Training doesn't stop for life. And life most certainly will not stop for training. So what can you do when you are on the road, on a plane, or basically just very far away from home?
well you can always just get up and run.
Or, you can search around, find a workout that's out of the norm and really shake things out.
I spent 4 days traveling via plane and automobile (no train, sorry John Candy fans) and didn't stay for than 2 nights in the same hotel/area. So what does a 4 day training plan look like?
Day 1
Taking the redeye out from San Diego to Washington DC is kind of my norm for when I head to the east coast. But that doesn't mean my body is used to it. Plane travel regardless of time means you are cramped in a tight metal tube breathing in recycled air for hours. What can you do to combat this?
yoga.
For endurance athletes and the general public alike, yoga has countless benefits. 90 minutes of bikram yoga after a long ass day of airports really helped out for flexibility, controlling your breathing and core strength (something that can always get worked) There are enough yoga studios in major cities that offer drop in classes so you can be picky. And if that's not your thing, anyone with internet access or a strong data plan can get instructional videos for free off the google or that there youtube.
Day 2
When space, time and equipment are all factors you need to rely on what nature gave you. Everywhere I go I have 150 lbs of gym equipment. My body. I also don't need much space to get in workouts that only require me to be in a pushup position or jump a few inches off the ground. Circuit workouts are your best friend when on the road
20 mins:
8 jump squats
20 mt climbers
20 knees to chest
20 sit throughs
20 pushups
jump rope tabata x2
I will admit finding space to do the jump rope was tricky (since it was a balmy 8 degrees outside when I was trying to do this) but I was able to find a spot in a stairwell. I've come to accept looking like a crazy person when it comes to my training. such is life.
Day 3
This was the day I finally got on a treadmill. Again, it was about 8 degrees outside and windy. I'm a strong believer in that all running should be done in nature and the elements but even I have my limits. But rather than plod through a few miles while watching Seinfeld re-runs I mixed it up.
10 mins (moderate pace)
10 mins, increase speed by 1 every 2 mins
5 mins (moderate pace)
10 mins maintain pace, increase incline by 1 every 2 mins
5 mins (moderate pace)
With the increasing the speed, the last 2 mins should essentially be a sprint or damn close to it. This is kind of a go-to for me when I need to be on a treadmill. If you keep the core concept the same you can really mix up the speed/incline intervals to what suits you or your training plan.
Day 4
With my final day I was hoping back on a plane to head home to sunny San Diego. There are several reasons I left the east coast, and single digit temperatures is one of them. With this being my last day, time was tight and didn't leave any room for a solid workout ontop of everything I needed to do. This would count as a recovery day, leading right into the training the following day.
So I enjoyed another cup of tea, sat fireside and relaxed. knowing the hell I would put myself through the following day.
Whether you travel for work or for leisure, you can still get in solid training if you plan accordingly and make the time for it. Being sure to take time to enjoy where you are, and recover so you can keep training hard the next day.
What's ahead?
With no long travel coming up, and my first race of the year only alittle over a month away, it is time to really hunker down and get some miles in on the bike, the road and the pool. I also have some ideas for what I can test on myself during that wonderful time
This last week, I really started to pour over self data. Buying one of those sweet ass GPS watches (that has essentially replaced my brain) I can track a lot more
