Vacation Miles

If you run the perimeter around the Disneyland Park in Anaheim, CA you will have run 2.9 miles.  You can take my word for it because I have run that loop (Harbor Boulevard, Katella Avenue, Disneyland Drive and Ball Road) several dozen times and clocked it on my Forerunner.  Pre-Garmin I presumed the distance to be three miles; not a bad guestimation.  There are three “hills” on the course.  Ball and Harbor go over The 5 and Disneyland Drive dips under the pedestrian walkway that is part of Downtown Disney. 

We have gone to Disneyland for 13 years.  I have tried running different routes in the area, but this is the best place to run.  Once we were there when the Angels were playing in the MLB playoffs and I ran to, and around the stadium looking for souvenirs.  I have run around the convention center, but that loop is much shorter.  I have run in the neighborhoods, but there is traffic even at the un-Godly hour of the morning I run. 

If you go, and have to go, there are restrooms in Downtown Disney.  To get to them there is a path on Disneyland Drive where the monorail crosses the street.  Follow that path for about 40 yards and it will take you to a gate between the Wetzel’s Pretzels and Haagen Dazs stores.

I have also swum with the FAST masters swim team at the Janet Evans pool in nearby Fullerton.  Most masters swim teams have early morning workouts and I take advantage of their hospitality when I am away from home. 

It sounds funny, but it is almost harder to get a run in during vacations.  You are eating restaurant food all the time.  You are busy enjoying yourself and whatever company you are with.  This is where your discipline is put to the test. 

Traveling doesn’t just take you away from home.  It takes you away from your regular training routes, training buddies, and training routine.  But that doesn't mean your running has to go on hiatus.  Hitting the road in a new locale can provide a refreshing change of pace, help you learn the lay of the land, and introduce you to some of the area’s friendliest locals (runners, of course).

Running unlocks the best a city has to offer.  When we vacation in Newport Beach, I run along the Pacific Coast Highway and scout out places for us to go to later. 

It pays to plan ahead.  Last spring when we were on vacation in Scottsdale I researched a local running club and joined them on their weekly long run around Mummy Mountain.  That running club did their long runs at 5:00 AM and their track workouts at 9:00 PM to avoid the heat. 

I focus on consistency in my running rather than getting caught up in how many miles I have run for the week.  A short run is better than no run.  The way I look at it, running just one lap around Disneyland gives me justification to eat a Haagen Dazs Vanilla Milk Chocolate Almond Ice Cream Bar.  But I don’t because I’d feel so guilty I’d have to run two laps the next day for penance.