Fun Workouts to Make Your Run Worthwhile

When you’re traveling around the world or even around your state, it’s easy to let your health and wellness take a nosedive. At home, it’s easy to keep up your routines because they’re exactly that: your routines. You may always meet up with friends for a run on this day of the week and time; you always go to the gym on another day; and on the weekend, you’ve got the time and energy to go for a long bike ride, starting from your house, for example.



On the road, though, of course all your typical plans go to the wayside. For many people, even if they love traveling, the loss of routine can be a little jarring and can make their fitness tank. Repeat after me: it doesn’t have to be this way!

Related Read: Campground and RV Fitness Guide

With a little creativity, it’s completely possible to still fit in your fitness while you’re traveling, and this is especially true if you’re a runner like me. Running is one of the best exercises in my opinion -- and of course, I’m partial -- because it’s portable and something that you can do basically anywhere, without any special equipment.



The next time you’re on the go and are pressed for time and ideas, try some of these fun workouts to bring your runs up a notch. Of course, it goes without saying, but be sure that you’ve first secured your medical professional’s blessing and clearance before partaking in these types of workouts or, generally speaking, a running routine.



Some fun workouts to make your runs worthwhile when you’re traveling include the following:



Fartleks. It’s a word that looks and sounds funny -- “fart lick” -- but it’s Swedish for “speed play” and is a type of running that you’ll come to love, especially when you’re traveling. A lot of times, runners rely on the track as a place to go for their fast running. When a track isn’t available, run around wherever you can but use landmarks as your guides. Some examples: run for 5 minutes, and then pick it up and run fast from your starting point until the next lamppost or mailbox you see. Slow it back down for a few seconds, and pick it up again until the next car you see. The sky’s the limit as to how you can customize these types of workouts. Mixing in fast running with slower, recovery-like running can be a great way to increase your endurance and your cardiovascular health, too. Plus, it’s super fun!



30 seconds on/30 seconds off. If you wear a watch when you’re running to keep track of your pace, this type of workout is for you. Start out with a few minutes of easy running, and then for a few sets, run fast for 30 seconds and then recover with some slow running or walking for 30 seconds, and then repeat. How fast you should run depends on your fitness level, what you’re training for (if anything), and your bodily feedback. Fast running is a fantastic way to get some turnover in your legs, which is especially helpful if you’re training for longer distances like half marathons or marathons, and even if you’re not, it’s fun to go fast and feel like you’re flying!



Tempo. Run an easy and relaxed warm-up, and then try to pick up the pace and hold it for an amount of time that makes sense for your current fitness level. This pace should be “comfortably hard,” something that you could envision yourself running and holding for just about an hour (if you’re an endurance runner). Think of this type of run like a slow burn; it shouldn’t be as fast as the fartleks or 30 seconds on/off workout that may leave you feeling like you have to put your hands on your knees to catch your breath.

Related Read: RV Fitness: Exercising in Cooler Weather

Hills. A final workout idea is one that’ll let you really connect with nature, depending on where you’re traveling. We runners joke that hills are speedwork in disguise because of the way they tax your entire system. Find some hills wherever you are, and literally just run up them and jog down. Do a warm-up first, and then see how many times you can run up the hill while still holding good form. Leisurely jog or walk down to recover, and then begin your ascent again. Cool down with a proper recovery before calling it quits.


These are just a handful of some workouts that you can easily do when you’re traveling. Sometimes “just running” is enough and is sufficiently fun, but when you’re looking for some variety and for a challenge, these types of runs really fit the bill. As a side benefit, regularly incorporating these types of runs will leave you feeling stronger and more physically fit!


AUTHOR’S BIO: JANE GRATES
A professional runner and a certified vegan. Acting at the junction of beauty and mathematics to give life to your brand. She also writes reviews and recommendations on Runnerclick, ThatSweetGift, NicerShoes and GearWeAre.