Why I Always Pack My Running Shoes on Holiday

It didn’t always mean I used them

For years, I packed my running things for holidays and, for just as many years, I never actually used them. At the time, it came from a very different place – the idea that I should run. That it would somehow balance out the cocktails, the buffets, the slower pace. It felt like something I needed to do to earn the indulgence or to feel slightly better about it all.

Unsurprisingly, that version never really stuck. The trainers would stay in the suitcase, untouched. The intention was there, but the reason behind it wasn’t strong enough to carry it through.

What changed wasn’t the holiday – it was me

The shift didn’t come from suddenly becoming more disciplined. It came from a point in motherhood where I had started running again at home and realised how much of myself I had quietly lost by not doing it. Running stopped being about fitness and became something much more fundamental – a way to reconnect with who I was.

So when we went back to Ibiza, somewhere I hadn’t been in nearly twenty years, packing my trainers felt different. It wasn’t about what I thought I should do anymore. It was about continuing something I didn’t want to lose again, and doing it in a place that already held so much meaning for me.

If you’re figuring out how to make that work practically, I’ve shared more in how to stay active on holiday

It stopped being about exercise altogether

That trip completely changed how I see running on holiday. It wasn’t structured, it wasn’t timed, and it certainly wasn’t something I forced myself to do every day. It became a simple, open-ended experience – a run until I felt like heading back for breakfast.

Some mornings it happened, some mornings it didn’t, and that was the point. When I did go, it felt like space. Like clarity. Like a way of moving through the place I was in rather than just sitting within it. It turned something that once felt like effort into something that felt like freedom.

That shift is also why I approach trips differently now, especially when it comes to how to keep running while travelling

What packing them represents now

Now, when I pack my running shoes, it isn’t really about running at all. It’s about identity. It’s a small but very real way of reinforcing the kind of life I’m choosing to live in motherhood – one that feels expansive rather than restrictive, one where I’m part of it rather than just managing it.

It represents the fact that my needs are no longer negotiable, but also that they don’t come at the expense of my family. It’s not about doing more or being better. It’s about choosing a version of myself I actually like. And honestly, being around the right people makes this even easier – something I’ve written about in why every active mum needs active friends.

And just to be clear, this does not make me a matcha-drinking wellness person. We fully commit to the buffets, the cocktails, and the slower afternoons. It’s a genuine balance. The running doesn’t cancel anything out – it simply adds something back in.

The shift that made it actually work

The reason this now works so easily isn’t because I try harder. It’s because I stopped treating it like a task and started treating it like part of the experience. It became less about routine and more about rhythm – something that fits around the day rather than dictating it.

Once that clicked, it stopped feeling like something I had to motivate myself to do, and started feeling like something I wanted to include.

How I actually make running on holiday work

Of course, none of this sticks if it feels complicated. The only reason I do it now is because I’ve made it as simple and low-pressure as possible. These are the things that genuinely make the difference:

1. Go early and get it done before the day starts

I’m not naturally an early riser, but early mornings on holiday feel different. It’s quieter, cooler, and there’s something about being up before everyone else that makes the day feel bigger. More importantly, it removes the decision later – because realistically, you are not going for a run at 5pm when it’s boiling hot and you’re halfway through cocktails and lilo races.

2. Pack one outfit and keep it simple

One set of running kit is enough. It might not feel particularly glamorous by the end of the week, but it removes all decision-making. You’re not choosing outfits, you’re not overthinking it — you just put it on and go. A quick rinse after and it’s ready again. I also lay everything out the night before so there’s no disruption in the morning.

3. Give yourself a reason beyond “exercise”

If I can’t be bothered – which still happens – I don’t rely on motivation. I attach it to something else. Exploring a new area, finding a coffee spot, seeing more of where we’re staying. That shift makes it feel like part of the holiday rather than something separate from it.

4. Keep the first day easy

The first day is usually just a walk or a very easy route. Sometimes I repeat the same route all week because it’s familiar and effortless. There’s no pressure to make it impressive. The goal is simply to move.

5. Look for what’s already available

Many hotels and resorts now have running routes, gyms or even informal run clubs. It’s always worth asking. Even if you don’t join anything, it gives you a safe and simple structure to follow.

6. Build it into the family rhythm

This made a huge difference. Once my partner knew it was something I wanted to prioritise, we worked around it together. We’d alternate mornings, and if you missed your turn, you waited for the next one. It added just enough structure without making it feel rigid, and actually made it more enjoyable.

7. Keep it simple with kids

You can absolutely take a running buggy – ours folds down easily and works well when needed. But personally, I prefer going alone and then being fully present and active with the kids afterwards. That balance feels better for us at this stage.

8. Remember it doesn’t have to be running

This isn’t really about running – it’s about movement. If running isn’t your thing, there are so many other options now. Many places offer tennis, cycling, classes, swimming and more. Even walking more or exploring on foot can give you that same shift in energy. The key is that it feels easy and enjoyable, not forced.

A small decision that changes everything

What I’ve realised is that packing my running shoes isn’t about doing more while I’m away. It’s about not losing that version of myself again – the one that feels clear-headed, capable and present. Which is something I go deeper into in The Active Mum’s Guide to Seeing the World Without Giving Up Movement

Because when movement is part of the trip, even in a small way, everything feels different. You see more, you experience more, and you feel more connected to where you are.

And in the end, that’s what makes the biggest difference.

A final thought

So now, when I’m packing for a trip and that question comes up again – do I bring the running shoes? – it’s not really a question anymore.

It’s just part of who I am.

---