Last week I took a “working” vacation to the Bahamas. It was definitely more enjoyable and relaxing than it was work, and I was verygreatful for the opportunity. I stayed in a grandiose resort that was full of people. The beach was beautiful and the accommodations were better than I could ever afford on my own. The only downfall of the trip was the amount I exercised. I did enough to get by and not lose a lot of fitness, however, I got home thinking that I could have/should have done more. It made me think of a few things I could think about before going on another vacation.
If you are planning on taking a vacation and wish to simply vacation and not even think about training then by all means do. I am not trying to convince you to turn your relaxing vacation into an intense training trip. However, if you are planning a vacation that lies in the middle of a training schedule you may not want to abstain from an entire week of exercise.
Here are a few tips I came up with:
- Wake up an hour or two before the rest of your travelling companions. Chances are everyone will sleep in longer than usual on vacation so take advantage of a quiet morning. You might even get to see a beautiful sunrise.
- Research the area before you travel. Are there trails, bike paths, easily accessible roads, ocean swimming, lap pool, a boardwalk? (running on the beach can be a great and challenging workout!)
- Check out the fitness center. Almost every resort/hotel these days has at least an exercise room. (Note: Find out if they charge a fee. I walked 20 minutes to the fitness center one morning only to find out that it was a $15 a day charge)
- Take the opportunity to do some cross training. Many vacation spots have rentals like kayaks, bikes, skis, paddle boats, etc. An hour in a paddle boat equals an hour on the trainer, right?
Remember that you are on vacation so above all have fun!
Nikki Ditsch
