Five days and counting (and planning)

Five days. Thats all I have to make it through, then its off to the beach! I sooo need this vacation. But I am faced with a bit of a challenge - continuing to eat healthy while on vacation, and figuring out when and where to get my running in. Well, when isn't the issue, I plan on doing it early in the morning, like 6:30-7:00 AM. I think that will work out well since I usually get up at that time anyway when I am at the beach. It also helps that PCB is the Central time zone. Yay, for gaining an hour!

So far I have found 4 or 5 different running routes from our condo. We will be staying across the street from Walmart (or right next door to Pineapple Willy's) so there are some back road options I have found. I have also figured out the distances on the beach to different obvious landmarks (the pier to the North and Club La Vela to the South). The most recent route I found is a 5k route around Pier Park.

If you frequent Panama City and have never been to Pier Park, I recommend that you go. They just got done building it a little over a year ago (I think...). There is a mall and movie theatre (great because now you don't have to go off the island if you want to see a movie.) There is also a Ron Jon Surf Shop, Margaritaville, Target, Old Navy, and tons of other stores, restaurants and boutiques.

Sorry, got off on a tangent there. I figure if we get up and get to Pier Park around 6:45 or 7, it will be before anything opens, so there shouldn't be a lot of people. Most importantly, it won't be as hot. I just hope we can get up and do this. If Jon doesn't want to do it, or if his stomach is being finicky, I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm obviously not going to go by myself, but I really can't afford to lose a week of running, especially with the Peachtree coming up in 4 weeks! I think I will get a Gold's Gym "passport" so I can go to the gym down there if need be. At least that way I know I can get my running in, and I can go later in the day if it starts to rain or something. I just signed Jon up for a 7 Day Free Pass for the Gold's Gym on Panama City Beach. He probably won't want to go, but we shall see. At least if he goes he can get his weight lifting in.

** Argh, I just read the fine print on the page and it says you must be a local resident... I just need to ask someone, or call that gym.

As far as eating goes, it just comes down to good choices. We don't eat out a lot. Actually, we only eat out twice at most (Captain Anderson's is a must, you know), and Jon and I will go to Margaritaville for lunch one day. The rest of the time will be meals made from food that we buy. I am making a list ahead of time and we will stick to that list when shopping, and we have both made the commitment/agreement to eat well next week. Acceptance is half the battle, right?