Luckily, it’s possible to maintain your fitness on holiday without alienating your spouse or spoiling the magic of a mojito.
Here’s how to navigate any situation, ensuring that you’re still in shape when you return back to reality.
- #1: You Can’t Ditch The Family To Go For A Run.
- #2: The Kids Love the Pool, But You’re Not Much Of A Swimmer.
- #3: You’ve Never Run On The Beach Before.
- #4: Running While On Holiday Feels Like Work.
Holiday Hurdle #1: You can’t ditch the family to go for a run.
Get over it:
Walk together for 30 to 60 minutes a day. Along the beach, through the veld, up a mountain.
Long walks, like long runs, can help build and maintain endurance. You’ll get in quality family time while everyone gets in better shape.
Got littlies? Take some entertainment: a ball, a skipping rope, rollerblades … or stage short distance races with them.
Too little for that? It’s the perfect opportunity for some extra weight training! Push or carry them along the way.
Holiday Hurdle #2: The Kids Love the Pool, But You’re Not Much Of A Swimmer.
Aqua jog. Yes, you read that correctly. Aqua jog. For 30 minutes.
Pushing against water’s resistance can eliminate inefficient movement, which can improve your form on land.
Plus, it’s a great cardiovascular workout. Wear a floatation belt to keep you upright in the deep end.
Let your legs move as you would on land. If there’s no belt available, do the same movement in shallower waters.
Bonus: the kids will probably love it … and join you … and hang on you. Adding lots of extra resistance!
Holiday Hurdle #3: You’ve Never Run On The Beach Before.
The softness of the sand can strain muscles and tendons because they’re stretched further than when you’re running on a firm surface.
Start with several one- to two- minute segments of running.
Walk one minute between each. Limit the distance to about 400m on the first day; add an additional segment every time after that.
Holiday Hurdle #4: Running While On Holiday Feels Like Work
Get over it:
Stray from your routine.
If you normally run in the morning, try a sunset run. If you typically run on the roads, hit the beach, trails, boardwalk or park.
If you mainly run solo, check out local clubs and join a group run.