open).

So... yeah. Thoughts? How do you keep moving while traveling? Anything would be helpful... from things I could do in the plane to ideas of things I could do in the theme park without looking weird. (I could just decide I'd like to run/sprint from one ride to another... there's an idea)...

So yeah... thanks guys! :D

Yes, I know people who travel for business & exercise in their hotel rooms, if they aren't in a hotel with a gym or don't get away from business tilla fter the hotel gym has closed. You aren't at a hotel but you'll be in a room, so some of their options may be helpful to you.

One woman brings a DVD with her & puts it into her laptop & does routines with it.

I know someone else with resistance bands & a yoga mat in her suitcase.

As for the runners at my company, they change their routines & get up earlier in the morning. They ask at the concierge desk for any available maps of running routes or suggestions for runners. More often than not, the concierge can be helpful with this.

Some people at my company also purposefully have gym memberships with gyms that let you use their other branches in other cities.

Me, I never stay with relatives but always stay at a hotel & I pick the hotel based on whether it has a gym. Bonus points if it's also got a pool. This also has the advantage of my getting some "away" time from my relatives, who are good people, but it's possible to spend too much time with them. And I value my alone time highly.

Thanks. :) We'll be with relatives. I'll probably bring along one of our Tae-Bo or perhaps one of my yoga DVDs... I have a couple things I could do. :) I do need to find something to do in the "in-between" days anyways.

:D

And I'm only 17... so I don't exactly have a choice where we stay. ;)


Thanks again! :)

Serbrider, another thought just occurred to me.

Have you ever been on the website "Map My Run"? I've used this before when traveling. Not as much as I'd like to. (I can't run much; I have foot problems so I end up on bikes or ellipticals usually.)

http://www.mapmyrun.com/

You can map a running route that you usually take, or you can search out other peoples' routes for someplace you plan to visit.

It may not be helpful on this visit, since your issue is not doing mornings & the heat, but it's something to keep in mind for future travel.

Thanks! That's pretty cool! :D Will definately help me in the future...

But yeah... mornings... I tried it. For nearly three weeks actually. I just... well... my brain doesn't function completely until about an hour to two hours after I wake up... :p (which really helped in my first period physics class this year) Like... I don't think clearly... I'm groggy... my thoughts are still that Peter Pan's shadow is in my room somewhere and I have to sew it onto Nana's foot. ;)

I'd say you should try to suck it up and run in the morning. Your brain doesn't need to function to run -- you just need to get out there and move your feet.

Plus, think how good you'll feel for the rest of the day knowing that you already exercised!

I agree--I've always had a problem with morning grogginess and the "dumb as a brick til I've been awake at least two hours syndrome". After 4 weeks of getting up at 5 to run, I've become addicted to it. I now wake up BEFORE my alarm, raring to go.

I may not be quite altogether there in the head when I start my runs, but I definitely am by the time I'm done. And I've noticed it's helped my mental clarity throughout the day as well.

Originally Posted by Rebound:
I'd say you should try to suck it up and run in the morning. Your brain doesn't need to function to run -- you just need to get out there and move your feet.

Plus, think how good you'll feel for the rest of the day knowing that you already exercised!

Some of my best vacation memories are about my early morning runs...running through the streets of small French towns, around the churches....hill repeats in the Smokies with my DD....early morning Las Vegas just off the Strip...

I actually started running because I wanted to be able to still do some exercise while we are away on vacation or staying with family.
I only completed the C25K programme the end of March early April time so haven't really had chance to test it out, but we did go to visit family and I went for a run on the promenade one morning and managed my longest outside run ever. It was amazing to be running somewhere so beautiful and to not have the usual daily responsibilties to be thinking about. And the feeling for the rest of the day was just awesome.
We're going away this weekend and my running gear is already packed. I'm hoping to go once at least while we're away and am excited to run somewhere new and see some different scenery.