Four Winter Runcation Ideas

It may reach 60 degrees in Denver today, but a recent opportunity to spend weekend in Phoenix for a Oiselle team meet up was a great escape from winter weather. It got me thinking about how amazing and energizing it can be to get away from the cold of winter for a few days of sun and warmth. Even though I saw flowers starting to bloom during a walk the other day, the snow will be back still this season.

A change of scenery and new places to explore through running can provide a big motivation boost for runners, any time of the year, but especially now. Here's a look at a few winter getaways we've enjoyed that make perfect mid-winter runcation destinations.

Charleston, SC
With a temperate climate, quaint charm complete with cobblestone streets, an impressive food scene and packed with history, this is clearly a great city to explore running with plenty of non-running diversions.

• Where to run: Waterfront Park and the Battery Promenade provide stunning views of the water. Wander through the neighborhoods to take in the beautiful homes.
• Where to eat: Eli's Table, Fleet Landing, FIG, Jestine's Kitchen
• What to see & do: spa services at the Charleston Place, explore the vendors in the City Market, walk through the old neighborhoods, shopping along King Street, head out of town a bit for visits to Fort Sumter and the Middleton Place plantation.
• Where to stay: Charleston Place is a bit pricey but has a great location, excellent service and the rooms are beautiful. To stay like a local, this charming carriage house might be just the thing you're looking for.

Savannah, GA

Savannah oozes history and southern charm. You can't help but feel like you've been transported to another time and have walked into the film "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." With parks and gardens around every corner, stunningly elegant homes and southern cooking, it's easy to start your day with a run exploring the city then filling the remaining hours with any number of activities.

• Where to run: Forsyth Park (below, top) and Daffin Park are beautiful but offer limited trails. Include one of the parks in your run but meander through the neighborhoods.
• Where to eat: Angel's BBQ, Soho South Cafe, Clary's Cafe, Crystal Beer Parlor, and Leopold's Ice Cream
• What to see: Owens-Thomas House (below, bottom), Mercer Williams House, SCAD Museum of Arts, shopping in the historic district
• Where to stay: The Mansion on Forsyth Park is beautiful while Hotel Indigo and the Andaz Savannah are closer to the action.

Santa Fe, NM

Yes it can snow in Santa Fe but the area still provides a great getaway during the colder months and plenty to keep you busy for a long weekend. This is a great option if you particularly enjoy trail running, art, margaritas and soaking tubs.

• Where to run & hike: The Dale Ball Trail (below bottom) system offers 22 miles of well marked but challenging trails with stunning views and varying terrain. Additional trail options can be found here.
• Where to eat: Maria's, The Shed, The Teahouse, Plaza Cafe
• What to do when not running: See all the art - there are more than a hundred galleries to explore along Canyon Road and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum is not to be missed while the Loretto Chapel's staircase is a mysterious work of art. Schedule time in a soaking pool at Ten Thousand Waves for after a long run (tip: try to get a private pool/sauna and arrive early to enjoy the foot soak). Stop by the farmer's market at the Railyard (below top) for fresh food, chilis, spices and more.
• Where to stay: Casita Hopi through Airbnb is a bit out of downtown but incredibly comfortable and a perfect home base if you like to prepare some of your own meals and enjoy privacy. La Fonda on the Plaza, Hotel St. Francis and the Old Santa Fe Inn are steps from the Plaza, restaurants, and more.

Phoenix, AZ

Alright, 75 degrees is the middle of January and to go out for a run in shorts and a tank is pretty nice. It almost feels luxurious. What most surprised me about Phoenix is that while it's mostly flat, there are mountains in and surrounding the city. While the 1,000-ish ft elevation was a nice change for our group from Colorado, it might add a little challenge for those coming from sea level.

• Where to run & hike: Piestewa Peak and Dreamy Draw Recreation Area (below bottom), Camelback Mountain, find more trails here. To hit the pavement, head to Tempe Town Lake, the Arizona Canal or the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt in Scottsdale.
• Where to eat: Luci's at the Orchard (below top), True Food Kitchen, Culinary Dropout, Sauce, Desoto Central Market
• What to do when not running: Papago Park (featuring hole-in-the-rock, the zoo and the botanical garden), the Phoenix Art Museum, take a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home Taliesin West, visit old town Scottsdale, all the golf you could want.
• Where to stay: The Embassy Suites where we stayed is close to Piestewa Peak and the Biltmore Fashion park, and also a throwback to the 1980's. The Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale has a cool retro vibe, while this cute bungalow in a quiet neighborhood or private guest house with pool and hot tub might be more your style.

