Training & working out while on Vacation

[MrsE]

DH & I had a conversation last night about our upcoming vacation to Europe in August. I asked him if he thought it was reasonable for me to train for a HM while we are on vacation for 2 weeks. He responded that he knows me and knows I love running so he would support me, but wants to make sure we still fully enjoy our trip (also, that he would prefer if I stuck to the hotel TM for safety reasons). Do you all train while on vacation? I mean, I stuck with my training plan while on a mini vacay in FL last week, but that's a bit different than going to Europe. I haven't registered for this HM yet and I'm wondering if I should just relax and enjoy my trip while working out/running occasionally or if I should get up early every day and get my training in so I can run the half w/ my sister.

[mrshandy]

I have for the most part. But traveling to Europe is a little different than just going to FL to visit family.

I've only done a few vacations since I started seriously training. I may skip one or two days, but I try to get my most important runs in like my long run and any other ones I can.

[clseale]

It totally depends on the location and the length of the vacation. Ex: I'm going to Puerto Rico for 5 days in September. I plan to work in a couple small runs because we'll be gone for awhile and I'm taking the opportunity for a beautiful run. I also run if I'm visiting family. Those runs are pretty easy to get in. If we were going to NYC for a 3 day weekend, probably not. It also depends on whether or not I'm in the middle of training.

[MrsE]

Jun 6, 2012 9:56:41 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

I have for the most part. But traveling to Europe is a little different than just going to FL

Oops. Thought I added that in my post but accidentally deleted it (I post from my phone . Edited.

[gt7301b]

I said that I stick to my training plan, but I might be a SS because I tend to design my plans around my vacations. We are going to Europe in two weeks and I will probably get in 15-20 miles on the trip. We will be on a cruise for 7 days and 6 miles at a time is about all I can stomach on a TM. My DH is actually more hardcore than I am, last year I think he logged 40 miles while we were on a cruise.

Where are you going? Why can't you run outside? You are going to Europe, not Egypt.

[sitnspin]

If we go away for a week, I don't work out. I consider walking and swimming a good enough workout!!

If I were training for something or if our vacation were longer, I would hit up the gym.

[ericakaspar]

I actually do. I'm a freak of nature I think. We went to Maine for 10 days I ran and hiked every day. And the place we stayed at had a bow-flex that I used. However I don't stick to my diet. I eat whatever and workout.

[ebeth]

I was training for a half when I was in Stockholm last summer. I was able to get in my long runs, but not always the shorter, mid-week miles. however, I'm fortunate to have a SO who is usually down for accompanying me on runs so we usually run together on vacation.

I would not be doing a long run on a hotel treadmill when there is a new city to explore though.

[AHappierHour]

Our vacations are normally just going to our river house and I might bring a DVD with me but it's way too hot to run. I'm trying to convience FI to get me a stand up paddle board to I can do laps around the canal. I think that has to be a good workout

[MrsE]

Jun 6, 2012 10:14:38 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

I said that I stick to my training plan, but I might be a SS because I tend to design my plans around my vacations. We are going to Europe in two weeks and I will probably get in 15-20 miles on the trip. We will be on a cruise for 7 days and 6 miles at a time is about all I can stomach on a TM. My DH is actually more hardcore than I am, last year I think he logged 40 miles while we were on a cruise.

Where are you going? Why can't you run outside? You are going to Europe, not Egypt.

Agreed! I would much rather run outside and explore the cities! DH is just worried I may get lost or have a hard time finding my way back since I speak absolutely no French or Italian. I think I'll try to convince him to run with me on the shorter runs and it will be a sightseeing adventure and an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the culture. We are going to Paris, Venice, Florence, and Rome.

[emyinpink]

I totally vote for running outside! Just bring a little card with the name of your hotel on it and the phone number of the front desk written in the language (every hotel I've ever stayed at has been more than happy to give it to me, as well as given me water when I got back). I love running in other countries, it's an awesome way to explore!

[shauni27]

Normally I alter my training for the week or so I am on vacation, hwever, like you I will be in Europe for 2 weeks in August, just a couple of weeks before the half I wanted to do. I decided I would not be able to get in the long runs I needed so close to the race so I scrapped that race and signed up for another one a month later.

[gt7301b]

You will be fine as long as you remember the name of the hotel you are staying someone can help you find you way back. I've been to all of those cities and I never had a problem finding someone who speaks English.

[cactuscookies]

It depends on the type of vacation. If it's a vacation for hanging out and relaxing, sure, I'll go out for some workouts. But for a big European tour, I wouldn't. Mostly because I wouldn't want to dedicate the time when I have the rare opportunity to travel somewhere new to explore, but also because I spend so much of those vacations walking. Not only does that end up being a lot of exercise, but my feet are always killing me at the end of the day.

[Brit]

We usually do super active vacations, so I don't worry about getting in specific workouts as long as I'm not sitting on my butt for days on end. Last fall we did two different beach vacations. On one of them I did a lot of paddling out to a surf break, like paddling an hour out and thirty minutes back, so I did not work out "extra". On the other, the break was much closer, so I squeezed in a little time on the treadmill/elliptical early in the morning before we got started with our day.

