Five reasons why you should run on vacation

When you hear the word ‘vacation,’ running usually isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But running is the perfect form of exercise when you are travelling because it allows you to sightsee, stay in shape and get a little you-time.

Here are five reasons why you should pack a pair of trainers on your next trip.

1.- The perfect way to explore a new place

Running in a place you’ve never been lets you see a lot more than what you’d see from a bus or sauntering around (though of course, you’ll do that, too). It’s a great way of learning where to go in a new city.

You can explore a city’s history, beaches, trails and everything in between. If you are visiting a hilly city like San Francisco, Vancouver or Paris, you can get in a hill workout and see the sights at the same time. You may even catch the sunrise if you get up early enough.

2.- It is an efficient way to get around

The more you use your legs, the less you need alternative means of transportation. One of my favourite things to do is to run to the beach, swim and run back, which is also a great way of staying cool.

3.- Great way to stay in shape

We are not asking you to do interval training, but why not stay in shape while on vacation? Your run does not have to be as intense, but at least you will not go home feeling bad that you completely neglected your training.

4.- Immerse yourself in the local running community

Run the local parkrun, or check out if there are any run clubs on Strava or at the local running store. This is a great way to meet like-minded people and immerse yourself in the culture. You may discover new places to eat or visit from the recommendations of local runners, not to mention making new friends.

A local run group will also help you find the best trails, routes, and runs in the area–allowing you to gain the full vacation experience.

5.- It looks cool on Strava

Whenever someone is in a unique place on my Strava feed, I develop a severe case of FOMO (fear of missing out) and instantly smash the kudos button.

Imagine being a local legend in Greece… or achieving a CR in Australia. Also, do not be afraid to share landscape pictures of beaches, local eats and sunsets for some extra jealousy and kudos on your post.

posted Thursday September 15th
by Marley Dickinson