I know, I know, it’s unforgivingly icy outside right now. It might’ve been easier to enjoy a jog along the beach in summer, but your body’s with you in every season, in sickness and in health… So it’s best to keep it operating optimally come rain, hail or shine. For that reason, PEDESTRIAN.TV have found a new running buddy in Blackmores ahead of the Official Blackmores Sydney Running Festival. A bunch of us in the office are gearing up to participate, and getting supped up on their Superfoods range. For more info and shin-splint-reducing tips, hit up the Blackmores running HERE or set yourself a challenge and sign up for the run HERE.
If you’re spending the Australian winter in Europe this year, let me start off by saying this: I dislike you. Truly. I dislike you very much.
The only little glimmer of happiness I get out of knowing you’ll be galavanting across sun-drenched Grecian beaches while the rest of us get our Stan Smiths muddied in the rain is that you might let your exercise regime slip a little.
You’ll simply be too busy enjoying copious amounts of Fromager d’Affinois to get a solid work out in.
But where there is a will, there is a way. Here’s how to incorporate exercise (even running!) into your holiday and still have a fantastisch time.
GO HELL FOR LEATHER ON EVERY DANCE FLOOR
You’re in another country for Christ’s sake, you’re allowed to dab and crump till you can dab and crump no more.
An hour of straight dancing can burn upwards of 450 calories. Plus, your moves could attract a potential mate to take on a bike ride around the Thames. Win win!
PACK SOME RESISTANCE BANDS
checking yourself out hard will result in this
Resistance bands take up practically no space in your luggage and you can use them anywhere. There are a plethora of exercises you can do with them – like these – that’ll work ya whooooole body.
TAKE THE LONGEST ROUTE POSSIBLE
Holidays should be the one time you say hasta la vista to time restraints and take your sweet time doing everything.
Whether it’s walking those extra three blocks to get to the better Croissanterie, taking the stairs instead of the lift or dawdling through Borough markets, the more time you spend on your feet, the more likely you are to keep fit.
MAKE A YOUTUBE PLAYLIST OF YOUR FAVE WORKOUT TUTES
u in the hostel like
What better way to impress and/or irritate your fellow hostel mates than working up a sweat in your communal area? A YouTube tutorial is just like a an actual class, only it’s free – which is great if you’re travelling on a shoestring budget.
If you’re traversing a lot by foot, it’s great to work in a stretch here or there, and some soft pilates or yoga on those quiet nights will do your body wonders.
GO FOR A CHEEKY RUN
PEDESTRIAN.TV had a chat to Vlad Shatrov, founder of RunLab, Official Blackmores Sydney Running Festival Trainer and one of our country’s top distance runners, who agrees taking the scenic routes is one of the best ways to train while you’re on holiday.
“You get to see so much more of the city as opposed to taking a red bus around,” says Vlad. “The big cities [like London, Tokyo and Paris] get busy around 7:30 – 8am, so I always go for a run around 6am, so the cities are quiet.”
Vlad recalls a recent trip to Japan. “One morning it snowed and I ran into a park in the middle of Tokyo. It was so pristine, quite and nice. You get to see cities from a different, non-tourist angle.”
HOP ABOARD A HIRE BIKE
Nothing’s quite like strapping on a helmet and straddling a bike overseas. You’ll get to your destination sans traffic and you’ll work those glutes like it’s nobody’s business.
Plus, most cities offer free bike tours that you can hook up through your hostel / hotel. Freesies = happy days.
SWEAT IT OUT IN YOUR HOSTEL
Vlad says “if you can work out every 3 to 5 days while on holiday, you’ll maintain some level of fitness,” – which is better than none, right?
To take your intercontinental fitness up a level, try these two in-room workouts.
WORKOUT #1
WARM-UP:
Squats x 15
10 Reverse lunges x 3 sets
FOLLOWED BY:
Single leg reverse lunges x 12 each leg
Sit-ups x 15
Mountain climbers x 15
Push-ups x 15
Donkey kicks x 15
REPEAT THE ABOVE 4 TIMES
1 minute plank
30 seconds of mountain climbers
30 seconds pushups
30 seconds rest
REPEAT THE ABOVE 4 TIMES
WARM DOWN:
Streeeeeeeetch. Here’s a good stretching tute.
WORKOUT #2
WARM-UP:
Squats x 15
10 Reverse lunges x 3 sets
FOLLOWED BY:
Squats x 7
Lunge jumps x 7
Push-ups x 7
Sit-ups x 7
Squat jumps x 7
Dips x 7
Burpees x 7
REPEAT THE ABOVE 7 TIMES (you will be beat after this).
Donkey kicks x 15
1 minute plank
WARM DOWN:
Stretch again.
u afterwards
That’s how you keep ya fitness in check overseas, folks. If you want more inspo to get your jog on overseas, check out Blackmores’ running tips HERE.
Photo: Instagram / @alexisren.
