5 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Vacation Runs

With the kids out of school and things slowing down at the office for the holiday season, many people take advantage of this time of year to take family vacations. This can make running a challenge, since you may not have the time or desire to fit your normal running schedule into your itinerary. While some runners prefer not to run on vacation, for those of us training for goal races, it isn’t always possible. If you find yourself out of town this holiday season, use these tricks to get the most out of your runs!

Focus On Quality

Time is often the biggest constraint on vacation. Whether you have a packed itinerary or just want to focus on time with family and friends, longer runs can be challenging. If you find yourself pressed for time, focus on quality rather than quantity. Instead of going for an hour long easy run, squeeze in a half-hour speed workout. If you can’t get your long run in, don’t fret—missing one isn’t going to kill you.

Kill Two Birds With One Stone

Running doesn’t have to just be a workout—it can be a great sightseeing tool, as well! Whether you decide to head out on your own informal tour of your vacation destination or take a guided running tour, you have lots of options. Many cities have guided running tours at your own pace and preferred distance, so you don’t have to worry about being left behind. Give it a try – bonus points if you can convince your family and friends to come along, too!

Find A Local Running Store

Running in a place you’re unfamiliar with can be intimidating, and many runners opt to hit the hotel treadmill instead because it’s easy and safe. However, if you absolutely can’t stomach the idea of doing your long run on the treadmill or alone on the streets, look up a local running store and find out when they do group runs. Many host weekly long runs and some have runs during the week, too! They’re always happy to welcome newcomers, so don’t be shy.

Find A Race

There are tons of races during the holidays! Use this to your advantage. Not only will you see somewhere new and get in a great workout, you won’t have to worry about getting lost or being alone. Even better, these events can be a blast for the whole family. A 5k can make a great speed workout, while a half marathon can easily make up part of your long run! Running in the USA is a great tool for searching for races of all different distances in your area.

Embrace The Treadmill

Some people love the treadmill and some people hate it, but sometimes, it’s just the most convenient and easiest option. Instead of skipping a run just because you’d have to do it on the treadmill, remind yourself that it’s only for a short time, and consider doing intervals or a shorter run instead. It will be worth it!

Whether you decide to run on your holiday vacation or not, remember that running will be there when you get back. Travel can be stressful enough—use running as your stress buster, not a stress inducer. Happy holidays!