| Staying with your fitness program can sometimes | | | | community awareness to a scholarship program. |
| be a challenge when you are traveling for | | | | What I did not expect was that the event was |
| business or even while on vacation. Faced with a | | | | FREE! |
| number of obstacles ranging from being in an | | | | - Contact the local running or walking clubs that |
| unfamiliar place, limited workout facilities, and | | | | may be near your hotel. Sometimes, club |
| limitations on space and equipment you might be | | | | members get together for early morning or |
| tempted to wait until you get back home. Aside | | | | evening walks or runs. Running or walking with |
| from safety concerns, waiting until you return | | | | club members allows you to workout with a |
| home does not have to be an option. | | | | group that is familiar with the area and can be a |
| Stay fit, unstressed and on target by packing | | | | useful resource for other fitness activities that |
| your jump rope. Remember, it's compact, it's | | | | may be taking place during your stay; |
| portable, and jump roping can be done just about | | | | - Once you arrive at your place of business your |
| anywhere and anytime. Traveling from coast to | | | | colleagues may also be able to provide you with |
| coast several times a year, I have learned to | | | | the best places for a good workout and may also |
| adapt to my "new" surroundings whether in a big | | | | give you a couple of names of workers who may |
| city or in Small Town, USA. Make your trip more | | | | also workout; |
| enjoyable by planning ahead. The following tips can | | | | - If you drive around to mark off a workout |
| be useful in maintaining your fitness while you are | | | | course, make sure the area is safe for pedestrian |
| away. | | | | traffic especially during the time of the day when |
| - Begin planning your workout before leaving | | | | you plan to exercise. Usually the most pedestrian |
| home; call the hotel where you will be staying and | | | | trafficked areas are the safest (parks, fitness |
| ask if it has a fitness center or has visiting | | | | trails, etc.) Try to avoid any secluded or remote |
| privileges for its guests at a nearby health club. | | | | trails or areas. |
| - Pack your jump rope along with the appropriate | | | | Now that you have a pretty good idea as to |
| workout clothing and shoes. Don't forget about | | | | where and when your workouts will take place, |
| your SAFETY!!! Pack reflective or highly visible | | | | you can unpack your jump rope and begin your |
| clothing if you plan to workout in the early | | | | jump rope travel program. Whether I plan on |
| morning hours or after the sun sets. It's never a | | | | exercising in the hotel or going outside I always |
| bad idea to even pack a small light that can clip | | | | start with a 5-10 minute warm-up routine. Usually |
| onto your clothing or an arm band. | | | | I begin with some very light stretching exercises |
| - Check the weather conditions for the time | | | | for my shoulders, neck, arms, legs and back. I |
| you're going to be away | | | | also incorporate exercises to strengthen my core |
| - Use the internet to identify running or walking | | | | muscles as well as my feet. We sometimes |
| clubs in the area where you will be staying. Most | | | | forget about working the foot muscles as part of |
| runningclubs have web sites that contain a wealth | | | | our routine. Although using the IROPE Fitness |
| of information about the best and safest places | | | | Program jump rope techniques are extremely low |
| to workout, as well as valuable tips on the area | | | | impact, if you're not jumping properly it won't be |
| itself. | | | | hard to disturb the hotel guests in the room |
| - Check with your local running or walking clubs | | | | below yours. So to make sure everyone remains |
| for suggestions of other clubs that they may be | | | | happy and undisturbed, for a starter, warm-up |
| associated with in the town or city that you are | | | | with doing about 15 heel lifts and then, standing on |
| going to visit; | | | | one leg rotate the elevated foot in alternating |
| - Identify nearby parks, jogging trails or high | | | | directions and switch legs. Do about 10-15 |
| school or college tracks as well as their hours of | | | | repetitions for each leg. If I plan to jump rope |
| operation or use; | | | | outdoors, I like to do 2 or 3 sets of stairs and |
| - If you have special dietary needs, research area | | | | then a very short walk. Everyone has their own |
| restaurants and grocers that may cater to | | | | way of warming up. What you do is not as |
| healthier food selections. Making unhealthy food | | | | important as how you do it. Your warm-up should |
| choices should never be an excuse just because | | | | complement what you're going to do as your |
| you're not home. | | | | core workout. Always make sure you are using |
| Once you've arrived at your new destination, | | | | proper form and breathing techniques for all of |
| what's next? Usually after I've checked in at the | | | | your exercises. |
| hotel, if I'm not too tired or it's not too late, I like | | | | Here are a few jump rope tips to try when |
| to drive around just to get a lay of the land. I use | | | | jumping rope outside your hotel: |
| this opportunity to get a feel for the community, | | | | - Identify a safe workout spot on the hotel |
| identify a running or walking course and measure | | | | parking lot or grounds. Scope the parking lot for |
| the round-trip distance to and from the hotel. | | | | vehicle traffic; |
| Here are a few additional tips you can use when | | | | - Locate an area of the parking lot that is safe |
| you arrive: | | | | and away from parked cars. Using one parking |
| - Identify the staircases in the hotel. I've never | | | | space usually provides adequate space to practice |
| been a big fan of elevators, so I often use the | | | | both stationary and multi-directional jump rope |
| stairs anyway. Using the stairs can sometimes | | | | drills. If you have an Optimum Performance |
| become an integral part of your workout | | | | Achievement Kit by IROPE Fitness you can use |
| especially if the weather is bad or it's too late | | | | the markers to practice various stationary and |
| when you return to your room at the end of the | | | | mobile agility drills. If not, there is never anything |
| day. Make sure the stairwells are well lit and safe. | | | | wrong with a little imagination and creativity. The |
| Exercise caution and WALK up and down - don't | | | | painted line space dividers provide an excellent |
| run; | | | | reference point for drills like jumping jacks, lunges, |
| - Ask the concierge about workout suggestions, | | | | and lateral movement. |
| he or she may be able to suggest nearby clubs, | | | | - Rope Walking a few laps around the hotel |
| fitness trails, or even special running or walking | | | | parking lot is always a plus if you're not |
| events that may take place during your stay at | | | | comfortable leaving the immediate area. Again, |
| the hotel; You can also check the tourist | | | | use the sidewalks if available and always watch |
| information kiosk or pick up the local news papers | | | | for vehicle and pedestrian traffic. |
| for fitness events and activities. I once visited a | | | | - After you've worked out for at least 30 or 40 |
| city in the Northwest and found a 5K race at a | | | | minutes, don't forget to do your cool-down |
| nearby university. It happened to be the inaugural | | | | stretches and re-hydrate. |
| race for an annual event that was used to bring | | | | |