Get Sweaty on Vacation: Beach Interval Workout

Between hiking and kayaking and cycling and surfing (well, trying to, anyway) in Hawaii, I didn’t fit in as many traditional workouts as I typically do while on a vacation. However, I still managed to sweat it up before happy hour a time or two, and this particular workout is one I’ll keep in mind for future beach (and other!) trips.

What makes it special? Three reasons: First, it didn’t require a long distance for running (which was important on this short little beach that didn’t leave room for my usual favorite beach workout). Second, it was fast: just over half an hour, start to finish. And third, it required no equipment, aside from a stopwatch if you have one available (but even if you don’t, you’ll be fine).

To begin, select a stretch for your run. It can be as long or as short as you like, but you’ll want to have a definitive spot to begin and end going each way. (My distance took me about 1:20 to run.) The gist of this workout is to run one end to the other, keeping a steady pace (or even descending, if you can!), so start off at a pace you think you can hold and time how long it takes you to get from one end to the other. Try to meet or beat that time each time you run.

Between each running interval, you’ll do one leg of a mountain — remember that workout?  Although, instead of using kettlebells and TRX straps, you’ll simply use your body weight. Go into each as quickly as you can, but take a moment to recover when needed. No need to overdo it!

Ready? Here we go!

Now get yo’self a chair and an umbrella and relax! And tell me — do you come up with workouts like this on your vacation? —Kristen