After getting back from Indonesia last week, I didn’t feel fully like myself, so it’s been a few days since I posted.
I fell asleep by accident a few times in the afternoons while I was sitting up due to jet lag and I had no appetite (which is seriously unheard of for me).
Does this look like the face of a girl who doesn’t get excited about food? .
But I’m all back to normal now and I wanted to do a post about exercising on vacation, inspired by my thoughts during my Indo trip.
I don’t think there’s necessarily one right way to handle exercising on vacation, but in general, I like to run during trips for a few reasons:
1. It’s my favorite way to explore the city where I’m staying and a fun way to switch up my normal terrain. Running on beach boardwalks, over rocky trails, or on city sidewalks? Yes, please!
2. It’s low maintenance since I don’t have to pack many extra clothes to be able to run and I can do it even if there’s no gym nearby.
3. When I take multiple days in a row off from exercising, I tend to have a hard time falling asleep.
4. To me, it’s easier to maintain my fitness rather than skipping a few weeks of running and having to get back in shape.
With that being said, I think flexibility is also really important when I’m out of my normal routine.
Take my recent 2-week trip to Indonesia, for example. Knowing that some trips are a one-in-a-lifetime experience, it seem silly to worry about something small like being able to work out. Back when I was consistently over-exercising, though, I refused to miss a run, so I know it can be a very real fear.
Now, although I still really enjoy running, I’m happy to just stay as active as I can without stressing about it, especially since I’m not currently training for a race.
The little hotel gym
I checked beforehand and learned there’d be no way to run outside my hotel’s gates in Jakarta. Imagine a more populated, extra-hectic version of New York City without all of the traffic rules and sidewalks, and you kind of have a picture of Jakarta.
My hotel did have a gym, though, so I packed a couple of running outfits and decided I’d use the treadmill there to run enough to maintain my fitness and clear my head from time to time. I kept in mind if I needed to take 2 full weeks off from running because of lack of time or gym equipment, I could just consider it a nice rest for my legs.
Running in that little non air-conditioned gym was quite an experience since the treadmill belt was slippery, there were lots of mosquitos inside, and sometimes people would come spectate and watch anyone who was working out.
I also did laps around the small gated lot of our hotel during the last few days of the trip, which ended up being funny since the same friendly hotel staff members would wave and say a cheery “hello!” every time I ran by.
And a couple of other guests came up to me during breakfast and asked me about my running, so lesson learned: Indonesia’s running culture is different than America’s.
Anyway, during the first week, I ran 3-4 quick miles on 3 different days (taking the first few days off because of jet-lag and the 11-hour time difference). During the second week, I ran 3-4 quick miles on 4 separate days.
Running just enough to stay in shape worked out well because I was able to do it before everyone else woke up. It was enough to feel like my running hadn’t missed a beat once I started restarted my normal routine again (usually something like 5-7 miles per day, 6 days per week).
A 6 mile run with my sister on Sunday- our first run together all summer!
In summary:
-Running keeps some consistency in my routine when everything else (food, people, sleep schedule, surroundings, etc.) is totally different than normal.
-Cutting my running in half is just fine for a couple of weeks.
-On trips that aren’t super active (like our trip, which involved sitting in about hours of Jakarta traffic every day), it’s really nice to start the day off on an active note.
-Flexibility, flexibility, flexibility– it’s really important for vacation and all of the time!
Questions for you– I’d love for you to weigh in!
How do you handle exercising on vacation? Do you worry about getting out of shape? Do you feel more freedom to indulge on vacation if you can maintain your normal exercise routine?
For runners: what’s your favorite place to run– beach, mountains, or other?
I always workout whilst I am on holiday, as I have more time than I do at home, but I try to do things that I wouldn’t do at home, like run along the beach, or go paddle boarding. I don’t really go to the hotel gym, as I can go to the gym at home.
I love your idea of trying new ways to exercise on vacation! I went paddle boarding once on vacation and it was a killer workout- much better than staying in the hotel gym.
I’m like you in that exercise gives my vacation life a sense of normalcy. If I’m on a fairly active/exploratory vacation, I’m more likely to not work out. Otherwise, I’m an early riser anyway, so I usually squeeze in a quick run or gym session before the day really starts. Working out balances my energy (gives me some in the morning, but uses up enough that I can still sleep at night) and feels good 🙂
A lot of people I’ve talked to think I’m crazy because I really love running on the beach. Sand definitely slows me down, but it’s easy on my joints. And the view is so pretty!
Balancing your energy is a great way to describe working out. I feel more energized after I do it, but also more tired and ready to go to bed at night, so it really does balance out perfectly.
And I’ve heard that running on sand burns something like 30% more calories than running on the streets. Not sure if that’s true, but I’d believe it since it’s definitely tougher.
Loved reading about your experience, Liv. I have very similar feelings about exercising on vacation. If it’s an active vacation, then I tend not to think about running or working out too much. But when I’m in a conducive area for running (which is def the best way to see the area) I genuinely look forward to it. Favorite place to run: anywhere near the water!
Active vacation are my favorite 🙂 If I could recruit people to go on an all-hiking vacation with me, I’d be all for it!
Ah I’ve totally struggled with anxiety over not being able to exercise on vacation, but seriously, a few days off actually helps me get back at it stronger and harder (whether that means finally getting to a gym or doing a hotel room workout). You’ve discovered great flexibility and balance!
