9 Ways to Stay Active on Vacation
- 1. Plan your routes ahead.
- 2. Make it a lighter week.
- 3. Bring your bike along for the trip.
- 4. Use the hotel gym.
- 5. Do bodyweight exercises anywhere.
- 6. Train early in the morning.
- 7. Book a walking or cycling tour.
- 8. Try to maintain your regular diet as much as possible.
- 9. Be flexible and have fun.
- Key Takeaways:
One of the best things about running and cycling is that you can do it anywhere! If you’re heading out on vacation and want to maintain your training routine, there are plenty of ways to achieve this goal. Applying these tips on your next trip can help you stay on track, keep up with your goals, and enjoy your vacation to the fullest.
1. Plan your routes ahead.
It’s easy to think, “I’ll just find some time to go for a ride or run today.” and then completely skip it because you’re busy doing other things. Avoid this scenario by planning your workout routine ahead of time and selecting specific routes for each day.
Plenty of online websites allow you to search for popular local running and cycling routes in whatever area you’re in, giving you many options for your trip. Just let someone else know where you’ll be and how long you intend to be there, especially if you’re traveling to a new place.
2. Make it a lighter week.
A vacation week is a great time to focus on recovery. Your body needs plenty of rest to recover from strenuous physical activities like cycling or running, so if you’ve been training hard at home, use your vacation as an opportunity to get some extra rest.
For example, this might mean scheduling one or two extra rest days into your routine. Or, you might do more active recovery, like swimming, walking, or yoga. These types of activities are incredibly easy to integrate into your vacation plans and can be a fun way to explore a new travel destination.
3. Bring your bike along for the trip.
One of the easiest ways to keep up with your cycling routine on vacation is to bring your bike. Of course, this is usually only an option if you’re driving to your destination and have a bike rack that attaches to your vehicle. However, it’s worth the hassle if you can make it work!
If you’ve planned out your cycling routes and routine in advance, you’ll be ready to go as soon as you arrive at your destination. Just make sure to bring any other gear you might need, such as your cycling shorts and jerseys, gloves, a repair kit, or any special clothing for cold or hot weather.
4. Use the hotel gym.
If you’re staying at a hotel while traveling and it has a gym, take advantage of that! Head to the facilities to use the weights and gym equipment. Many hotel gyms even have a stationary bike and treadmill, which you can use to run and cycle indoors with Vingo if you can’t bring your bike along with you on vacation.
Use Vingo’s manual mode to cycle indoors with minimal or entry-level equipment. Even if you don’t have a sensor on hand, you can still enjoy everything Vingo has to offer. Some hotels even offer group classes, such as an indoor cycling class. Do your research and check with various hotels at your vacation destination before you book so you can get the best deal with everything you want and need.
5. Do bodyweight exercises anywhere.
If your hotel doesn’t have a gym or you’re on a more rustic camping vacation, it might be challenging to do any indoor running or cycling. But even if you can’t bring your bike with you along for the trip, you can still stay active by completing bodyweight exercises like lunges, pushups, crunches, squats, and more almost anywhere!
One of the most enjoyable places to do bodyweight exercises is outside at the park. Bring a picnic blanket, a healthy lunch or snack (to refuel afterward), and plenty of water to make it a fun activity for everyone. While the kids play on the playground, do your bodyweight exercises or simply enjoy the sights and sounds of nature while you move your body.
Some public parks even provide outdoor fitness stations with basic equipment like benches, pull-up bars, and step-up platforms. Search the parks in your area to see if there’s one near you!
6. Train early in the morning.
Many people like to pack their days full of activities while on vacation. If this sounds like you, it might be best to plan on training early each day. That way, you can complete your workout before the day gets away from you.
Although waking up early on vacation might not sound ideal, starting your day with a short run or bike ride is a great way to boost your mood and energy throughout the entire day. It will also help reduce stress if you’re worried about keeping up with your regular workout routine while traveling.
7. Book a walking or cycling tour.
Incorporating physical activities into your vacation is an excellent way to keep up with your regular training routine. For instance, why not rent a few bikes and go sightseeing while you clock some miles? Or book a walking tour to explore a historic city on foot. You’ll be amazed at how many steps you can get in with just a short walking tour.
Many walking and cycling tours are also large and group-friendly, so you can book with a group or individually and meet new friends along the way.
8. Try to maintain your regular diet as much as possible.
Of course, your diet will significantly impact your ability to keep up with your normal running and cycling activities while on vacation. Trying everything under the sun and going overboard at new restaurants is always tempting, but doing so might leave you feeling sluggish or even sick if you attempt to run or cycle.
Instead, try to stick to the 80/20 rule. That means you eat nutritious, healthy foods 80 percent of the time and enjoy having a treat the other 20 percent. This method allows you to have fun and enjoy yourself to the fullest without completely wrecking your diet (and, as a result, your fitness goals).
9. Be flexible and have fun.
Remember, you’re on vacation! Enjoy yourself, and don’t stress if you miss a bike ride or a run. Your fitness is just one aspect of your overall health and wellness, and sometimes it’s best to rest, relax, and enjoy. Do what you can to maintain your training while traveling, but also give yourself a chance to unwind and enjoy yourself. You can gradually get back into the grind once you get back home.