Jogging on trips is new roads, always a vivid experience and a completely different perception of the places you travel through. My favorite way to get to know an area for the first time is to get up early in the morning and run through the neighborhood.
But there’s another side to it. Long flights, transfers and acclimatization are not good for your well-being. Falling out of the usual schedule, it becomes more difficult to find time to run. Normal workouts fit poorly into a busy trip, especially if you are traveling with a group. Running in unfamiliar places isn’t always safe. And so on.
I’m sharing my collection of travel jogging tips. Fellow hobbyists, I’d love your input.
What to take with you
- Write a list of running stuff. Lists are nerdy, fact. But then you won’t have to heroically solve stupid problems over forgotten things, wasting time and money. Plus, not having to keep it in your head makes room for more interesting thoughts.
- Take everything you need in your carry-on luggage. Especially if you plan to combine your trip with participating in a race.
- Take every opportunity for a light warm-up and stretching. Simple joint exercises and gentle stretching are enough. Although it sometimes looks like an oddity for runners #6, a stiffened body will be grateful and circulation and well-being will improve.
- Do the plank. It’s a great all-purpose exercise that engages a bunch of muscles, yet you can do it almost anywhere (tested). It takes a minimum of time: in 1-5 minutes you have time to fully experience that the bar is a bit more difficult than it looks from the outside.
- Try compression socks. For those who are prone to swollen feet when sitting for long periods of time. Tested compression socks on flights (total travel time with airports and connections – 12+ hours) – no sign of swelling. I will use them. Naturally, you need to choose the right size compression, in which it is comfortable.
- Push your legs up when you can. What does it do? Preventing blood stasis and edema, easing heart function, stabilizing blood pressure.
- Drink more water, avoid alcohol and, if possible, coffee. The microclimate in the aircraft cabin and at the airport is far from optimal, and promotes dehydration. A water balance disorder is often accompanied by a state of heaviness and general discomfort.
- When you arrive at your destination, go for a jog. Half an hour of light jogging at a very slow recovery pace will do wonders for your body.
- Plan realistically. If you’re expecting a busy trip, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to maintain your running volume. Falling out of the usual schedule, the need to consider the interests of other people, if you are not traveling alone, not always the right conditions, a large number of other plans and activities – some of these (or all together) are likely to undermine a coherent running plan.