You put fitness so high on your priority list that you never let it slide, even when you travel. That means booking a hotel with a fitness center, perhaps choosing lodging near trails.
But like anything else you do in life, you want to stay safe. After all, there’s rarely an attendant at hotel gyms and pools, and if you decide to venture off the property to sweat, you might be on your own. So how do you stay safe, especially when traveling solo?
When Indoors At A Hotel GymClip on. Use the safety catch on the treadmill. It may not be cool to clip on a leash-like device, but it could keep you safe, says running coach Jenny Hadfield, co-author of Running for Mortals (Rodale, 2007), who trains people through her site, CoachJenny.com. If you trip, this safety device will stop the treadmill.
Stick with the known. A hotel gym isn’t the place to start trying advanced new moves. Use familiar cardio machines and do strength exercises you know well to cut injury chances, says Chris Heuisler, resident RunWestin concierge for Westin Hotels and RRCA-certified coach in Belmont, Massachusetts.
Wear ID. Accidents can happen anywhere, and if you’re in one, you might not be able to tell people who you are. The solution could be as basic as sticking a business card in your pocket or as comprehensive as buying a Road ID wrist or ankle bracelet. “The basic information the Road ID tells about you, including blood type, allergies and emergency contact, can expedite the process if you were to injure yourself in an unknown place,” Heuisler says.
When Sweating Outside Your HotelAsk about safe routes. Check in with the front desk and ask whether they have recommendations for safe areas around the hotel for running, says Hadfield, who does this herself. “If the course is public and other runners are out, I head that way,” she says, adding that she only runs outside while traveling during daylight hours. “If not, I stick with a short course around the hotel or hit the treadmill.”
Find a buddy. The buddy system isn’t just for kids. It also can give you peace of mind when exercising in strange territory. Before your trip, do some research to find group runs in the area you’re traveling to; running clubs and athletic stores often post this information. Some hotels even host free group runs. The best part about running with others, besides added security? “You can take in the sights, sounds and smells and embrace the city more than if you were running alone,” Heuisler says. And you might even make a new friend.
Leave a note. Scribble a quick note to leave in your hotel room as to where you’re heading during your workout. Then text a friend or family member, even if they’re not with you. Some runners also use the Road ID app with eCrumb tracking, a real-time tracker so your friends and family know where you are, Hadfield says.
Stay alert. Ditch the tunes when you’re out running in new surroundings. With earbuds in, you can’t hear what’s happening around you, which could be problematic in an unfamiliar place. “Take off the headphones and lose yourself in the new surroundings versus the music blasting through your head,” Heuisler says. Then trust your instincts. “If something feels or looks off, get away from the situation or head in another direction,” Hadfield says.
- See more at: http://www.oxygenmag.com/article/safety-11267#sthash.AFWG60BB.dpuf
But like anything else you do in life, you want to stay safe. After all, there’s rarely an attendant at hotel gyms and pools, and if you decide to venture off the property to sweat, you might be on your own. So how do you stay safe, especially when traveling solo?
When Indoors At A Hotel GymClip on. Use the safety catch on the treadmill. It may not be cool to clip on a leash-like device, but it could keep you safe, says running coach Jenny Hadfield, co-author of Running for Mortals (Rodale, 2007), who trains people through her site, CoachJenny.com. If you trip, this safety device will stop the treadmill.
Stick with the known. A hotel gym isn’t the place to start trying advanced new moves. Use familiar cardio machines and do strength exercises you know well to cut injury chances, says Chris Heuisler, resident RunWestin concierge for Westin Hotels and RRCA-certified coach in Belmont, Massachusetts.
Wear ID. Accidents can happen anywhere, and if you’re in one, you might not be able to tell people who you are. The solution could be as basic as sticking a business card in your pocket or as comprehensive as buying a Road ID wrist or ankle bracelet. “The basic information the Road ID tells about you, including blood type, allergies and emergency contact, can expedite the process if you were to injure yourself in an unknown place,” Heuisler says.
When Sweating Outside Your HotelAsk about safe routes. Check in with the front desk and ask whether they have recommendations for safe areas around the hotel for running, says Hadfield, who does this herself. “If the course is public and other runners are out, I head that way,” she says, adding that she only runs outside while traveling during daylight hours. “If not, I stick with a short course around the hotel or hit the treadmill.”
Find a buddy. The buddy system isn’t just for kids. It also can give you peace of mind when exercising in strange territory. Before your trip, do some research to find group runs in the area you’re traveling to; running clubs and athletic stores often post this information. Some hotels even host free group runs. The best part about running with others, besides added security? “You can take in the sights, sounds and smells and embrace the city more than if you were running alone,” Heuisler says. And you might even make a new friend.
Leave a note. Scribble a quick note to leave in your hotel room as to where you’re heading during your workout. Then text a friend or family member, even if they’re not with you. Some runners also use the Road ID app with eCrumb tracking, a real-time tracker so your friends and family know where you are, Hadfield says.
Stay alert. Ditch the tunes when you’re out running in new surroundings. With earbuds in, you can’t hear what’s happening around you, which could be problematic in an unfamiliar place. “Take off the headphones and lose yourself in the new surroundings versus the music blasting through your head,” Heuisler says. Then trust your instincts. “If something feels or looks off, get away from the situation or head in another direction,” Hadfield says.
- See more at: http://www.oxygenmag.com/article/safety-11267#sthash.AFWG60BB.dpuf
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