The mere thought of combining those two terms seems out of place, almost painful. Vacation time is precious. There is so little time afforded to many all year, and the cost of being able to travel can often be prohibitive. So, when one gets a chance to have an opportunity to just get away from it all, why would you make running a part of your vacation?
This past summer, I had the opportunity to spend some time with my family at the shore. I haven't taken the time to run/exercise at the beach since I was in high school and was training for cross-country and track. The most work I wanted to do was carry myself to the beach and then back again, with cool refreshing beverage in hand. The last time I ran while at the beach, it didn't go so well. I learned a hard lesson. Running after lounging in the sun all day, not a good idea. The water I had with me was used mostly to cool myself down, and I quickly dehydrated and overheated. This time I was ready. This would be a part of my vacation routine as much as sun tanning at the beach would be. It also revealed to me just how important a part of vacation that this really is. These became my guidelines/rules for running while on vacation.
First, know the lay of the land, or be strong enough to get back. Know where you are going. Being adventurous has its place, but the further you get away from home base, the trickier it can be to get back. I'm not saying don't go off the beaten path, but a little planning and preparation can help you avoid making an emergency phone call to family or friends, trying to describe where you are.
Get up early and go. This counts doubly in the summer when the heat can break you. Bring fluids, bottles, whatever. There are many helpful suggestions online to help you be hydrated in the summer, but it will be more effective without noontime heat beating on you. Besides, this is vacation, there is a lot to see and do and that does not include running by it, unable to stop and take part or admire it. If you can, get out at or before sunrise. Getting this done early makes the rest of the day wide open for you. There is no need to try to fit it in, in between events, trips, or excursions.
Running on vacation can give you an opportunity to break the routine of running itself. Too often the places you run can become routine and perhaps boring. You now have a chance to run along the sea, feeling the ocean breeze in your face, or along the waves, avoiding the tide. If you are on a cruise, some boats have a small running track. This was my experience a few years back. Even though the track was small, you wouldn't notice it. The open waters make it feel bigger than what it is, and the movement of the ship adds another change to your routine. If you are out in the mountains, trail running provides an experience that is fast becoming a lost opportunity in urban and suburban territories.
My past experience of running while on vacation was a very uplifting experience, and actually improved my enjoyment of the time, and I will use any time away as a time to get the sneakers on and break my old routine again. If this post seems like a lesson, I can't help it, I'm a teacher, however, this is a lesson I had to learn myself, and I just can't help but share it.
Next post, thoughts on Baltimore Marathon 2009 and 2008.
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