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DEL.ICIO.USWhere can you go this winter to mix fun and fitness?
Resolve to make your next trip work out for you
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I never bother with New Year’s resolutions until the kids go back to school and the family returns to a normal schedule. Sadly, when I packed the kids’ backpacks yesterday, I realized I was donning my “eggnog sweater”. The sweater is so named because it ably camouflages the mid-drift I dare not bare after a month of indulging in rich holiday treats. Today, I am sitting alone in a house full of chocolates resolving to steer clear of the temptations in the kitchen.
This time last year, we discussed southeastern fitness vacations, where you can go to kick-start a healthy new lifestyle. Spas, resorts and health institutes offer programs that teach you the basics of proper eating, exercising and weight maintenance. These are great destinations, and I would never argue the price of good health. However, these vacations can be costly and may be more instruction than some need.
I don’t need to kick-start a healthy new lifestyle. I do pretty well 11 months out of the year. I just need a kick in the behind to get me (and my family) moving again after a holiday hibernation — an incentive to get out of the house and back on track. Those swimsuit catalogs that are already arriving aren’t enough. There are still too many weeks of “eggnog sweater” weather before I need worry about swimsuits.
So I started looking around for places to go or events in which to participate that might provide that sense of immediacy to get us off the sofa and on the road to post-holiday recovery. Some are a day trip away, and some require a little further travel - always a good thing, in my opinion.
While it may be too cold in other parts of the country to consider running a road race, you can usually get out and run at this time of year in the South. The promise of good scenery or a great after-run destination provides added incentive - like the Mardi Gras Marathon through historic New Orleans on February 1. Don’t worry; they also have a half-marathon and 5K option, and Mardi Gras festivities await you at the finish line. Callaway Gardens also has a fitness series event which includes a marathon, half-marathon and 5K through the beautiful gardens on January 25. Here are a few other road races coming up nearby.
Beech Mountain, NC is known to most southerners as one of the local ski destinations, and skiing is a good form of exercise. Because I’m more of a water-skier than a snow-skier, I like the guided hikes that Beech Mountain also offers throughout the winter. The next one is a 4.5 mile hike on January 20.
Sugar Mountain, NC, another regional ski spot, offers guided snowshoe tours on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the winter season. This Saturday is National Winter Trails Day, when folks new to snow sports can try snowshoeing for free throughout the day. Guided tour and snow shoe rentals are included.
These are just a sampling of places I found that made me want to get out and get moving again. Are you trying to fit in a bit of fitness in your upcoming travels? Would you make a special trip that includes exercise - like entering a road race in another city to reap the travel and fitness benefits? Do you have other ideas for getting out of town and getting fit? If you are out of town for other reasons, would you use the gym facilities at the hotel as a way to keep up a New Year’s fitness routine?
Thanks to everyone who posted comments and photos last week of your favorite vacations from 2008. Your photos, stories and travel ideas were great. Check out the gallery of pictures. Here’s to even better travels in 2009!
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Southeast travel
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By Theresa
January 7, 2009 8:37 AM | Link to this
Hey Keith — I love the snowshoe hike idea. That sounds like so much fun and is nothing I’ve ever done before. I also like the sound of the plain old hike. I’ve been to Beech and Sugar Mountains before and they are really beautiful. Thanks for the ideas.
By Super Dad
January 7, 2009 7:44 PM | Link to this
I would suggest a diving trip to Thailand. You can get in spectacular diving in during the day, and spend the night with spectacular h00kers. With the global economy so bad, you can get several girls at a time for a few dollars each.