Rick’s Guide to Vacation Running!
Let me start with a confession. I'm not great at vacations. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy getting away. It's just that I struggle if I don't have something to do. That's where running comes in. I'm much better at "chilling" if I'm able to burn a few hundred calories by running in some different scenery. Be it on the grounds of my alma mater to a sticky morning heat along the deck of a cruise ship, being able to run puts every other aspect of the trip into a positive light.
It should also be duly noted that I don’t vacation alone. Nor do I want to. In addition, to my wife, Amy, I also have to consider other family and friends we visit. I've no right to let my running distract or detract from their enjoyment of our time together.
With that in mind and having just returned from thirteen days on the West Coast, I offer you … Rick’s Guide to Vacation Running!
1. Plan Ahead. Take a look at your vacation itinerary beforehand to see what days work best for running and what days don’t. Consider safety as a key factor as well. For example, on this last trip, I made certain that each day in Eugene would allow me to experience the "near-Nirvana" of running on Pre’s Trail. I did this knowing that the following two days would have us staying at a chalet in a place called Tenmile where narrow highways and huge log trucks make running a new form of "Russian Roulette." (And yeah, Oregon has a town called Tenmile. They also have ones called Drain, Glide and Boring. It’s a problem they’ve yet to address.)
2. Run When It’s Best for Everyone. Since Amy’s used to me running in morning, I keep this habit when we’re on the road. With ninja-like stealth, I slip out our bedroom door, allowing my lovely wife to sleep while my faithful Nike’s put me through my paces. Once I return, we then commence our day. Mornings also allow me to beat both the heat and traffic. But if that doesn’t work for some reason, find a time that doesn’t throw off everyone’s schedule.
3. Schedule Races at the State of a Vacation. There’s something exhilarating to me about competing on an unfamiliar course in another state. However, the closer I come to race day, I find myself slipping into what I refer to as “race mode.” It’s when I start thinking race preparations, repeatedly checking the weather, what I'm eating or drinking, what time should I arrive at the course and so on. Runners understand this. But even the most patient and loving of partners may not. So instead of scheduling a race towards the end of a vacation where all the afflictions of “race mode” can create unintended stress for whomever you're with, it’s much better if you schedule the race in the first couple days. Once it’s over, so are any “race mode” symptoms. Instead, you truly have an excuse to both relax and even take a day or two off from running.
4. Assume the Worst with the Weather. Our last two trips to Oregon had us leaving near tropical heat and humidity in Iowa for cooler temps in Oregon where the highs barely reached the 60’s with morning lows in the 40’s. This meant packing long-sleeved tops that I’d thought I wouldn't use until late October. Then a day or two later, clouds would give way to sunlight, increasing morning and afternoon temps by a good twenty degrees which translated into tanks and shorts. Winters proved equally unreliable as I found myself running in December and January with lighter tops I wouldn't see until early May in the Midwest. My point being that wherever you go, be pack for anything.
5. Prepare a Plan B. Despite our best efforts, things do not always go according to plan. For example, on this most recent trip, I had looked forward to several days of running in Southern California, including along the shoreline of Santa Barbara. However, a flare up of a lat and oblique muscle injury put the kibosh on those plans. Despite my frustration, I did my best to put a good face on my circumstances, joining my wife and her family for some long walks. Along with a picture perfect three miles along the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara, this also included a personal tour of the scenic campus at California State University-Northridge. (Pointless trivia note: The CSUN library has been used in films ranging from Superbad to Sky High to the 2009 Star Trek movie.). Not what I’d planned, but wonderful experiences nonetheless.
6. Savor Every Moment When You Run. Some of the most memorable running moments occur each year when I’m on vacation. I still recall the thrill of hearing my name called out as I crossed the finish line at the Fueled by Fine Wine Half Marathon four years ago. Equally thrilling was the experience of running along the soft wood chips of Pre’s Trail in Eugene two weeks ago, going through dense thickets of small trees, past a small river and flanked by open fields of tall grass. Each day and each experience we have running are meant to be cherished.
As an added bonus, let me also say that it's not a good idea to offer pointless trivia about every single song on a stellar late 80’s/early 90’s playlist while traversing from LA to Santa Barbara. Just take my word for it.
On that note, what are your thoughts? Anything I’ve missed? Any vacation running experiences to share? If so, you can comment below or on Facebook.
Great tips! I agree that racing early in the trip is best so as to have it out of the way and be free to do whatever the rest of the time. However, this does come with potential drawbacks - like if your flight gets cancelled and pushed back a day causing you to miss the race you had scheduled for the first morning of your trip. I’m not bitter or anything though…honest 🤪