What are your favorite runcation destinations? * How do you stay motivated in the winter?

Feel free to contact me if you have questions about any of these spots!

Refresh on the Florida Greenway Trail

Last weekend we took a last minute trip to Florida to see Matt's family. Finding direct flights from Colorado to Florida in the winter on short notice is practically impossible, so after a long day of travel - with the extent of our exercise being walking around airports - we needed a reboot.

We had done some research before our trip to Florida last winter and found the Cross Florida Greenway Trail. The trail is part of a large network of trails throughout the state that provide access to runners, hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders to Florida's diverse ecosystem.

An attraction along the trail just a short drive from my mother-in-law's house is the Land Bridge, which is literally a bridge over highway 75 that was built to be an extension of the trail featuring trees and other green vegetation, and an uninterrupted dirt path.

There are two trailheads close to the Land Bridge, one reaching the bridge from the west - the 49th Ave Trailhead - which is where we started the first time, and the second coming from the east starting at a trailhead right by Cactus Jack's Trail Rides off SW 16th Ave, which is where we started this time. The parking lot is rather large and there are huge trees shading picnic tables, and an outhouse.

Unfortunately I couldn't find one great resource with maps of the trail that are user friendly for people who don't know the area well. Google maps only shows one basic trail, but there are several loops from this trailhead and they are pretty easy to stay on course. There had been a strong rain the day before our run so the biking and equestrian trails were pretty muddy, but there is an old limerock road that you can follow (although the uneven and sharp rocks make it a bit tricky to maneuver) and a nice foot-traffic only path great for running.

We ran towards the land bridge along the limerock road, over the bridge a bit then turned around and took the foot trail back. Since we were aiming for 6 miles and got back to the parking lot too soon so we crossed 16th Ave and easily picked up the trail on the other side to reach our goal.

I haven't spent a ton of time in Florida but was pleasantly surprised by the diverse ecosystems that we ran through on just a 6 mile run. There are sections with large oaks bending down on top of us and then minutes later we'd be running through a pine forest that looked, and smelled, like the woods at our family cottage in northern Michigan. It was a bit surreal and absolutely beautiful.

The drastic change in scenery from our typical runs in Colorado coupled with the fact that we were running at sea level made the miles melt away quickly. It was exactly what we needed although now that we're home I haven't been so excited about getting back to the same old routes. I'm craving new scenery, and to run without three layers.

If you happen to find yourself around Ocala, Florida and are looking for a place to run, or go for a hike with family, I highly recommend this trail.

Do you often run the same routes over and over, or do you mix things up regularly?

4 Days and 4 Runs in NYC

If you follow me on Instagram you likely noticed I was in NYC last weekend. We enjoyed a long weekend back in the city, although in my opinion it wasn't long enough. A lot of ground was covered, a lot of sights seen and delicious food enjoyed, but I wished we had just a little more time to see more friends.

When people plan visits to NYC, I imagine they focus on Broadway shows, food, shopping, and checking out the well-known tourist hot spots. And while that is true to an extent for us too, the first thing I start planning is where we're going to run!

NYC is where I fell in love with running, so I'm thrilled to share with you the four runs we did over four days this past weekend.

Financial District Friday - 3.25 miles

We stayed at the Aloft Hotel Downtown just steps away from City Hall Park. This is a bit north of our old apartment so we know the area well and while it's probably not the first place you'll think of to go for a run in NYC, it's great, nonetheless.

Heading out at 8am meant we had to contend with rush hour, but this run goes along the water which drastically reduces the amount of street crossing and busy sidewalks.

Where to go: Start at Fulton Street and South Street (South Street Seaport) and run on the path along the water, taking it around the south end of the island, in front of the Staten Island Ferry terminal, through Battery Park (stop here to take a photo of the Statue of Liberty), up along the esplanade in Battery Park City (photo ops at the South and North Coves) then instead of heading up along the West Side Highway, head back down south and wind your way back to City Hall Park.

Where to eat: We enjoyed some good vegan eats (including delicious smoothies) at Terri but if you're looking for something a little different, Open Kitchen is a great new edition to the neighborhood with two locations in FiDi.

