There are a lot of reasons I like to travel, especially during the winter holidays. The mental break from work when you know everyone else is off is a big one. During the winter however, I make a point of going somewhere warm that has plenty of sunshine. I usually make cracks about not liking to be cold but the reality is that I really do hate running when I am cold; that is a problem as I still need to rack up miles in the winter.
I’ve tried to deal with it with all sorts of cold weather gear but once it gets icy, I abandon the roads and trails and head to the gym for my daily grind. Anyone that tries to put in serious miles on a treadmill though knows that your sneakers will get soaked in sweat which really limits how long you can run unless you are willing to swap your kicks mid workout.
This is where heading off somewhere warm where I can detach from work and get back onto trails has become an annual routine for me. These self designed running retreats also have surprised me in that they are great for a reset or a deload. I’m still running but just not with the same volume and most definitely without tempo paces. These retreats let me focus on the primary reasons I love running which is to be out there, appreciating my surroundings, and lost in my thoughts; kind of a contrast from life in the pain cave.
A welcome break from tempo days
I love my long runs. I love that infinite grind. Long runs give me space to think; they’re still my favorite place to spend time. To be clear, these are easy pace zone 2 runs where I can listen to my audible books or music and just run forever. However, my weekly training block doesn’t just have these kinds of runs. I have a couple “quality” tempo ones which are hell; I have no idea why people call them “quality runs”. I also have weekly weight training that usually levels me.
It is really the tempo days that get me. I know I have to do them if I want to grow but there is no getting past that they are tough as hell. They are uncomfortable and mentally demanding so when I go on holiday, I am on holiday from those too. I spend my whole vacation doing my favorite easy pace runs. I also make sure to take advantage of the places I visit by getting miles from things that aren’t part of my regular routine at home.
Swapping in swimming and hiking
Outdoor lap swimming and hiking are my top choices. Swimming and hiking are also really easy to pack for so it keeps things simple. I do like cycling and mountain biking but things get more complicated on the planning side. Plus I am still awful at fixing flats.
Lap swimming is almost an exact drop in replacement for running in terms of routine. What I love about it is that I can grind out laps just as I would with my daily runs but without any of the impact.
Hiking lets me feed that explorer side. I can confidently say that my best hikes have all come from my travels to National Parks like Zion and Volcano. Grinding uneven terrain through those trails is also great stability work.
Keeping things at that do it forever pace lets me get really amazing decompressing workouts in once or twice a day. The key is being consistent at doing the grind while not pushing the pace. That setups the deload.
Why resets are valuable
For me, they aren’t about recovery because something is wrong or I am injured. It is actually the opposite. These resets are about keeping me running injury free.
By the end of a week long trip, my legs feel rested and I am mentally charged up to tackle my tempo and weight training blocks again. That’s the reset I love. Not a full stop; just a different routine for a short period of time so I can comeback fresh physically and mentally.
Habit stacking your vacations with training resets
Holidays and travel don’t need to be more of the same when it comes to your running and frankly some travel makes it pretty hard. Take advantage of what a location has to offer and take on a new vacation training routine. You will get all the grind while leaning into that place and letting your body reset.
Accept when your environment makes your normal impractical. Don’t force running where it doesn’t make sense. Your running isn’t going anywhere. Avoid frustrations and create win wins by experiencing different kinds of grinds that are readily available to you. Focus on getting that reset that keeps you injury free.
Push Pace 