By Nick Soros
Running is one of the most popular activities the people do to keep fit and it has many different health benefits. Running while you are traveling is a great way to explore all the new places that you will be visiting as you will see things along the way that you might not have otherwise experienced. You may find that when you run on a regular basis that you feel more prepared to tackle other physical activities that you may encounter on your trip. It is also a very effective way to fight off the effects of jet lag.
If you feel daunted by the thought of running while traveling, then these tips can get you started.
Start Off Slow
If you have never done any serious running before then you will need to start off only running short distances. In the beginning try not to think too much about what you can’t do but concentrate on what you have achieved so far. At the beginning you may find that you have to walk some of the route but this will change as you become more experienced and get fitter. There are a number of programs online that you can follow which will get you running a specified distance within a certain amount of time. The advantage of using these online programs is that you can access them from wherever you are around the world.
Establish A Routine
This is not always so easy to do when you are traveling but it is still an important step. One of the easiest routines to get into is to go for a run as soon as you get up. This means that you do not have time to try and talk yourself out of it. If you get everything that you will need organized the night before then you literally can just get up and go. You may find that another time of day works better for you but the important thing is that you get yourself into a routine.
Plan Your Route Carefully
Even if you are traveling in an unfamiliar place you can still plan your route. There are a number of apps that you can use where you can view routes that have been suggested by locals. You can also use online maps to try and plan out your route even before you land in a new country. In order to reduce the likelihood of getting lost you may just want to run to a certain point and then turn round and run back. You should always let someone else know what your route will be when you are running in another country.
Organize Your Gears
You may be restricted as to how much running gear you can take with you when you are traveling. The truth is all you really need is clothes that you are comfortable running in and a good pair of shoes. If you are also planning on doing a lot of walking and hiking while you are traveling then you may be able to just take one pair of hiking shoes with you or a pair of best men’s walking shoes will also be suitable for running. Other things that you may need for your run include sunglasses and somewhere that you can keep your phone and money. These are all things that you are likely to need when traveling anyway so you don’t necessarily need to take anything extra with you.
Don’t Make Excuses
There are many excuses that you could use to not go running while you are traveling. The important thing to remember is that giving into these excuses will make it harder for you to reach your goals. You may be unfamiliar with the area and it may be a lot warmer than you are used to. Some people may also be uncomfortable running in public but you will probably find that most people do not even give you a second glance. All of these excuses will need to be ignored if you are committed to becoming a serious runner.
Keep A Diary
Keeping a diary of your runs can be very motivating. It can help you see how far you have come and can help you set goals for the future. The bonus of this with running when traveling is that it is also a record of all the places that you have visited and the things that you have seen while you have been running. The main thing to keep a record of is the distance that you have travelled and how long it has taken you. If you have stopped along the way while you are running to take some photographs then these can be included as part of this diary and you will find that it becomes a real keepsake.
Keep Updating Your Goals
Setting yourself a goal is another good way to motivate yourself to keep running. Every time you meet one of the goals you have set yourself, you should set one that is more challenging. This could be to run the same distance in a quicker time or to run further. This will help to ensure that you are always pushing yourself further and you may be able to achieve more than you ever thought possible. You may decide to enter official running events as part of your goals and you can time your traveling to coincide with events that are taking place in different cities.
Running when traveling does come with its struggles but it is definitely something that is worth pursuing. Even if you think you are not fit enough to start running, you may be surprised at what you can achieve. It can take a lot of dedication to make yourself go for a run when you are traveling and there will be times when you find it very difficult to get out of bed. However, the benefits that you will get when running makes it all worthwhile and running when traveling can be even more enjoyable.
Armed with a budget and a desire to get fit and stay that way, we are glad to welcome you to Walkingshoescenter.net. Life’s greatest journeys begin with a single step (Mark M. Roberts)
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