Have (running) Shoes:Will Travel

Have (running) shoes: will travel.

Have you ever employed that philosophy? It's only in recent years that I've started bringing my running gear along on vacation excursions. I'm not an avid "gotta-run-everyday" kind of runner, after all. As much as I love to run, I also embrace a few days away from it every now and then (it's called "balance").


There are many advantages to running while on vacation, the biggest one being that you get a chance to see the sights (and hear the sounds) of your travel destination on foot. You also will be able to indulge (within reason) on local food and drink since you'll be burning off some of the calories in your running shoes.

Rest assured, when I talk about running on vacation, I am referring to running outdoors.......on the city streets, in the open air (not cooped up in a hotel gym or workout room). Whether you venture out on your own, or find a local race to participate in, you'll be keeping your body in motion.

Here are some recent vacations where my running shoes accompanied me on my travels:

***California dreaming
Oh, how I LOVED my time in California during the post-Christmas/pre-New Year's time last year. Our family flew to California to cheer on our Iowa Hawkeyes at the 2016 Rose Bowl. We spent a few days in San Francisco, then drove down Old Highway 1 (along the Pacific coast), arriving in Pasadena by game day. While in San Fran, I not only ran across the Golden Gate Bridge....

...but also through the streets of China Town.

I found a race (A Better World NYE 15K) on New Year's Eve morning (in Santa Monica)...and several other Iowa Hawkeye fans had the same idea.

 

I might have found some sidewalk chalk to play with...

Two days later, On January 2nd, there was another race, the Run in the New Year 5K, on Huntington Beach . I got to meet up with one of my virtual friends, Kristina, for that endeavor!

Celebrating the new year with Kristina

***Florida Keyes
The hubby whisked me away on a surprise trip in early March for my birthday. He even found a race for us to do, the Sombrero Beach Run 10K.  The race took place in -get this- a town called Marathon!

I also ran along the coastline while we stayed in the Florida Keyes.

***In the Windy City
While accompanying the hubby on a weekend business trip to Chicago (in January), I met up with a couple of fun-loving runner gal pals, Marcia and Wendy. We ventured out along the lakefront, ran (and jumped) by the Bean, and shared many laughs.

Recently, we had another whirlwind weekend in Chi-Town (for a U2 concert!), and that called for another adventure in the running shoes...this time with summer temps to enjoy.

***Along the Atlantic coast
A year ago, we attended the National Junior College Athletic Association's national swim meet, in support of our son and his swim team. Of course, I got out and did some beach running in Melbourne...

...and found a local race in Fort Pierce, the Race the Runway 10K.

Yes, the finish line was in between a couple of airplanes

***Spring Break in Pennsylvania
Recently, we spent several days with our oldest daughter in Hanover, PA (she moved there last summer). We had been there two other times (in helping her move), but I had never had the opportunity to actually go for a run while there. Finally, my running shoes got to see some action on Pennsylvania streets.....alone in the fog...

...and with the hubby!

Check out that historic cannon!

How about you? Do you bring your running gear along when traveling? Or do you prefer to take a running sabbatical while on vacay?

 I'm linking this with Meranda and Lacey and Rachel for the Friday Five 2.0, and we're talking about vacations today.

And also with Nicole for the Fit & Fashionable Friday link-up