Running on vacation

Running on vacation — it sounds like an oxymoron. Who wants to log miles when they’re taking time off to relax?

This past year, though, I’ve found vacation runs to be a highlight of my trip. There is no better way to intimately explore an area than through running. I’ve jogged under shaded jungle vines in Oahu’s North Shore, across the mall in Washington D.C., throughout my childhood neighborhood in Southern California and along red rock in Zion National Park.

It’s motivating to switch up my running routine, and these jogs are often memorable. With the right planning, I can pick a stopping point at a historic site or scenic overlook.

Running on vacation is also a fun way to interact with the locals. DC has a huge running community, with road racers picking and choosing between runs passing national monuments. The Hawaiian runners were the friendliest bunch I’ve met, waving and giving nods of encouragement. I learned it’s awkward to run in the town you grew up in because of the probability that you’ll literally run into someone you haven’t seen in 10 years when you’re sweaty and out of breath. And in Utah’s National Parks, tourists will not hesitate to take pictures of runners in the foreground of the nation’s top scenery.

It’s fun to play tourist for a few days — but it’s more fun to play the tourist runner.