Tips for the traveling runner

How to keep running while you’re traveling

When traveling for work, you might find it hard to find the time to fit running into a daily schedule. When traveling for meetings or conferences, running can be a way to see the city outside of the hotel and conference room. More than that, it helps you feel less guilty about indulging in the local cuisine..

Here are a few easy ways to help ensure that traveling doesn’t disrupt your running.

Find a route – Many hotels provide running maps or route cards, making finding somewhere to run a breeze. A GPS device or the many running apps available on the market are good tools to use to find a running route. Don’t forget about the route you discover while getting lost at your destination.

Run a race – This is by far the best option if you're looking to combine traveling and running. Race routes usually take you through the most scenic and interesting parts of a city, as was the case in Istanbul and Lisbon. Make running a race even more special by signing up with your Flying Blue Miles and getting special VIP treatment.

Running tours or groups – Running tours are another fun option in some places. As with a race, you get to take in the scenery, but with a personalized guide and because it’s a small group, there’s none of the pushing and shoving that you often get in a race. Another option is to find a local running group. This is a great opportunity to meet and spend time with people who share your interests and the perfect way to get some insider tips on the destination.

Hotel – Many hotels offer free fitness centers on-site, with treadmills. Not very fancy maybe, but on those occasions when you need to “run and be done”, a treadmill is all you need.

Do you maintain your running routine when you travel? Do you make use of the hotel treadmill or run outside? Have you ever done a running tour or race while traveling?