I mapped this out for you on MapMyRun, find it here.

Saturday in the Park - 4 miles
A trip to NYC isn't complete without a run in Central Park. I met up with two of my best running friends - who you've seen here many times - Grace and April, for this one. While running is a fantastic way to catch up with good friends and enjoy the scenery, I have to admit that I was so caught up in our conversations I hardly took time to take in the beauty around us. You can pretty much count on a lot of other runners in the park, but that's part of what makes it Central Park!

Where to go: There are countless routes in Central Park, this one however started at Columbus Circle. We headed counter-clockwise along the park drive then jumped on the path around the reservoir and headed back down to Columbus Circle along the bridle path. A bit of road, a bit of gravel path.

Where to eat: The Smith or Le Pain Quotidien on the Upper West Side near Lincoln Center.

SoHo Sunday - 6 miles
I love running through SoHo on Sunday mornings when the neighborhood is still quiet and just starting to wake up. The only place you'll see a crowd is the line outside Dominique Ansel Bakery waiting for cronuts. The trick here is avoiding tripping on the cobblestone streets or getting too distracted by the beautiful designer clothing in the showroom windows.

Where to go: We left City Hall Park, made our way up Lafayette before switching over to Broadway and criss-crossing our way around SoHo (between West Broadway and Centre Street) before heading west to Hudson St, down through Tribeca and finishing near the World Trade Center. As an alternative, take Greenwich St south.

Where to eat: Head back to Terri, Open Kitchen, Le Pain Quotidien, Pret, or head to the Whole Foods in Tribeca.

Find our (approximate) route here.

Monday Highway Run - 5 miles
Our last morning run and we had a specific place for breakfast in mind, so we stayed downtown yet again. This run, by far, is the easiest to follow. Running along the Hudson River is a nice change from city streets, but I much prefer the sections that aren't right along the road - especially during morning rush hour! Another great thing about this path is that there are very few interruptions due to vehicle traffic, although you do need to watch out for cyclists, other runners, and people out for a casual stroll.

Where to go: Starting back in City Hall Park we cut over to the West Side Highway along Chambers Street, headed north along the path, turned around just past Chelsea Piers and wrapped it up at the north end of Battery Park City (Chambers Street).

Where to eat: Zucker's for a classic NYC bagel, cream cheese and lox. Plus Colombe coffee.

Do you live in NYC or have you visited the city? Add to my list, what are your favorite runs? * Thanksgiving is next week! Do your traditions include a Turkey Trot?

Where Does Running Take You?

This past weekend I flew out to Minneapolis to help my niece celebrate her 5th Birthday and spend time with family. With my running shoes packed tightly in my suitcase, I had plans to wake up early to log some miles before the days kicked into high gear. 

My sister's house is steps away from a running trail, which is a wonderful thing. I’d wake up while it was still dark out, dress in the layers I had laid out the night before to shield me from the 40 degree chill, put on my Garmin, Fitbit and RoadID, and warm-up a bit in the room where I was sleeping before grabbing my sunglasses and phone and heading towards the trail. 

Saturday morning I set out with a goal of 7 miles - my longest run since pre-popliteus injury. I had studied google maps the night before and had an idea of where my run would take me, but as I was on the trail running through woods and marshland, I realized that it's rare that we actually know where our runs will take us, whether we're on a new path or one we've taken hundreds times before. And that’s a big part of the allure, isn't it?

Physically, this run took me to a silent lake where my only company consisted of a few fishermen on a dock and a man out for a morning walk with his dog. It was clear the beach is well loved on warm days, but on this particular morning I felt like the lake was my little secret slice of peace.

All throughout the run my mind wandered here and there, thinking about where I’ve been and where I want to go. Both in terms of running and in life. For too long I haven’t had the luxury to let my mind wander on a run, rather too focused on how my legs are feeling and how well I can breathe. So this run was a welcomed respite. 

In stark contrast to the calm lake, my 7.5 mile run finished at a bustling car show just down the road from my sister’s neighborhood where I met up my parents to ogle over beautiful cars in elaborate garages. 

Where does running take you?

Making the Most of a Runless Runcation

When Woody and I plan a vacation, running is typically an integral part of that process and things were no different when we were planning our trip to Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia - where we were last week. Without labeling them as such, we've been taking runcations for years. 

