Don’t let jet lag stand in the way of you and your perfect run.
Few things are more glorious than a running holiday. But getting there isn’t always a breeze, and the stresses of travel can wreak havoc on your bod and thwart your dreams of achieving that PB in paradise.
“A fresh body and fresh legs in and around air travel go hand in hand,” says Dave Scott, a six-time Hawaii Ironman Champion and running coach. Here, Scott and four other experts share their top pre-, during and post-flight tips to keep you feeling healthy, rested and ready to race.
Before Your Flight
Investigate your accommodations
Call your hotel and ask about the noise and light levels in your room. “It may be worth paying a little more for a room away from a busy street or a room with blackout curtains,” advises Sarah Schlichter, a marathoner and registered dietitian, adding “it’s more difficult to sleep outside of our own habitat, but we need to try to make any small change we can”.
Consider packing a sleeping mask and earplugs if you’re an especially light sleeper. (Just be sure that you’re still able to hear your alarm clock!).
Nourish well
The night before travel, Scott recommends consuming a bit more fibre than usual – primarily from healthy, non-starchy vegetables (think carrots, beets and peppers). This can combat the dreaded in-flight bloat. After dinner, drink a cup of herbal tea that contains four of the following: licorice, turmeric, coriander, spearmint, peppermint and lemongrass. The combo aids digestion and slumber, says Scott. On his “no-no” list: more than one serving of alcohol (it can disrupt sleep) and excess carbs (may cause next-day gas and bloating).
During Your Flight
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
“The air on the plane gets dry and it will dehydrate you more than you’ll notice,” says Jamey Harris, a running coach. “Plus, the drink service won’t come fast enough to really keep you topped up on fluids.” He beats this by toting his own water on board – either in a reusable bottle that he fills up at the gate, or by purchasing a bottle after making it through security.
Amanda Shannon Verrengia, a personal trainer and run coach, stays hydrated by drinking one glass of water every hour that she’s in transit. She also leans on nuun, an electrolyte enhanced drink tablet. “It comes in a convenient canister that you can stow in your bag,” says Verrengia. “And, since they are tablets that you add to water, they will easily make it through security checkpoints.”
Wear compression socks
These specialised stockings will keep your blood flowing and minimize the “tired legs” feeling that often comes after a long flight, says Verrengia. Her go-to brands: PRO Compression and 2XU socks.
Snack smarter
Don’t eat the airline snacks, warns Scott, as they’re often high in simple carbs and trans fats that will spike your blood sugar. Instead, pack your own healthy eats. His go-to fare: walnuts, almonds and macadamia nuts, plus coconut shavings and a piece of fruit.
Schlichter wards off mid-flight munchies with citrus fruits (e.g. oranges, tangerines and grapefruits) as they pack hefty doses of vitamin C, an antioxidant and immune booster.
Move often
Book an aisle seat so that you can easily – and often – get up to move around the cabin. “Anything you can do to avoid spending hours with your body forced into the shape of an airplane seat will help prevent feeling stiff, stale, and heavy when you toe the line,” says Harris. He stays limber by walking to the back of the plane every 30 minutes.
After Your Flight
