Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 77, December 2015 | Page 10

O

on the RUN!

Running while on holiday can be a pain... and even
the most dedicated runners find it difficult sticking to a
training programme during the Festive Period and time
away from work – even us pro runners. It is tough to stay
motivated to keep putting your running shoes on and
hitting the road while the rest of the nation is in a laid
back festive mood. – BY RENÉ KALMER

W

ith the Olympic Games only nine months away, this
December/January holiday won’t be any different from
all my previous ‘running holidays.’ Luckily I realised from
a very young age that training during the holidays gave me the
competitive advantage for the New Year’s athletic season, and I have
also been really lucky to have my sister Christine as my travelling
training partner for many years. She grew up thinking that this is
what we do on holidays... train, and train some more! (Whereas my
brother Herman soon realised that there are better things to keep
busy with while on holiday.) The Kalmer family are ‘happy campers’
and most holidays were planned making sure that there was enough
good training terrain nearby. An athletics track close by was always
an added bonus.
My main focus while on holiday is rather on maintaining my fitness,
versus gaining fitness. I’m also very flexible about my approach to
training on holiday, because there is no way that you are going to
find a track to do speed sessions while on holiday in Zanzibar or
Mozambique. Another handy hint is to remember to pack in your club
kit and licence numbers, and check out the racing schedule for local
races or parkruns at your holiday destination, as there may be some
great organised runs you can participate in.

Getting it Done

First, you have to accept