With Stanley Park - a large, gorgeous park in downtown Vancouver - less than two miles from our hotel and the seawall running path along the outer edge of the city, I expected we'd spend a good amount of our time in the city in running gear. 

That was before I was plagued by an overuse injury that I tried to ignore. My right leg has been bothering me since BolderBOULDER and have tried a knee brace, icing, rolling, and not running in hopes that it would improve in time for our trip. 

Sunday morning, our first morning in Vancouver, I laced up and headed out for a run with Woody thinking that if I was going to be able to do it, it would be best to try before we started walking a lot. 

I was wrong. Dead wrong.

A little over three miles into the run and not all that far into Stanley Park, I couldn't go a step farther. After nearly breaking down in tears along the outer path with runners, bikers, rollerbladers, and countless others passing us by, I sent Woody off to enjoy the loop and promised to meet him at a beach on the other side. Let's just say that Sunday morning was the low point of our trip. I was pretty devastated. 

My week was not pain free (don't worry mom, I have a doctor's appointment scheduled) and I probably should have spent more time off my feet, but there was no way I was going to sit in the hotel and let our week go by. I decided I had to make it work, because Vancouver and Whistler are pretty amazing.

Here are a few ways we made my runless runcation a success:

On Monday we rented bikes from Spokes Bicycle Rentals on Denman Street and spent three hours riding through Stanley Park - the trail around the edge along the edge with beautiful water and mountain views as well as several of the gravel bike paths that criss cross the park - and had a picnic with a view of Lions Gate Bridge. It turned out to be a pretty wonderful way to spend a few hours and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the city.

Taking it to the trails

The view from our lunch spot

The Westin Grand Vancouver has an excellent and fully equipped gym plus a heated saltwater pool and whirlpool (not pictured below) so once I realized running was out of the picture for me, while Woody went out for morning runs, I'd head to the gym for some time on the bike, strength training, and a nice session in the whirlpool which not only made my leg feel better but helped me relax and refocus on what's important. It might sound crazy, but that whirlpool definitely helped me enjoy the week. 

Photo Credit: The Westin Grand, Vancouver

Photo Credit: The Westin Grand, Vancouver

Then we headed out of town for Whistler and it wasn't until we got there that we learned we were a bit too early to hike Whistler or Blackcomb Mountains. While the trails were open for mountain bikers, they weren't yet ready for hikers (they typically open in late June apparently). However we did find a few good hikes in the valley and there were a lot of others that could have been explored if we had more time.

The first one we tried was pretty easy - more of a ramble than a hike - but a nice option just steps from the condo we rented in Whistler Village through Airbnb. Lost Lake Park has several trails to choose from of the easy to moderate variety and welcomes foot and bike traffic. Lost Lake is the big attraction here and there's a nice park and beach, along with several docks and rafts around the lake. It was a nice afternoon ramble for us after we had done the Peak 2 Peak Gondola ride in the morning.

The condo also had a whirlpool, which we definitely took advantage of. The first night our neighbor even provided the entertainment - she had friends over to enjoy her whirlpool with drinks and uncensored conversation!

By Lost Lake

On our way out of Whistler we drove north a few kilometers to check out the Ancient Cedars trail. Let's just say we were pretty thrilled and relieved when our little Ford Focus rental car made it down the dirt, pothole ridden road to the trailhead and back without any issues. This trail was just over 5k but took a good two hours as it's a rocky climb the entire way out, plus I wasn't moving as quickly as usual. There's a turnoff from the trail that goes out to Showh Lakes, which we probably would have taken if we had more time to explore but we wanted to get make a few stops along our way back to Vancouver. Still, this was a nice trail that required some good effort and took us through a beautiful lush forest to see the towering and impressive ancient cedars. 

The view from Cougar Mountain

Taking in the trees 

Woody in the trees

I wasn't able to run like I wanted to and my injury was literally a pain in the butt (and calf, and knee) but over the 9 days we were on vacation I managed an average of almost 23,000 steps a day (according to FitBit). We spent a lot of time just walking around the city exploring different neighborhoods, block by block. 

After my initial frustration as I broke down on the run, I had to quickly decide to adjust my expectations, focus on what I could do, and enjoy our trip because who knows when we'll have the opportunity to get back to Vancouver and Whistler again. It really was a fantastic trip that I'm not done telling you about yet - more to come in my next post! 

How you had to deal with injury on vacation? How did you adjust your plans? * What are your favorite fitness activities when traveling?