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Opinion By Jennifer Duffy: Hawaiian Vacation No Walk on the Beach

Posted on: Wednesday, 19 October 2005, 09:00 CDT

By Jennifer Duffy

ON PACE

LIHUE, KAUAI -

I'm drunk on endorphins, and my senses are spoiled.

I'm just back from an hour-long trek along the coast of the island. The beauty of the crashing waves along the sandy shoreline is only topped by the picturesque green mountains behind them.

I awoke just before dawn jonesin' for a run.

After an 11-hour travel day that included a long flight, airport food, a short flight and then dinner with my family in a stuffy resort restaurant, all I could think about was getting outside, sweating and feeling healthy again.

It would've been easy to use my vacation as an excuse to slack off and drink pia coladas by the pool last night, but that wouldn't have felt right.

Vacations are a time to relax and do something nice for yourself without the burden of your regular obligations.

For me, and hopefully for other runners in training, too, that means running (and swimming, biking, surfing and kayaking) rather than eating and drinking by the pool.

I'm taking advantage of not having any deadlines, rushed mornings, meetings or household chores, and using my free time to get as much exercise as possible. I plan to luxuriate outdoors and savor fresh, healthy meals.

If you're taking a trip during your race-training program, here are a few tips and tricks I've learned from other runners:

Do your homework

Do some research to find the best routes before you reach your destination. Do a Google search for running groups in that area and check the local newspaper for health and fitness listings. The visitor's bureau or the hotel concierge should be able to provide you with a map and suggestions.

Do what the locals do. Make a few phone calls to a local personal trainer or a high school track coach to see where they run.

En route

Loosen up before a long flight. Go for a quick run or even just a walk before you get to the airport. Do another short workout when you arrive. Stretch before, during and after your flight.

Stay hydrated. Drink as much water on your flight as you would if you were at work or home. It's easy to forget to drink when you're sitting (and sleeping) in the same spot for several hours.

I usually drink three to five liters of water every day at work, so I took in about the same amount of water on my six-hour flight and layover.

It also wouldn't hurt to take some type of anti-germ/anti- sickness supplement on travel days because airplanes and airports are full of germs. Don't forget to wash your hands often.

Let your feet be your tour guide

Use your morning run to sightsee. You can run through historical sights if you're in Boston or cruise alongside the Left Bank in Paris.

There's no reason to hop on a tour bus when you've got strong legs and tennis shoes.

Get outside your routine

Vacations are a time to try something new. Take advantage of your new environment by cross training with a new sport. If you're in New York City, rent rollerblades and skate through Central Park. If you're in Jackson Hole, Wyo., ski cross-country through Yellowstone National Park.

I plan on kayaking Hanalei Bay, taking surf lessons at Poipu Beach, snorkeling the Na Pali Coast and hiking in Waimea Canyon. Trying a new sport can be a great way to stay fit, have fun and experience the land.

Tip of the week

Know your natural pace. If you're in a new spot and can't map your mileage, it's helpful to know how fast you normally run so you can calculate your distance by time.

* Weekly mileage: I plan to run almost every day here on Kauai, unless I'm feeling worn out. I'll also swim laps in the hotel pool and do some surfing and kayaking. Instead of lifting weights, I'm going to do crunches and trust that my new cross-training endeavors will give my muscles a different workout.

* Long run: I haven't decided. Maybe I'll run only eight or nine miles, maybe 12. It's humid here and there's not much road to run, so I will plan to run for more than 90 minutes, letting my legs and body decide when to stop.

* Now I want to hear about your best vacation runs. Send a brief description (and a photo if you have one) of your most memorable run in an exotic locale. If you've got any tips for training-on-the-go, send those too. Contact me via e-mail at jduffy@azstarnet.com.

Source: Arizona Daily Star

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