I have two theories about vacation exercise.

First – if I pack my sneakers and running clothes, I’ve got to go on a run.  Otherwise, I wasted precious luggage space and hauled around a heavier bag for nothing! When I go on short work trips and actually bring my stuff but fail to us it… oh, my goodness.  I get so irritated with myself every time I open my bag!   Just one of my weird pet peeves.

Second – if my vacation (not a work trip) is less than two or three days, I don’t feel obligated to maintain my normal routine.  I should soak up vacation time!  But if it’s a longer trip, I usually want to exercise on vacation.

So this means that I’ve been trying to exercise on our vacation at the Outer Banks (we’re here for a week).  Taking off 7 days would be no good for my triathlon goals.  Keeping up with running is easy enough.  I’ve been on three runs so far, clocking in about 12 total miles.  Every run has been with Henry in the jogging stroller, although I am hoping to run on the beach solo at some point. 

After my last two runs, I came back to the beach house and declared, “Now, I am going to swim laps in the pool.” I dipped my toes in and promptly said, “Um, nevermind.”  It’s really cold in the unheated pool!  And the pool is (obviously) small, so the idea of doing hundreds of really short laps in freezing temps just to keep up my swimming habit seems… unappealing, to say the least.  I thought about swimming in the ocean, but locals scared me with stories of shark attacks.  Things that go bump (and chomp!) in open water freak me out. 

As for biking, we don’t own a bike rack (and the trunk was back to the brim), so I’m bike-less although the Outer Banks is the perfect cycling sport.  I’m thinking about renting a hybrid bike at the beach shop – they have little baby seats on the back and teeny tiny helmets, so the whole family could go for a ride!

In short, it’s not hard for me to get motivated to exercise on a longer vacation – I like to sweat, and it’s a fun way to see the scenery – but staying in triathlon shape is challenging.  As it usually is.

I think you know where this is going… Some questions for you all!

Do you exercise on vacation? Ever go on a trip planned entirely around exercise – like a vacation to do a marathon?

Do you cycle with your kiddos? Do they sit in a seat above your back wheel or in one of those fancy chariots you pull around?

And, finally, if you were to swim for fitness in the ocean, would the Jaws theme song be constantly dum-dum-dumming in your head?  Or is it just me?

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