Travels and Training... Our favorite places!

Ever have a funny experience of traveling and training?  Vacations sometimes seem like a past time when you have to train all the time.  But fitting a little vacation in with your main squeeze, turning it onto a "train-cation", or planning an exotic cycling adventure can be just as much of a break. We shared some of our favorite places to travel to, and some funny experiences of trying to fit training in while on vacation.  Feel free to share yours with us in the comments below!

Michelle Mitchell

I worked on a mine site in Nhulunbuy Northern Territory, Australia. There was a massive pool in the town that no one used much and because my work hours were 6-6 there wasn't much time for training at "normal" hours. I managed to acquire a key and sneak into the pool regularly before anyone was around, only to be too scared one morning to hop out of the pool because a pack of dingoes/camp dogs had gotten into the pool area (not sure how) I had to stay in the pool (3hrs) until it officially opened and was rescued and then had to explain how I was in the pool.. I managed to keep my key though :).

Kebby Holden

I signed up for a bike tour in the Dominican Republic. I wasn’t able to bring my bike shoes on the trip, so thought I could at least get some pedal strokes in this way. Turns out it was just me and the guide. He was leading and I stayed glued to his wheel. I think it kind of pissed him off so he kept speeding up and I stayed with him. 10 minutes in, he is no longer telling me about what we are seeing but rather we are on a full TT through some pretty dodgy sections of town. That was the last time I did a TT in flip flops! At the end, my guide/new training partner said: "You're not so bad...for a girl."

Karleen Dirmantas

I go to San Diego every summer for a "Train-cation". It’s about 105 degrees plus at home in AZ, so it’s a great break from the heat.  I was lucky to get a few “map my ride” routes from Steph so I could get in some good bike training for my upcoming Ironman.  On a Saturday I left for my 120 miles bike ride with no real idea of where I was going, but a small piece of paper with turn-by-turn instructions of where I was to go.  Somewhere, about half way through, I ran into some other cyclists who seemed to be going the same route. I rode along with them until I got left behind with a flat.  I continued on this beautiful ride through lush farms and mountains.  I was still following my written instructions until at about 75 miles I hit an “End of Pavement” road sign.  I continued on, downhill, as it was kind of paved but kind of dirt.  And then it ENDED!!  I hit a dirt road in the middle of nowhere.  I had missed a turn somewhere, probably at the top of this 2 mile steep downhill.   I tried calling Steph and was cut out because there was no cell service.  Then, out of nowhere came a car down the dirt road and they asked if I needed help. Almost in tears, looking at my little piece of written notes, this guy comes out of the back of the car and says, “I’m a cyclist, you’re not supposed to be here, where are you supposed to be?” I seriously think he was my guardian angel. He guided me to where I needed to go, which still took me down another 1 miles of dirt road to the Palo Casino. Who rides their bikes in Palo? No one!! I took a Redbull and Pop Tart break at the gas station and continued on the highway back to Oceanside.  I got in 102 miles that day and  a heck of a sunburn from my 8 hour long experience.

Andrea Astudillo
My husband and I try to take one big trip a year. We usually do this in November, so it doesn't really impact any serious training. Summer of 2011 was the exception to our November travels when we went to France to view the tour and do some of the climbs in the Alps. We had read that it would be really warm (high 80s and 90s). We didn't check the weather when we left and when we got there they had one of their mid summer cool fronts that brought snow. It was so cold and we were completely unprepared. I had to borrow warm gear from others in our group (who I had just met!) and we had to go into ski shops to get warm stuff that included ski masks and ski gloves. I wore my arm warmers under my clothes at night to go to dinner. I washed them first, of course. So ridiculous! Fortunately, it warmed up over the next couple of days.
Other than that, my favorite trip that I have gone on was in 2009 when we visited three countries in Africa. It was a great combination of all the things I love in a trip: outdoors, animals, wine, interesting people, beautiful beaches, adventure and culture.

Alana Kennedy-Nasser

My favorite place (thus far) to vacation is Costa Rica. Something about rolling blackouts, in a jungle overlooking the Pacific, with howling monkeys keeping you awake and scared for your life, just adds to the excitement of a trip. I hear the Rev3 series there is great. Might give that a try!

Funniest training story was a bit tragic (it's funny now!) During a training ride,

my husband, who is a critical care doc, went down in a crack. A rider rushed over to him and she said, "Don't worry, I'm a doctor." To which he replied, "What type?!" He was dismayed to learn she was an OB/Gyn because "that wasn't going to be very helpful!" He is perfectly fine now.

Hailey Manning

Belgium 2010 we went and rode the entire Tour of Flanders course the day before the pros did…all 156 miles. Funniest thing about that trip was the “open” port o pots for the guys, one big trough with “privacy” dividers so that 8 guys could pee at the same time. Like a guy pee pie.

Aid station food? Not your ordinary PB&J, there were DELICIOUS sugar filled soft waffles at every aid station…I certainly had no problems keeping the kcals a comin’!

Usually my vacations are around a race or in the UK with family…the training gets a bit relaxed there…too much TopShop shopping to do!

Fave person to travel with: Mark…close second would be my girlfriends.

I want to go to Southeast Asia, and all of the south pacific islands, like bali and Fiji….any place warm with a beach is my dream