The long distance runner Marina Rappold talks about her vacation routine and gives tips on training breaks.
Unterschwillach - Last week I was asked whether I would actually run on vacation or rather put my feet up.
And by that I don't mean the vacation on the balcony, but on the North Sea, on Malta or in Greece.
I couldn't really answer that question.
But I thought about it here once.
Running should first and foremost be fun and not become a compulsion.
That's why I would first ask myself on vacation whether I really feel like running or some form of exercise.
If so, in my opinion there is nothing wrong with walking along the Amalfi Coast.
But if it's more the routine that catches up with you, or if you have concerns about the pile of fried calamari that we had for dinner yesterday, I would think twice about putting on my running shoes.
There are two good reasons against this:
1. Vacation should be there to break deadlocked routines. We can stay in bed until 10 a.m., we don't have to worry about work, and we are also allowed to drink more than one glass of red wine in the evening. Everything can be the way it is otherwise. This also applies to our running routine. If we run regularly 50 weeks a year, it is unproblematic and also harmless to health not even to move our left toe for two weeks a year if we feel like it. After the Olympics, an Olympic athlete does not continue as before, but usually only does one thing: a break from the season. And you are welcome to ring this in on vacation.
2. As is well known, holidays should be there to return to everyday life relaxed and, in the best case, highly motivated. Let me put it in a figurative way: If a racehorse stands in the paddock for two weeks and gets the best oats in the stable in the evening, it will weigh four kilos more after two weeks, but scratch its hooves. If it then gets the saddle and its bridle on (you have sneakers and shorts), it already prances slightly on the spot with anticipation (your heart rate goes up slightly when you start the Erdinger city run in two weeks) thinks). And then, yes, the horse gallops off the farm and enjoys its shape (you run, as always, the first few meters too fast and then you soon find your pace, at which you feel comfortable and relaxed,also because running is almost better than before the holiday).
Do you understand what i mean?
So it is not important to come back in top physical form after the vacation, but above all to really feel like running again.
Motivation is the be-all and end-all and almost the most important thing when it comes to running regularly.
So it's up to you whether you go running on vacation or not.
It's good for your soul and you want to constantly discover nature, nothing speaks against it, but an Olympic athlete also takes a break from time to time.
Therefore it is not reprehensible not to do anything for two weeks.
The only important thing is to come back as motivated as the horse.
How do I proceed personally?
I've also run on vacation, but on summer vacation I mostly do the horse.
And you?
By the way, this is not my horse in the photo, but the horse of a dear friend of mine.
I wish you a lot of fun when you get back on track after your break from running.
Marina Rappold
Tips from the expert
Marina Rappold is German U23 runner-up over 10,000 meters, won team gold in the half marathon and won the Munich New Year's Eve and Erdinger City Run. This year, the 23-year-old from Unterschwillach wanted to contest the first marathon of her life, but an injury slowed her down for the time being.
The prospective primary school teacher gives the readers of the local newspaper tips and advice on all aspects of running.