Until a few years ago, I saw exercise as a chore. I didn't look forward to it, and I certainly didn't do it on holiday. But a year ago, I took my running kit to Whitby with me and surprised myself by running three times, including a euphoric sprint along the cliff edge next to the Abbey in thick, early morning fog, powered by the sound of the North Sea crashing against the shore. It was a fantastic way to get under the skin of a place I already know and love and I carried that magic around with me all day. Thanks to COVID, holidays have been a little thin on the ground since then, but I haven't forgotten the power of a change of scenery. 

I actually write a lot of my content while I'm running - here's what I came up with today while running amongst the lush greenery, stone cottages and rainy skies of Hebden Bridge:

1. It's perfect for hill training as it sits in a very steep valley (of course, this means the hills are bloody intense too)

2. The view really is worth the climb - and you don't have to run very far to get some fantastic ones!

3. It's really, really hard to get lost! It's pretty compact and the beautiful canal and main street run in parallel, so it's dead easy to navigate

4. It's bustling, diverse and friendly, so you get lots of lovely hellos, but it's very busy too

5. Your pace will be absolutely shite because you'll keep stopping to take photos of people's gardens and the gorgeous views

So, when you're packing for your next break, throw in your kit and get outside. I guarantee you'll fall in love with your favourite destination even more.