Travel Training Tips

Whenever you’re on the road, be it a work trip, family holiday or other occasion that takes you away from your base, it can be challenging to get the training done. Not only because you don’t have the usual places to run, your local gym or training partners to keep you motivated, but the all-important routine goes out the window. For me, motivation to maintain the rage during these times goes through the floor. But over the decades of having to keep toiling while on the go with work or vacations, I have hatched a few strategies to help get through the workload.

Embrace Cross Training

The majority of runners see cross training as something you do when you’re injured or as a value add to the regime when time permits. In reality, a lot of us can benefit from adding some cross training to the program. As an alternative to running, I personally find it easy to add some cross training into the week so my ‘cardio volume’ stays similar to when I’m at home. When travelling you can usually find a nearby gym or hopefully the hotel has one. Depending on what machines are at your disposal, you can build a circuit that can be as easy or hard as you need. Cycling in particular is a great way to get some light cardio without the pounding. Rowing is similar but a little harder, though comes with the benefit of some upper body conditioning. There’s the elliptical, free weights or even the stepper, with each providing differing gains. 

Incidental Exercise

This is basically turning normal activities into training. It’s a simple lifehack for the time poor or when motivation is down, both of which are common when travelling. One example might be running to the grocery store and doing a few extra kilometers on the way there, and then lugging all the stuff home in a hiking pack. Instead of driving to a family activity, like taking the kids to the zoo or beach, run there to meet them and have a change of clothes in the car for when you arrive. I do this all the time, as I prefer a one-way run rather that a loop or out-and-back, plus it means the time lost to sitting in traffic is instead spent exercising. 

Split Runs

Getting longer runs done when you’re in a new city or lacking motivation is one of the great challenges of being on the road with work or holidays. You might be in an urban centre that’s not running-friendly, or struggle to find a route that allows you to get decent distance in. For me, an added issue is that I’m typically a bit stretched for time to be out running for a long period when there’s either kids to entertain or work to be done. In these instances, it’s so much easier to split the daily mileage into two runs. I’m a big fan of doubles and always find it easier to knock out a couple 40minutes jogs when on holiday, rather than a single 80 that leaves me tired for the rest of the day.

Do an Event

Finding a race to do when travelling not only is great for the motivation, but means you have an excuse to drop the volume in the lead up and afterwards. The challenge is that it can be hard to find a race. If this is the case, you can turn the local Parkrun into a proper hit-out, or in place of an event, do a time trial or simulation. Have a proper taper and post ‘race’ recovery so that you absorb the effort and have reduced training demands while away. Another alternative is to plan your training cycles so that the time you’re on holidays is on a de-loading period. I’ve often thought to myself that I’ll turn the family vacation into a training camp and to be honest, it never happens the way I envisage. So I now plan for the worst and I’m stoked if things turn out better.

Find Run Clubs

With the boom in popularity for the sport, there’s been a massive rise in the number of local run clubs, store runs or even brand activations. So before departure, hit Google, Strava and Instagram and search out the squads, community groups, fitness clubs and running stores in the places you’re heading. Invariably there’s going to be a few options and most are welcoming of visitors. The other plus is that you’ll meet other likeminded people and can get some tips from locals as to where to run and what else to do in the area.

If you add a little bit of each of the above, all of a sudden the holiday training becomes a breeze and a whole lot more enjoyable. Chances are you’ll come back feeling fitter than ever, without having to force up the workload!