Nine
out of ten trips that I take involve some kind of running or racing - I love
exploring new places on foot! And although running truly is the king of minimalist sports, I've come to rely heavily on a few (surprising!) gizmos
and whatnots to make my running trips a lot more fun. Here
they are:
1.
Earplugs
I'm
Queen of the Earplugs, ha! Noisy hotel neighbours? Late-night
street parties right outside your hotel window? No problem. Pop in
a pair of 'plugs and you're good. Plus you'll be back from your early
morning run long before your noisy neighbours surface
from their slumber.
2.
A tennis ball
I'm
all about using a foam roller to get rid of little kinks and niggles, but let's
face it: Foam rollers don't travel well. And their sleek little
travel-friendly cousins (think mini-rollers and sticks) are expensive.
The solution? Pack a tennis ball. Small, light and the
perfect way to roll out little kinks until you're united with your roller.
3. parkrun bracelet/barcode
Looking
for a fun, safe 5 km run in a new-to-you area? parkrun is almost everywhere! Simply
register online (registration is once-off and it's free), print your barcode
and show up!
4. Healthy snacks
I'm big on (healthy!) snacking and nothing frustrates me more than being stuck in the sticks (think small-town gas stations) with nothing healthy to nosh. So I'm always prepared: Lean beef or ostrich jerkey, fruits, nuts, berries or joghurt --> yum!
5. Own water bottle(s)
I'm pretty picky when it comes to water bottles: So. Much. Plastic! So I pack my own glass or stainless steel bottle for travels and just fill it up wherever I go. No thanks to nasties leaching into my H20!
Thanks so much to the lovely ladies from Eat
Pray Run DC, You Signed up
for What? and Mar on the Run for
the opportunity to share my favourite travel whatnots as part of their Friday
Five link-up. Happy weekend, everyone!
I travel to race, too. My husband gives me a hard time about all the food I bring, but invariably at some point he wants some.
ReplyDeleteI do travel with my stick. And as all ball, too. And if we drive? I drag the foam roller along, too.
And speaking of driving - I love my mini crockpot! I can warm up my race day breakfast overnight if we don't have a microwave -- even if we do, it tastes better out go the crockpot.
That sounds just like my husband, lol!
DeleteI've never seen a mini crockpot? Sounds really neat, though!
I have never heard of parkrun before. That sounds interesting! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIt's an amazing concept, Kelli - so simple, but very addictive...! Love it! :)
DeleteI've never heard of Parkrun that sounds cool!
ReplyDeleteIt's a stunning concept, Deborah - I love it! I don't think it's as big in the US as it is in SA yet, but it's definitely worth a visit!
DeleteI like when I can drive to a racecation so I can pack my full size foam roller. I was going to bu a mini but I don't have much balance and it just wasn't working for me when I tried it out. A tennis ball is a great idea. I have never heard of parkrun. Will have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteHope you can find a parkrun near you - it's awesome! :)
Deletelike most of the others, i haven't heard of parkrun but it sounds really interesting. earplugs in case of noisy neighbors is a great idea!!
ReplyDeleteI never leave home without my earlplugs, haha! ;)
DeleteI always bring my own food too, so much better than most of the stuff you find when you travel!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Christy. I much rather slog along a heavy bag or two than be stuck in the sticks with no healthy options! :)
DeleteThanks for sharing, they are some really good tips. I have never heard of parkrun but I will definitely be looking into it. Have a great day!!!
ReplyDeletebakingrunner.blogspot.com
Thanks, Heather! I sure hope you find a parkrun in/near your area - you'll love it!
DeleteJust back from a camping/running holiday in Cornwall and yes, I'm glad I packed earplugs. Some campers just never know when to shut up and go to sleep. The tennis ball is a new one on me, one I'll have to think about. I normally take a Stick to massage my legs after each run, as I do at home. Good post Karien, thanks.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean, Gordon - I think earplugs are an even greater necessity when out camping...!
DeleteGlad you enjoyed - looking forward to reading about your trip.