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Written by Brian Grasky
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Friday, 02 March 2007 |
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Many times I find that a work requirement or family trip means that I have to travel. Although I enjoy traveling and seeing new places, it means that my training will have to take a back seat. However, after years of traveling I’ve learned a few ways to make the most of training days on the road. My aim here is to share those with you so that those last-minute trips have the least impact on your training. I’ve created a short list to help you on your next trip.
- Set priorities when packing. By this I mean pack your training clothes first, then fill what room is left with business clothes.
- Always take the essentials. If you take along a pair of running shoes, a swim suit, a pair of shorts, a t-shirt, a pair of socks, and goggles, you have all you need to catch a quick swim, hit an indoor bike, go for a run, lift weights, or do just about anything you can think of. Swim cords are a great option as well—use them to hone your swimming, but also as a weight or strength program while in a hotel room.
- Pack a towel. I always take a small towel with me. The small, thin towels you may get at some races work great, so does a large hand towel from home. This way you’re prepared for bare-bones gyms that don’t have towels or for a run in a park with a sponge bath afterwards in an airport restroom.
- Print off a few days’ worth of your training plan before you go. If you have time on one day but may not on another, you may want to rearrange your training week to take advantage of that dead time.
- Bring a good book. You never know when you may be stuck in traffic or in an airport for a while, or have more time for that indoor bike than you thought.
- Use your time. Lunch breaks during business meetings might be a good time to catch a run in a new city or do a few stair climbs. See #3 for tips on cleaning up afterwards.
- Take a map. Either print a map of your area or get one from the hotel concierge when you arrive. Take it with you on runs and use it to find a local gym or pool. This will help avoid that embarrassing lost situation. Also mark off local bike and running shops that can help you find good routes and paths to exercise on while in town.
- Eat right on the road. Forget the burgers and fries; go for salads and healthy sandwiches instead. Even many fast food joints have gourmet sandwiches nowadays. It’s not any slower or more expensive, but may take a bit longer to find. Ask a local or hotel concierge. Smoothies make a great breakfast vs. sugary espresso mixtures, and even most quick stops have fresh fruit any more.
- Repay your family when you return home. If you have a spouse or family, remember that you’re in this as a team. Give them some time when you return before you go out for that next run. If you make them happy, you’ll get more time to train in return.
I hope this helps you on your next trip. If you have more tips that might be helpful to others, feel free to offer them up on the Mach3 Forum!
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Putting it all Together 
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