TRAVEL AND TRAVEL FIT

I’m currently in Australia - doing the road trip from Adelaide to Melbourne and loving it.

Constantly jumping in and out of the car got me thinking about being ‘travel fit’. Our vehicle is a HUGE 8-seater Staria - a ‘relocation’ vehicle I got from Apex Car Rentals in Adelaide, returning it to their Melbourne premises. For AUD10/day, it was incredible value - unlimited kms; no fee for additional driver. We always use Apex whenever we can. Oh and I should tell you to join their Apex Rewards programme. You instantly get 10% of any car you rent. It all helps!

I digressed, sorry. So, I’ve had to pump the seat up, to make it high enough for me to see over the bonnet. Each time I get in the car I need to step up and haul myself into the driver’s seat. Of course, you don’t need to do this with an ordinary vehicle but you do constantly get in and out of it when you stop at various points on your journey.

At airports, you need to walk quite a distance to clear security, hoisting your bag up onto the conveyor, navigating stairs and travelators or just walking a couple of kms to your gate. On trains, you need to be stepping up steep and deep steps to get onto the train, get your bags into the luggage racks behind the seats or above them. It all takes energy and fitness. There’s not always someone willing to help you!

Last year I joined the Women’s Fitness Studio close to my home in Hawke’s Bay (NZ). What a difference it made, even after three months, when we travelled through Tasmania later in the year. I was easily able scale some of the rock climbs in the national parks and tackle numerous steps with ease - just because I’d become stronger with the workouts and more nimble on my feet having done the balance classes.

Maria, who owns the studio, asked me if she could interview me on Radio Hawke’s Bay about our overseas travels, how fitness played a role and just how I felt about it all. I was very happy to and here’s the result.

https://on.soundcloud.com/eQP82TfBcsZZfMrn7 (Travel Fit interview)

So many of us in our ‘later lives’ are travelling and I hope some of what we talk about motivates you to get stronger and walking fit, so you can enjoy those fabulous journeys through Paris, London or on your European walking holiday - whatever or wherever you choose to go!

Think about this:

The goal is to be strong and fit enough so that you can do and enjoy everything you plan to while you're away. And arrive home with heaps of happy memories and stories.

- You'll have a plane trip to deal with, waiting in airports and getting on and off planes. You may take trains, taxis, scooters, and boats on your travels.

- There will likely be a lot of walking and this could be on uneven ground (pavements, cobble stones, trails).

- There will be stairs and ramps.

- Luggage will need to be moved around with you - carried, pulled, and lifted.

TIPS:

* walk a lot leading up to your trip on different surfaces

* practice side to side and forwards/backwards walking, low steps and high steps

* strengthen your legs with squats and lunges

* do balance exercises - stand on one foot while brushing your teeth or while the jug boils

* practice lifting a full suitcase - into the back of a car, above your head (e.g. into an overhead locker) and remember to bend your knees

* do heel raises and toe raises for ankle and toe flexibility and strength

Cheers.

Annemarie

#travelwell