Training and Traveling

Monday, October 12, 2015 · Mike Davis

The Challenges of Training and Traveling; no problem! Yeah right! Traveling for business or on vacation the idea of running and exploring in new locations is exciting and even motivating. This morning “coach” Kathleen Davis chats over a cup of coffee about the challenging realities of training and traveling. Most of us in the running community have had to deal with cramming a training run or two into our travel plans whether it be on vacation or during a work trip. Sure, you can do it right? Just wake up an hour before the rest of the family and head out the door or, skip that breakfast with your co-workers so that maybe you can join them for dinner after the all-day seminar you have to attend. If your schedule were the only thing you had to contend with while trying to train for that big race while traveling cross country or abroad, I would say it is easily doable. What many of us don’t consider when we are packing our running gear into that suitcase is the other factors that have nothing to do with juggling a schedule. That’s right, I am talking about Mother Nature, Hurricane Joaquin, and humidity at 97% with temps at 88. Add to this mix the fact that it is ragweed season and I don’t remember if I left my inhaler in New Hampshire or North Carolina? While back in NC and training for the White Mountain Milers Half Marathon at the end of the month, I had been planning my 10 mile long run last weekend. I turned on the TV to discover that we are in for 3-5 days of rain and wind. Now I am talking some serious rain and wind, thank you Joaquin! Now at this point I had to make the decision that it was neither safe nor wise to venture outside for my long run. I know many of you had to deal with the same issue as me and it was frustrating to say the least. I ended up with a 7 mile run on Monday during a small window of opportunity where the winds were somewhat behaving. As a runner we just can’t predict what the weather will do during our travels and the impact it will have on our training. With all the traveling I have been doing back and forth on the east coast these past 6 months I really have been struggling with maintaining my conditioning because the environments are not the same. Michael has been doing his share of traveling as well and I don’t recall a time when he hasn’t been dealing with some virus that he picked up somewhere in his travels. Another issue that he had to deal with while on the west coast was time adjustment and where is a safe place to go out for a run? Your internal clock truly becomes challenged when you travel to another time zone. Those early morning runs are not so easy to get up and going for. Some areas you visit don’t always come with a nice running path or safe roads to run on and you are left with chance or accepting the fact that you will be running on the treadmill. Fast forward to today, Columbus Day and deciding on whether or not to do that 11 mile training run that was pushed off for a couple days due to travel and a cold. It’s time to make the decision as to what is best for the body and not force a run that could put us in a worse place in the end. Adjust as you should and be okay with “not running.” Have a great Columbus Day and be well! KathyD