[Brit]

Jun 6, 2012 10:47:06 GMT -5 MrsE said:

Jun 6, 2012 10:14:38 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

I said that I stick to my training plan, but I might be a SS because I tend to design my plans around my vacations. We are going to Europe in two weeks and I will probably get in 15-20 miles on the trip. We will be on a cruise for 7 days and 6 miles at a time is about all I can stomach on a TM. My DH is actually more hardcore than I am, last year I think he logged 40 miles while we were on a cruise.

Where are you going? Why can't you run outside? You are going to Europe, not Egypt.

Agreed! I would much rather run outside and explore the cities! DH is just worried I may get lost or have a hard time finding my way back since I speak absolutely no French or Italian. I think I'll try to convince him to run with me on the shorter runs and it will be a sightseeing adventure and an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the culture. We are going to Paris, Venice, Florence, and Rome.

I think you should run and get lost on purpose. Last summer I ran in China quite a few times and I speak no Chinese. I have the hotel staff write a note for me that say "Taxi driver, please take me to Hilton Beijing at such and such address." in Chinese. I bring the note, my cell phone, a credit card, and some local currency and hope for the best. I have not needed the note before, but I feel confident just knowing that I have it.

[ckinla]

I've never trained for a race, but I can never get all my workouts in on vacation! Even if I'm just laying by the pool all day, it's hard for me to get up and hit the gym, which sucks because I eat way more (and much unhealthier) on vacation. Our most recent vacation I did manage to sneak in a 5.5 mile run, but that was it. Mostly I just ate a lot and lounged by the pool. Point is, you'd have to be much more dedicated than I am!

[aurora]

For two weeks? I would absolutely work out (I would be impossible to live with if I didn't) and there is no way I would stick to the hotel TM the whole time.

If you or your husband are concerned about safety, the hotel staff should be able to help you with suggested places to go (or avoid). But in most European cities there are a lot more people out and about walking than in the US, so I would think you'll be pretty safe if you stick to daylight hours.

[MrsE]

Jun 6, 2012 14:36:54 GMT -5 Brit said:

Jun 6, 2012 10:47:06 GMT -5 MrsE said:

Agreed! I would much rather run outside and explore the cities! DH is just worried I may get lost or have a hard time finding my way back since I speak absolutely no French or Italian. I think I'll try to convince him to run with me on the shorter runs and it will be a sightseeing adventure and an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the culture. We are going to Paris, Venice, Florence, and Rome.

I think you should run and get lost on purpose. Last summer I ran in China quite a few times and I speak no Chinese. I have the hotel staff write a note for me that say "Taxi driver, please take me to Hilton Beijing at such and such address." in Chinese. I bring the note, my cell phone, a credit card, and some local currency and hope for the best. I have not needed the note before, but I feel confident just knowing that I have it.

Great idea! DH actually did this while he was in China back in January, so I can certainly ask the hotels to do this too. I'll have to remind him of this!

Thanks everyone! I will start the HM training as planned but wait until it gets closer to make the decision of whether or not I'll register for it. We plan to do a TON of walking so maybe I can count that as my crosstraining and will just need to fit in a few 3 and 5 mole runs during the week along with strength training and a longer 9miler on the weekend. I'm not sure if I'll find a 10k to race but it may be fun to look for one!

[keweenawlove]

I generally don't have a set training plan but try to get up and run a few mornings here and there. It generally depends on how active of a day we're planning. In the cities you mentioned, it should be great. I love watching the cities "wake up" while I'm up for a morning run.

We were just in Kauai last weekend after a big race so DH and I had planned to make it a "nonrunning" trip. Our first day there we saw a sign for a local race (5K and 8 miles). Initally we both said no. They we kept driving by the sign and caved. We ran the 5K and had a great time. It was a great way to meet some of the local people. DH also won us a gift card to a nice restaurant

[tallie]

I was just in Italy for a little over 2 weeks and ran nearly every day. It was a great way to explore the cities I was in, especially to see tourist attractions early in the morning when there weren't many other people there.

[tuggyruns]

Jun 6, 2012 11:07:23 GMT -5 @emyinpink said:

I totally vote for running outside! Just bring a little card with the name of your hotel on it and the phone number of the front desk written in the language (every hotel I've ever stayed at has been more than happy to give it to me, as well as given me water when I got back). I love running in other countries, it's an awesome way to explore!

This I logged many miles on our 2 week trip to Ireland and when I spent 3 months in Italy..however, I learned my lesson quickly after getting lost in a small town with no cabs in Ireland. I had the luck of wandering into a hotel with a helpful front desk clerk who found my B&B and helped me call for my DH. Note to self, learn to use Garmin's "back to start" function BEFORE you need it... I saw lots of cool stuff on my runs though, hours before most of the city was awake. You can't compare that experince.