Calluses: Press the Refresh Button; Train on Vacation

So I've been home from Florida for a few weeks now, and boy do I have a lot to say about the beautiful combination that vacationing and running can make.

I had been concerned about how my training would actually go while in Florida. It was going to be hot, vacations are all about relaxation, and there were so many other fun things to be doing! Good thing I pre-registered for that Fourth of July 5K to keep me moving.

Training in Florida was actually made easier because Pat decided he was going to run with me. I was really impressed that we both crawled out of bed early in the morning to run a few miles. We would ALMOST get up early enough to avoid the heat and humidity - We never quite made it though. Pat would turn back sooner than I did, but it was easier to get out the door, as it always is, with someone doing it with me. Running in Florida was truly a positive experience. I was concerned that it was going to be a hassle to work it into a vacation schedule, or a drag to interrupt my relaxation time, but it wasn't that at all. It actaully added happy memories to my vacation, because running on vacation is so different than running at home.

Running on vacation, away from the norm, was like pressing the refresh button on my hobby. It was exhilirating to take my routine somewhere else, and at the same time, break a routine.

This summer, while I'm running at home, I never quite escape the knowledge that I'm not just running but training, and that part of the reason I'm running is to be ready for the grueling camp week I will endure when I go back to Bloom. I can never quite put it out of my mind that, despite working hard this summer, it may not be hard enough to make the varsity team. It creates this feeling that I'm not running for me, but for others, which is true to an extent. I have a team and coaches to think about, as well as my own my expectations.

Running in Florida, it felt more like I was venturing out in the early morning to get miles in because I wanted to. No team, no coaches, no expectations were weighing in on my decision to run. And it was great.

I have a friend who is contemplating skipping out on his family vacation to the beach because it is his critical week of training. (I think he says that about every week of training!) This has me baffled. Running is not supposed to take away from life, but add to it. We do not compensate other parts of our life for running, especially not family time, but if the hobby means enough to us we will find time to run through anything.

Let's be honest, most of us have a love/hate relationship with running. I feel if we learn to run without compensating other valuable facets of our lives - but rather use it to supplement the life we already have - we will resent our sport less often.

Running made my vacation better. My vacation made my running better. I want you to understand this, so here are my tips for getting out the door on vacation:

1. Use Mapmyrun.com. This site is fantastic. For those who have never used it, please do and it will change your running life. No longer will you have to waste gas by measuring runs with your car. It's easy to start up an account, and once you do you can measure out new runs from any location and find runs in the area that others have posted.

2. Get a buddy (or a boyfriend) to run with you. This may be easier than you think. Although Pat ran in high school, he bikes now instead. I have a tough time getting him to run with me when we're home, but in Florida he ran with me most days. Because being in Florida was out of the ordinary for us, I think that it was easier to get him to do something out of the ordinary. Encourage your buddy to get out the door for even a mile or two - They won't regret it.

3. Use the pool as motivation. If you're vacationing somewhere warm, hopefully you have access to a pool. One of the most refreshing things you can do is jump straight into the pool from your run - Don't even take the time to change into a swim suit. When I vacationed at Myrtle Beach a few years ago, some days I would finish my run on the beach and jump right into the ocean. This always kept me going during my runs, even when it was increadibly hot and humid. I can't express to you how great it feels. PLEASE, don't do this everyday though, because jumping into cool water immediately after a run isn't exactly the best thing for your muscles. If you can hold off on the pool, stretch first. If you jump in the pool right away (as I usually did...) make sure you stretch often during the day.

4. Search online for a race in the area that you can pre-register for. I used Runnersworld.com and clicked on the button "Races & Places" to find the one in Jacksonville. Try to get someone else to race it with you. Pat agreed to, and even though his dad did not race, he came out to cheer and take pictures. If you're on vacation with friends and family, you could easily turn the race into a group outting. In addition, there's a lot less pressure racing against people you've never met.