October 2017 www.womanthismonth.com LIFESTYLE | travel 64 However, the magic all too soon fades away and you find yourself back at home, woken by the habitual sound of your alarm, heralding your return to work and what passes for the normal daily routine. But something is amiss. Feeling unusually heavy? The formal attire a little too snug, perhaps, after that brief respite from routine and the slight overindulgence of the vacation. Sounds familiar? As a fitness-orientated person, you probably train most days of the week, with an abundance of energy radiating out like solar power; so why this current feeling of being unfit and tired? Surely, having just returned from holiday, you’d expect to feel content, happy and recharged? Perhaps the answer is simply that, while you enjoyed all the wonders of the trip, your body missed the exercise. So why not learn from that and plan your next vacation under the motto “happy and fit”. My recent visit to London was a sevenday trip to catch up with friends and staff. However, I decided to make an additional plan to run in seven parks — a great way to start your day and include a little sightseeing on the way. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the life of the city before breakfast. My first four days were mainly focused on endurance and running my favourite four parks – Kensington, Hyde, St James' and Green Parks – which adjoin each other. By the Round Pond, I encountered a myriad of sleeping swans, their heads gracefully resting down their bodies; cheerful dogs accompanied by their caring owners; cyclists, walkers, runners and just 'early birds' ensure the park is wide awake at just after 6am. Being a triathlete, I would cycle along the park courtesy of a 'Boris bike'. These bikes, available courtesy of an initiative by London’s former mayor, Boris Johnson, are free of charge for the first half hour and only £2 per hour thereafter. It's a great atmosphere going to the park by bike along with the daily commuters travelling to work. I would park by Princess Gate and start my run of the four parks from there, making my way down the curving Serpentine river, with its sinuous, mysterious charm, through the arch to St James’s and onward toward Buckingham Palace — calm and The summer holiday equation: excellent weather, fabulous location, good food, possibly plenty of grape and good company, together adds up to a wonderful time! Have Your Holiday Cake… and Eat It Too!
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