Too Much Travel and Not Enough Running? 2015 in Review and Looking Forward to 2016

Is it possible to travel too much? My answer is a resounding NO. But, while in my opinion one can never travel too much, it is possible to have so much going on, that, at some point in the juggle, something else suffers. I think I came close to reaching point in 2015 – though I must say I loved 2015 especially because of all my travel.

Last year I went on about a zillion exciting trips – – from Prague to Amsterdam to Japan to Austin to Savannah to India to Atlanta to Pittsburgh to Luxembourg to Germany to Orlando to Brazil to Peru to Paris to Johannesburg to Capetown to Fort Lauderdale to Quito to Cuenca to Nashville at the end of November.  In the language of the Great Circle Mapper, that’s jfk-mxp-prg-ams-nrt-jfk-aus-jfk-sav-lga-dxb-del-dxb-jfk-atl- pit-ams-lux-dus-jfk-mco-jfk-lim-igu-lim-jfk-cdg-abu-jnb-cpt-jnb-auh-jfk-fll-jfk-gye-uio-cue-gye-jfk-bna-jfk.

The tally? 93,379 miles (and still not enough miles flown on any one airline or alliance to keep status on any airline in 2016). Thirteen countries, of which four were new countries: Peru, South Africa, Ecuador and India. What an amazing year, filled with wanderlust and discovery (and mainly seated in coach!).

So, where does the too much travel come in?  It comes in with the goal of balancing it all. I have a full-time profession where I’m expected to be in an office (by the way, I like my job). Another large chunk of my life revolves around friendships, my boyfriend and my family as well as running. I also often go to events and dinners, whether with friends, or for legal or travel-related functions. The calendar fills up and of course it’s always when it rains, it pours. Although I had the fortune of going out for runs in so many glorious places, overall my running suffered in 2015. I missed spending time with my running friends and sometimes traveling to run races.

After the last trip in November, I canceled my December plans and decided I would plan 2016 more carefully (whatever that means). For 2016, I am trying to leave more open gaps, and perhaps not jump on as many mistake fares or embark on as many quick trips as before.

So, far, I’m planning two main summer trips with Won’t Run (he’s a teacher and we need to schedule trips around the school calendar): A trip to Greece in July, with 2 nights in Madrid, and a resort-type trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, for 5 nights in August.

I’m leaving open space for more possible Media/Press trips in 2016, so I don’t have to say no, or bunch them in with my other plans.

I’m also planning more trips around marathons or half marathons again. (I must admit my running has gotten much slower and it’s not merely from being under-trained – however, I can walk forever and love doing so, so I am working walking into my runs more and more). So far: Bahamas in January (Bahamas Marathon [Media Trip]), Huntington Beach, CA in February (Surf City Marathon), Cary, NC in March (Tobacco Road Marathon), London, UK in April (I didn’t get accepted in the ballot for the London Marathon, but I’ll be there to watch it), Salt Lake City, UT in September (Big Cottonwood Marathon), Portland, ME in October (Maine Marathon), and Indianapolis, IN in November (Indianapolis Monumental Marathon). There will probably be others.

Where will 2016 take you? I can’t wait to go.