Signs of my addiction: Packing for a long weekend getaway to Phoenix, the first items to go in the suitcase are my running shoes, shorts, running shirts, socks and water bottles (for cycling and running). Not to mention three
Forerunners and a
nüvi. Now I’m set for a relaxing vacation. My husband has finally come to terms with my addiction and knows that when it’s just the two of us on vacation, we’re going somewhere warm and recreation-friendly. And by recreation, I don’t mean go-carts or golf carts (no offense to
Caddy Carl), though we were surrounded by plenty of lush courses during our stay in Scottsdale. I prefer recreation that requires "me" power — biking, hiking, running. My husband picked the perfect place for us to stay in Scottsdale. We were less than a mile from a multi-use trail, which was ideal for some
morning runs and even a short
bike ride.
There are lots of reasons to love
Garmin Connect, and one of my favs is that I can easily upload my activities to the site when I’m traveling. Better yet, I can use the Explore function to search for runs, rides or even hiking routes that other Garmin Connect users have uploaded. Not only does this give you an idea of where to find these great routes, but you can view all sorts of data for that activity. It’s what Garmin Connect does best—recording elevation, distance, timing and more, so you get a real-world picture of the route before you set out to explore it. Our last day in Phoenix, we made a quick stop at Papago Park outside Tempe. Didn’t have much time for
our hike, but we did take in some beautiful sights with the sun setting over the mountain ridge. Alas, the setting sun signaled the end of our vacation and time to get back to reality. Would’ve loved to have stayed a few more days, especially when I saw signs at a nearby marina for
Ironman Arizona, which is this weekend. I could’ve cheered on my friend Mike and some other triathletes from this area. Another time perhaps. I’ll be back to the sunny southwest again. And I’ve given my husband fair warning of my vacation wish for our 20th anniversary: hiking the Grand Canyon. He said he was thinking beach time, maybe Waikiki. We have a few years to see who wins out. I’ll keep you posted.
