Yo Run Gang,

Its time to plan a long fun summer vacation run, even if you are not on vacation! The normal training day does not allow time for a run that includes shopping, a stop at a bar, sight seeing along the way stuff like that. In addition, it takes the vacation or lazy weekend mentality to make this run work! Plan this excursion on a warm summer day so stopping and being wet and cold is not an issue. Bring cash, a water carrier with an area to pack treasures and some energy food.

The route can be a big loop or point to point depending on the area. If you run point to point you need a return strategy, a ride! Pick a vacation town (Ok, any town, even Ann Arbor during next weeks art fair) near by and figure out a long route to get there, include some points of interest (Road side stand, waterfall, scenic view spot, skinny dipping hole ) and a shorter route back, with more points of interest (Dive bar, model homes, garage sales, skinny dipping holes) if you can fit them in. Do the town, hit the galleries, pubs, hot spots, running shoe store (Shameless plug!) and dont be afraid to do some, dare I use the word, walking! Actually, you should throw in a bunch of walking from the start so pace does not become part of the plan that works out to be a 10 mile day that takes 4 hours or so! Enjoy every minute!

Run, sun, sip and walk,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed vacation runner/wanderer