Taking the show on the road

This weekend I made the trip from Vancouver Island over to Seattle to attend a reading of William D. Frank's new book, Everyone to Skis!, which pertains to the history of Biathlon in the Soviet Union.  While I haven't delved into it yet as I just got my mitts on it, I have been enjoying E. John B. Allen's book, The Sport and Culture of Skiing.  The history of skiing, and looking at history through the lens of sport, is fascinating, and I would recommend either of these books to anyone interested in skiing.  If anything, it provides profound insight into how the sport developed in certain countries, which in turn helps one to understand the state of the sport in that country today.  For example, if you ever found yourself wondering why Biathlon or cross country skiing is more popular in a country like Norway more so than Switzerland, these books would aptly answer the question.

Anyway, so that is some background as to why I was in Seattle.  However, being November, I didn't want to jeopardize my training, and so decided to attend the local YMCA for some workouts, cardio sessions, and post-workout relaxation sessions in the Sauna. (aka: the Finnish Embassy).  While there, I spent a lot of time thinking about being away from and attempting to develop or maintain fitness.  When you are in home territory, you know where all the good runs are, where all the necessary equipment is at the local gym, and where to get just the right foods before or after your workout.  However, what if you are on the road?  

While one option may be just to "let it slide" for a few days or a few weeks, anyone who has worked hard at reaching a certain point in their training will be loathe to let that hard work drift out the window.  Therefore, if you are keen to keep your training on track, I have one valuable piece of advice: make a plan and stick with it!

Unless you are going to the moon, there is always something you can do where you're going.  

• Plan ahead.  Spend some time on the Internet researching where the fitness centres are, what the hours are, and how to get there from where you're staying.
• If you will be visiting friends or family, let them know before you go that training is very important to you, and that you will be making time to keep up with this training.
• Contact local running stores or bike stores in the city you will be visiting and enquire into running and cycling groups, or routes that are popular.
• There are always body weight exercises!  This includes push ups, sit ups, lunges, etc.  For skiing, there are also balancing exercises that can be done anywhere - in a room at wait, waiting for the bus, etc.  Look for natural features in the environment where you can perform "ghetto workouts." Tree branches and the overhangs of buildings provide great places for chin ups, while some features in playgrounds, such as monkey bars, can also work for triceps dips.

With a little bit of planning, imagination, and determination, you can make some kind of training session work no matter where you go.  Heck, trying new exercises or new fitness centres might even revitalize your determination to train hard!

Another great reason to own your own Biathlon rifle is that you can often bring it with you and fit in some quick dry firing sessions every day.  All it takes is ten minutes a day!  This Christmas I'll be going home to Alberta to visit some family.  After some contact with the local club, the Edmonton Nordic Ski Club, one of the coaches named Alan Ball invited me to train with their athletes!  Yes, he insisted I bring my skis and rifle to Alberta so that I could train with them. 

Holidays and vacations are a great test of your determination.  While some will take any excuse to drop their training plans like a bad date, the truly focused athletes out there will find some way to stay active.  Even going for a long walk  or doing some sprints up a hill, going for an evening swim at the local pool - anything is better than just sitting there in front of the television for a few days or few weeks!

Most cities I've been to have some kind of recreation available - whether it's indoor fitness facilities or opportunities for hiking, biking, etc.  And if you really are in such a rural area that nothing is available, than there's a probably lots of opportunity to do some farm work!  Whatever you do, don't forget the work you've put into your training.  Training isn't about doing something once in awhile - it's about what you do regularly.  Sometimes you might not feel like doing all of your workout, or you have to modify your plan for whatever reason, but as long as you're doing something, you'll cut your losses and stay as close to the path to victory as possible.