After a vacation to Florida (spending some quality time with one of my best friends) last week, a productive seminar yesterday, a good swim this morning, and tonight's ALR workout cancelled due to storms-I can finally update this fine space here.
While I was away I had the opportunity to put some of the tri training aside and bank some good miles in several locations. I am the type who enjoys the mental break of running in unfamiliar places. I tend to become more relaxed about things. If I travel with other runners, as I did this past weekend, I don't even bother with taking a Garmin. I just simply throw together a route and run. No preconceptions, no prescribed paces to hit, just new territory to explore. One thing I notice is if that I run the same route all the time, especially if I have a bad one or two, I tend to feel a certain way about it and become almost conditioned to respond a certain way to it. This is why it's important to have variety to where and when you run-it seems to keep it fun and the possibilities open. Typically you're more relaxed when not in your normal environment so it's easy to chill and just go (in my Type-A endurance athlete kind of way, of course!).
From Thursday to Sunday, I started by spanning the shores of Fairhope, AL and Mobile Bay-watching dolphins on a boardwalk and a scary-large alligator swim by. Every time I visit that place I make it well-known my fondess for that town-lots of people out being active, well kept buildings, and a very 'classic' feel. That day Rebecca and I put in a 10-miler in the morning and then doubled with 5 in the evening-something I haven't done in a while on two new routes. After running in Alabama it was time to hit the beach in Florida and slog through the intense heat and humidity for my long run. FYI the streets of Panama City Beach are desolate at 6:00 AM! It was a hot, humid, and likely slower run, but I didn't mind as much as I typically would-it's not every day I get to jump in the ocean right afterwards!
Many say that you should not worry about running on a vacation. I agree with this statement, but in the sense that I still run but not worry as much about it as I usually do back home. I enjoyed a nice mental break and came back surprisingly refreshed for this week after traveling.
What are your thoughts on 'vacation runs'?
Stay the course.
6 comments:
Hi Adrienne,
I often find running tough to do when traveling..the routes are unfamiliar etc. But when you do it it is really fun ...the people and sites are all new!
Im a data nerd though so I always have my garmin. Trying to rack up a run in every 5 degree square on the planet 8)
-paul
Checking out the Ironman Florida run course in Panama City Beach, I see. Hmmmm....
Hahah, Jon. I reminded her of that when we were running one morning...
I'm so glad you came down for a visit. I'm also glad I was able to command the dolphins out for you to see! :) I love those little guys.
More than that, I'm so glad that this wonderful sport brought me YOU! I can't wait for more running adventures next month. :)
Alabama!!! I used to live there, for many years (Huntsville)...we'd always travel to Panama City or other cities along the coast. Miss it. One of my favorite races was the Azalea in Mobile - loved that race.
Anyway...
So fun you got to go visit some friends and had a great time. I always run on vacation. Harder when you don't know the routes but sometimes that makes it more fun. If you don't get lost, which has happened to me. Haha.
I think vacation running is the best part of vacations, honestly! I love trying new routes and seeing new sites. Yours sounded pretty nice, especially that town in Alabama (who knew?). I was in Panama City in April, btw, and it was still hopping at 6 a.m. b/c there were still spring breakers coming in as I was heading out for runs!
I must say I love my familiar running routes and am not adventurous enough to look forward to running in new places, although I do. My problem is that I get lost often..
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