I’m just a crazy woman with a skipping rope.
I typically have a case of ‘ants in the pants’ while traveling and do my best to book direct flights or ones with short layovers.
It doesn’t always work out that way.
I should have known that my day would be ‘extra special’ when I was seated by probably some of the most ‘interesting’ folks I’ve met. I listened for hours to political theories, health issues and various personal matters that I didn’t feel I was privy to, having just met and all. I guess it was the Canadian in me that prevented me from putting in my ear buds, so I quietly nodded my head and asked the occasional question.
It was probably a red flag for a rough ride when the conversation started with a glass of water being spilled on my seat and talk of their self medication. Funny thing is that I decided to change my seat to an aisle that flight and ended up with the odd couple. I guess I was meant to learn something, not sure what, I’m still working on that one 😉
I had an unexpected very long (6 hour) delay after that and I was going stir crazy. It had been a long day. As it turned out, I had to get up at 3 am to make it to the airport for 5 am. I usually travel and happily plug away at my computer. I hadn’t gotten anything done on the flight, so the prospect of a 6 hour delay was somehat palatable since I thought I’d just catch up on some projects. I distracted myself as best as possible with a slow internet and a long ‘to do’ list, but my bum was literally falling asleep.
I had to do something.
I met a nice young man who had missed his flight. He had a 24 hour delay before he could make his connection so we were seat mates commiserating our time together. Misery does like company. And his longer delay kept my delay in perspective.
He happily took a few pictures of me while I made a scene.
After my 12 minute workout security came up to me. I got nervous thinking that my daughter’s prediction that I’d eventually be escorted out of an airport had came true. Turns out security just wanted me to do another round…I’m glad that I made someone’s day 😉
All I had was my skipping rope, my gym boss and a whole lotta space. I didn’t want to make too big of a scene. You know I would have done pull ups had I found a suitable place. Sadly, there was nothing to hang from.
I set my gym boss for 30 seconds of work with a 5 second transition. I alternated skipping with an upper and lower body exercise:
- Skip
- Squats
- Skip
- Decline push ups
- Skip
- Rev lunge
- Skip
- Push ups
- Skip
- One leg stiff legged dead lift
- One leg stiff legged dead lift
- Skip
- Spider crawl
- Skip
- Pulsing plie squat
- Skip
- Hand stand
(Repeat if requested by security 😉
So this wasn’t the most challenging workout I’ve ever done.
The challenge was just doing something on a day when, due to my interrupted travel plans, nothing would get done. The challenge was doing a workout in my jeans, in the middle of an airport.
It’s not always about doing the most challenging exercises, sometimes it’s just doing any exercise in a challenging situation.
Get it done, no excuses.
Guess what? Now I have a Challenge Workouts Travel program for you! You’ll find 10 bodyweight workouts you can to do anywhere, and 10 workouts you can do in a hotel gym with very basic equipment. Always have a plan!