And right now, vacations with minimal workouts is just what I need for my body to rest 😉
I love the feeling of getting to run again after not being able to for a few days- I feel so rested up and like I could go forever!
I normally workout while on vacation, but probably not as much as I normally do. I typically just stick to running like you said because its easy and low maintenance.
Running is my go-to when I am on vacation. It is a lot easier to pack a running outfit and a pair of running shoes rather than packing weights or other equipment. Plus it is the best way to explore new territory. I always like to take a bit of an exercise break while on vacation and take a few more rest days than normal, or lighter workouts so I can get back from vacation feeling refreshed and ready to get right back into the routine.
I try to stay as active as a I can while on vacation, but usually that means biking/walking/hiking to get anywhere! Unless I’m super sure that my surroundings are safe, I don’t usually run alone in a new place. It’s always nice to take a break from your routine, and it looks like you got a great chance to do so!
If I work out on vacation, it is more of a recreational thing… working out just makes me feel relaxed so that’s a big part of it. Sometimes I prefer to try to incorporate physical activity into a vacation day rather than having a structured workout. For example, going on a hike or taking a long walk on the beach.
Side note: I can’t imagine working out with spectators and mosquitoes… talk about making memories on that trip 🙂
Walking on the beach is one of my absolute favorite things to do on vacation. I love doing walking with my mom and we’ll decide to walk to the next pier (which never seems that far away) and before we know it, we’ll have walked 5 miles! And I always love hiking, too 🙂
Loved this post! I also LOVE exploring cities by running through them early in the morning before anyone is out. It is sometimes my favorite part of traveling! But…. there is also something to be said about going with the flow of the vacation and doing what you feel like AND not missing out on other aspects because you absolutely have to workout.
Thanks, Hayley! Exploring by running is one of my favorites, too. Especially when I get up early and go run while other people are still sleeping, I feel like I get to see a whole other part of the place that no one else sees 🙂
I don’t remember if I ran the last time I went on vacation…it was about 6 years ago. I do plan to on my next one because it is in DC and I want to explore the city!! I think vacation is for both relaxing and doing things you love. Would you take a break from reading just because it’s vacation? Of course not! 🙂
Ellie, you’re overdue for a good vacation! I hope DC is wonderful and I bet exploring the city through running will be a lot of fun 🙂
I think you have a very healthy way of handling this! I don’t over-exercise, but I’m very Type A and skipping a run makes me want to break out in hives. Most of my trips are for races and/or hiking, so usually I don’t have to make a choice.
I love that you do so much traveling for races! Running a marathon in all 50 states is such an awesome goal.
I love going on runs on vacation just to check out a new place! But I often end up walking around sooo much that sometimes that’s a workout in itself.
I love workout out on holiday, but usually try to include some workouts that are holiday specific, like SUP, tennis, hiking etc that I don’t do in London as well as a few runs 🙂
I love to run on vacation because I have more time for enjoyable runs and I don’t feel like I’m trying to squeeze anything in before work. However, I have been known to get too concerned with fitting everything in, so it only works best if my travel buddies like sleeping in! And I’m all about that beach run 🙂
I love running on vacation because it lets me explore a new city or town. I also try to walk as much as I can.
For me, I try to just stay active throughout the events we do in the day. Going for hikes or walking on the beach: it’s the best of both worlds as it allows me to spend time with family while getting a little exercise. I’d rather spend the vacation chatting with my family than making sure I am up early to get a run in. 🙂
Haha I don’t know what I would have done if people watched me workout like that! I think it’s important to have that flexibility on a trip because I would rather make memories than stress about getting a workout in. If I were training for a race it would probably be different. At the same time, if I’m able to I will because it’s fun to run in new places! I ran on the boardwalk in San Diego a few summers ago and my runs literally felt effortless between the gorgeous view of the beach and being distracted by people haha.
I just got back from 3 weeks of traveling to 2 different places…and I’m with you. I love running as my workout on vaca because I agree that it’s a great way to explore. I also love hiking (where location permits!) as and activity to sight see. I just got back from LA and hikes the Santa Monica mountains and also didi it in Hawaii when I was there few years ago. I count as a 2-for-1 activity on vaca! And I definitely don’t try to feel guilty when it comes to indulging in the food aspect of traveling. I just try not to stuff my face…lol! Loved seeing your photos from your trip btw! 🙂
I have to be honest, the thought of going for long periods of time with NO exercise does make me a bit anxious. However I am fine if I know I can maybe squeeze in a bit of movement here and there to keep myself energetic and feeling good. I think people should approach exercising on vacation the same way they view their vacation- a chance to loosen up a bit while still enjoying themselves. I like how flexible you were with having to decrease your mileage and intensity a bit to match your current situation. So funny how people may have thought you were being chased :P.
I didn’t want exercise to become a focus of the trip for me and it didn’t, thankfully, but I really did feel more energized after squeezing in a few quick workouts here and there! I noticed that I felt more tired and sluggish on the days where I sat around more, so I really was able to enjoy the other parts of the trip more fully when I stayed active.
That is cool to travel around the world. Especially if it’s Indonesia. I like your blog very much. Your experience is precious for me.
love it! I normally just stay extra active on vacation. Take walks, rent a bike, swim at the beach etc. It’s a nice little break from my normal work outs but I just feel like of gross if I’m just sedentary for too many days lol
And this is so me!