Taking Sneakers Sailing
I have never done this, and even if I did, I would not look as happy or healthy!
Until recently, I never understood vacation runners–that is, people who run whilst traveling. I realize that hotel gyms exist for a reason, and I’ve watched people run on cruise ship tracks and down boardwalks and around footpaths in Walt Disney World. And I always wondered–why? Why are they doing this? Who would get up at an ungodly hour while on vacation just so they could run? Aren’t they getting enough exercise doing regular vacation things–say enjoying a strenuous shore excursion or walking through a theme park all day long? I prefer to rent a vacation house and do as much walking as possible.
What I’ve learned, of course, is that there’s a reason for this vacation running. If they are runners, they run every day–or at least every other day. This includes time spent on vacation. I understand this now, as I’ve been trying to (slowly) learn to run myself. And so, for my upcoming trip, I have a few new additions to the packing list. Running shoes. Sports bra. The warm-weather running pants and top I just purchased. I’ve become one of those people.
I do have more than a few concerns, however. First–when traveling to a new city, how does one know where to run? I’ve Googled ‘where to run in the French Quarter’ over and over, and have read various answers–but many are overly complicated (like ‘first you have to take a bus or a cab…’) and many are overly long (like ‘this is an nice ten mile loop’–yeah, three would be good for me, thanks). Of particular importance to me is A. not getting hit by a car, bus, or trolley and B. not running into a neighborhood that I’d be best to run out of.
Of course, this trip is not just a New Orleans trip–I’ll also be spending seven days on a cruise ship filled with free food. Running is going to have to happen there, too. So what’s the proper running etiquette on a cruise ship? Can you only run on the sad little running track that’s typically covered in lounge chairs? What about other open decks? I realize there’s a gym on board, but I super hate treadmills.
And then there are future trips. I’ll be in Walt Disney World (again) for nine days next month–and I’ll be staying at the one resort that doesn’t have an outside running/walking/jogging path. In March, it’s road trip time. I think that trip will be the most difficult of all, as I’ll be in new locations each day–and I certainly won’t be staying in hotels nice enough to include a gym.
I’m concerned that these questions will prevent me from achieving my run-every-day-while-traveling goal. And I do plan to run. Every. Day. Because I don’t want to return home from any of my upcoming trips to find myself in the same shape I was in back in September, huffing and puffing through the 60 sad seconds of a Couch to 5K Week 1 run. I’m going to be away almost as much as I’ll be home for the next three months–so while I’m away, I have to run like I would at home. It’s as simple as that.
So–how to I help ensure that running happens during my travels? For those of you who manage to keep up a exercise routine on the road, what’s your secret?
I always used to wonder this too, until I started running and realized that if you’re in a routine, if you miss a day or two it can really set you back. Which Disney resort are you staying at?
Yeah…I now understand the whole set back thing. One cold and two trips caused my 9 week long Couch to 5K program to take…well, let’s just say ‘longer than 9 weeks!’
I’m staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge, which doesn’t have outdoor running areas because it is surrounded by fenced off animal areas. Which, to be fair, are lovely. And there is a gym…
Yes, I did the Couch to 5K, pretty much finished it, and took a few weeks off… tried to pick up where I “left off” and ended up starting the whole thing over again!
I’ve always wanted to stay at AKL because it looks so beautiful… though I can understand about not having the running area, it is a shame though.
I know you hate treadmills, but while you are in Charlotte, if you stay at one of our 2 downtown hotels, you’ll have access to a (very small) gym- or you could use our (even smaller) pool or go across the street to the aquatic center for Olympic size pools. Even our 5 hotels that aren’t downtown have gyms, I think… hum.. probably ought to check on that. The “owner” ought to know such things, I guess. Charlotte also has lots of good running routes- at least I see lots of runners when I am downtown . And there are quite a few ‘greenway’ areas around the city, too, that runners really like- according to the paper. I prefer to walk on my treadmill or use my Wii.
While on the ship, if you can’t run on all the decks (and I think you probably can), you can at least power walk! Have to spend a bit longer to cover the same distance, but you burn the same calories whether you walk 3 miles or run 3 miles. It just goes faster when you run. In New Orleans, ask the front desk clerk. If nothing else run the same 1 mile route 3 times- or go around the same few blocks LOTS of times!
http://www.mapmyrun.com
Plot your course ahead of time!! Love that site. And as for running on a cruise ship, I’ve only been on 2, but on those 2 cruises I did not see runners anywhere but the little jogging circuit (where I was too). Definitely not on any deck anywhere! Congrats on sticking with the plan. You’re one of us now…. is that good or bad?
Thanks for the link!
And while I definitely wouldn’t call myself ‘one of you’ (I haven’t been able to run since THURSDAY because of this stupid weather) I am looking forward to becoming ‘one of you’…so I guess it is a good thing! 😉
I agree with the above… check out mapmyrun (or if you have the Nike+ GPS app on your iPhone you can check the routes in the area).
Never stayed at AKL… I’m afraid you may have to gym it there… and if you’re not comfortable on the track on the ship (although from the post above this one it looks like you’ve already done that) you can always hit the gym there too.
I haven’t been on passporter in like a year and wanted to catch up with your adventures! Hope your project is proving to be an amazing experience!