How I managed a peak training week whilst on a family holiday
Clue: it was a sports holiday
If you think I sound restless you should meet my eldest son. If he is not doing some adrenaline-fuelled activity on holiday he drives us all mad. For this particular 13-year-old the beach is “pointless” unless there are huge waves, wandering around a historic or cultural sight is “boring” and splashing about in a villa pool simply does not cut the mustard (by comparison his 10-year-old brother loves a spot of sightseeing and is easily entertained with a pack of cards or a One Piece book).
So this year we decided we needed a holiday where my eldest could be entertained and the rest of us could have a peaceful time. I’d heard a lot about Club La Santa in Lanzarote from my friend Sophie Power who goes there every year. It’s a holiday resort geared around sport with an athletics track, Olympic swimming pool, dozens of courts for racquet sports, a water sports centre and kids sports clubs.
In the end we opted for Las Playitas in another Canary Island - Fuerteventura. It was a similar concept but more affordable and it had the option of a private villa with a pool so we didn’t feel like we were in a big complex.
It turned out to be a winner all round. We spent nine nights there and by the end of the holiday I’d completed my biggest training week for several months. And I’d managed to do it with zero mum-guilt as there really was something for everyone at the resort, and we all managed to pursue our individual interests.
By the time I returned home I’d managed to fit in heat acclimation, cross training, a road race, strength training, steep hill climbs and around 40 miles of running. And I didn’t feel completely knackered as I’d also had plenty of time lying by the pool reading my book.
Here’s how it worked.