By Ralph
A very common struggle on vacation is maintaining some kind of a workout routine. You have worked hard all year to achieve a level of fitness, maybe even in preparation of that vacation, and you don’t want to lose that progress while you are away. Here are some of my vacation workout tips.
I personally really enjoy working out on vacation because it allows me to break my normal routines and explore new places. I understand not everyone shares my enthusiasm for vacation workouts, but with the right frame of mind, you will come home feeling much better if you get a few workouts in.
An early morning run in Santa Monica while visiting family for Christmas
I break vacation workout opportunities into two categories. You can decide for yourself what works best for you and the people you are vacationing with. The first is the “Get it Done” workout. This is about getting 3-4 workouts during a weeklong vacation done in the hotel fitness center. This is great in areas that may not be safe to explore or when you have to be as efficient with your time as humanly possible.
The second, and way more interesting is, “Build It In” workout. The ideas are endless on this depending where you are vacationing. On a recent trip to New York, Elizabeth and I had a few active things on our list that had us out and about enjoying the city while burning calories in a fun way. I had my heart set on renting bikes and riding across the Brooklyn Bridge and Elizabeth wanted to walk the length of the High Line Trail. We did both of those things on the same day without public transit, starting from our hotel in Time Square. We had the best time, took tons of pictures, and got our workouts in at the same time.
But as with most things, preparation is key! Spending just a few minutes on the internet before your trip is the best way to take advantage of your workout time regardless of what you do. Knowing what equipment is available in the hotel fitness center will help you make the most of your time. Discovering in advance there is limited equipment and space available will allow you to bring a body weight routine with you, giving you a better chance of success.
I also look to see what athletic clubs and gyms are in the area and what their guest policies are.
I like to use websites like Strava and Map My Run to see posted runs from the area I’m visiting. These websites give me local knowledge on the best places to run, walk, hike or bike before I even get there.
With the right mindset and a little advance preparation, staying fit on vacation can be fun and add a lot of great memories to your vacation. Get there, explore, and have fun staying fit.
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