Running Travel Essentials

Running is one of those sports that is super accessible from most places in the world. Which is one of the reasons that many people love it, or use it as their “go to” form of fitness. 

As much as we would love to embrace the “you just need a pair of shoes” mentality, this is not always quite the case! Having been on many running based holidays, or holidays where I have trained through, I have been able to identify some “running travel essentials”; which I have broken down into 3x areas of technology, hydration & fuel, and recovery. 

Technology

For me I have two items that I travel with, my watch and my heart rate monitor. And these are the two items that use throughout the year, travel or not. 

I run with the Garmin Venu watch, which is a relatively entry level running watch, but has plenty of functions for me. And the Wahoo Tickr HRM, which synchs via Bluetooth to my watch. 

Hydration & Fuel

Obviously both hydration and fueling are still just as important when you are travelling. You might even find that when you are away, you take up more hiking / walking and therefore you are out on your feet for longer durations than usual. Which in turn means more fueling and more hydration requirements on route. 

I recommend the Aonijie hydration pack, the Naked Running band and vest. The Aonijie pack is at an entry level price-point and practical to store 1.5l of water and some snacks. The Naked band and/or vest are epic for a minimal feel and bounce. I have actually raced in the band quite a few times, and highly recommend it. 

I still add electrolytes to my water, even when not in the UAE, and add some extra protein post sessions to aid recovery. And from a nutrition point of view during activity, I tend to stick to gels for long runs, and bars for hikes. 

Recovery

Yes, you might be on holiday, but you still need to ensure that you are recovering from your sessions, and not just smashing yourself day in, day out. 

I have a mini foam roller, some mobility balls, a travel yoga mat, and a massage gun that I take on my trips. Even if you reduce the time that commit to mobility and stretching while you are away, do not skip it entirely. Your body will thank you for making some time. 

Whether you are travelling this summer or staying put, hopefully there are some items above that might be able to guide you through even better training.