Backpacking and working out - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!



Go Back   TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards! > Members Lounge > General Travel Tips, Education, Advice > Health & Safety
Register All Albums FAQDonate Community Calendar

Health & Safety Health concerns worldwide, scams, and other safety issues. Don't get ripped off! Also post your safety prevention tips!

Raileurope.com: See Europe by train
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-03-2008, 04:34 PM   #1
bibowj
 
bibowj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Seattle/VA/Japan
Posts: 57
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to bibowj Send a message via Yahoo to bibowj
Default Backpacking and working out

Heya Folks- I have a question that Ive been working on for a few days now, and I cant quite seem to come to a conclusion either way...probably due to me lack of experience at independent travel...but here it is:

This stems from a work trip I had to vegas last year. One morning I got up at 6am and went jogging along the strip. Crazy yes, but I feel like i really got a real feel for the city. ... so that got me thinking. On Monday Im off to Europe for a month, and Im thinking of taking my running gear for that same above reason. I will be in London, Edinburgh, Paris and Rome and I think it would be kinda cool to run those roads early in the mornings....

Now here are my concerns:
1- Itll be too damn cold.
2- Showering and laundry at my hostel. Will this just be too much work?
3- The added weight to my pack (Im flying easyJet alot, so baggage weight is a concern)


I know its probably a pretty boring question, but the thought of running next to the Roman Ruins before the tourist arrive sounds amazing to me... so any thoughts, pro or against would be greatly appreciated!
__________________
"Never has a life ended with the words "I wish I had traveled less"
bibowj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2008, 04:49 PM   #2
pinknic38
TPunk Moderator
 
pinknic38's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Sierra Vista, AZ
Posts: 2,829
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to pinknic38 Send a message via Yahoo to pinknic38 Send a message via Skype™ to pinknic38
Default

No I am definitely with you - I've run almost everywhere I've traveled, and plan on doing so when I go to Europe this summer in every place I go to - I am especially exciting about running through Vondelpark in A-dam and English Garden in Munich.

I'm in the military so as much as I am a stickler on personal hygiene, I've learned to compromise to a point. Depending on how much you run and how long you're going to be gone, I say your running clothes can just be febreezed and hung up, and worn only for running (and if febreeze isn't good enough for the funk after time, store it in a grocery bag when you pack and move around so it doesn't funk up your other clothes and then wash when you can). Shower is kind of non-negotiable, but if you really don't have enough time, baby powder = lifesaver. There's such thing as shower powder or some shit but baby powder is cheaper and smells better.

I think there's nothing better than being in a new area and waking up for an early morning run. There are very few people out at the time, and there is nothing more peaceful, to me, than beatin' the street. And you can swing by for a cup of coffee or breakfast when you're done and on the way back to the hostel.

And one thing the military taught me (whether I liked it or not)... it's never too cold to run. Burns the lungs a little but that's good training.
__________________
SO FAR: USA, Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Kuwait, Qatar, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan
UP NEXT: Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Grand Cayman Islands - Feb 2012


tpunk gallery * twitter

Last edited by pinknic38; 01-03-2008 at 04:54 PM.
pinknic38 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2008, 09:21 AM   #3
Delaney
TPunk Recognized
 
Delaney's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 456
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Delaney Send a message via MSN to Delaney
Default

I just rain in 8degree F weather and was ok (and I am in NY for a class, so I am NOT used to it), so I think you'll do fine with the cold. Drink hot tea before you go!
We ran when we were in Europe and it was a great way to see the cities. Just don't run on the day you're traveling, otherwise you'll have to cart around sweaty clothes!
__________________
“If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?” - Albert Einstein


You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go. - Dr. Suess


Why I'm not on TPunk as much anymore: http://www.kaushallab.cbl.umces.edu/people.html#katie
Delaney is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2008, 10:09 AM   #4
expatben
lover of Germany
 
expatben's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ontario,Canada
Posts: 2,660
Thanks: 4
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default

I personally wouldn't fancy being outside in Edinburgh when its 6am as I imagine it would be a nippy but give it a whirl and see how it goes.
__________________
I have been to: Canada, USA, Iceland, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Germany, Sardinia, Switzerland, China, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Morocco.

Do to list: [color=blue][color=black] Australia, New Zealand, Austria India and Bolivia.

[color=blue][i][font=Verdana][color=black]"I'm just another stranger lookin' for the promised land"
expatben is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2008, 12:07 PM   #5
DC_Jessica
call me Condi!
 
DC_Jessica's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 800
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Heaven bless wicking materials. I love them for how fast they dry and end up wearing them casually when I travel anyway. Running is an awesome way to see where you travel from a different angle. For instance, in Berlin, maybe you rank the Tiergarten much lower on your list of things to do because you've been to Central Park, but if you're running, there's no better way to see something that pretty but expansive then cruising through.

When you run in the cold, wrap one of those ear muff head bands around your nose and mouth. I love doing that because your exhalations will heat up your face and keep your lungs from directly processing so much frigid air. Definitely do it!
__________________
"I set out alone, finding no companion to cheer the way with friendly intercourse, and no party of travellers with whom to associate myself. Swayed by an overmastering impulse within me, and a long-cherished desire to visit those glorious sanctuaries, I resolved to quit all my friends and tear myself away from my home."
---Ibn Battuta, CE 1325


Latest travel crushes - Arizona, Morocco, The Baltic States, Tunisia, Portugal, Mexico
DC_Jessica is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2008, 03:24 AM   #6
worldwidemike
TPunk Emeritus
 
worldwidemike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Columbus, Ohio USA
Posts: 3,390
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

I end up walking so dang much in my trips that I don't NEED to run. Honestly, I put in the miles on hikes, trekking around cities, that I think it all equals out in the end. Now, if I was going to be gone for more than a couple weeks, and into the months or year, yeah, I'd take my running shoes and some quick drying stuff. Besides, running shoes don't weigh much at all...just take up room in the pack.

worldwidemike
__________________
Check out my travel web page at:
Worldwidemike.com
"Life is not measured in the number of breaths we take, but by the places that take our breath away..."
worldwidemike is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply







Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:06 PM.



 

Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.2.0 (Unregistered)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121