Training while traveling;

Traveling is a challenge and an opportunity for endurance athletes. For those of us set in a regular training schedule, the disruption of training can result in loss of fitness. It’s smart to plan vacations around your training season, but that’s not always possible. With a bit of planning, it’s possible to manage your training around a vacation or even better enjoy training in a new place that leaves you rejuvenated and recommitted to your goals.

There are many resources available to make traveling better for all endurance athletes. If possible, it’s a good idea to plan your vacation as a rest week (in a periodized training schedule), so that you have fewer “boxes to check” so to speak with workouts. Regardless of whether or not you are on a rest week, it’s a good idea to some research and planning before your trip.

• Can you bring with you the equipment necessary to continue your workouts while traveling? If you have access to the correct equipment, do you know where and when during the trip you’ll be training?
• If you do not have access to your typical equipment, it’s time to get creative. Are you familiar with where you are staying? Do they have equipment that can help you train, or cross train with similar aerobic activities?

If you have access to the correct equipment, building the time necessary into your schedule is a matter of your priority. On vacation, you’ll have plenty of time, but you may also have other people you’re traveling with who won’t be spending an hour each day running. Make sure to plan time in your day for training, and communicate with those your traveling with.

Strava, the popular athlete social media platform, has a fantastic resource for while traveling, called the Global Heatmap. A review of the are you’ll be staying at can help you identify good places for runs or rides, and you’ll be like a local in no time. It’s also a great idea to stop by local bike or running shops and ask about the favorite local routes. People are always happy to share their favorite hill with someone.

If you’re limited by equipment here are a few options. Check local shops for rentals if possible; renting a bike or other equipment will get you going for the week, and the interaction can shed light on local routes. If you’re a skier at the beach, equipment may not be your only problem; consider cross-training. Go for a few runs in the couple weeks leading up to your trip. Running can be a great way to maintain aerobic fitness and can break up training, but it can also be hard on your body if you rapidly increase volume. A few runs ahead of the trip will make a world of difference and help you avoid injury.

If you can’t run, head to the hotel gym, or look for a local gym that has weekly memberships. Having access to some equipment to keep you moving is better than nothing. Consider drawing up a resistance training plan, and divide your time between aerobic exercise and resistance training.