If you’re a professional or semi-pro athlete, no matter what your discipline, you may find yourself having to dig pretty deep for motivation in order to keep up a regular training regimen over winter. But if you want to stay in the running (so to speak!) keeping at the peak of your physical fitness is a no-brainer, so slacking off just because it’s cold, dark and raining isn’t an option.
It doesn’t have to be so hard, though, and many athletes and their coaches are waking up to the huge physical and mental benefits of taking off to Europe for some warm weather training during the UK winter. It’s amazing what a little sun can do to boost your enthusiasm, and many of these sporting complexes are purpose built for international athletics training – often affording the opportunity to train in state-of-the-art facilities with top-notch equipment.
Malta, Cyprus, and The Canary Islands are just three tempting sun-drenched locations where you can get in some warm weather track and field training.
The Canary Islands
No matter how focused your training schedule, it doesn’t hurt that The Canaries not only have some of the best weather in the world (winter is a bit of a dirty word here!), but that the islands are also home to a swathe of gorgeous beaches to enjoy on your downtime.
As the largest of the islands in The Canaries, Tenerife is one of the most popular places for international track and field athletes to train. The Antonio Dominguez Alfonso Olympic Stadium, situated in the gorgeous coastal resort of Playa de Las Americas, is home to an 8-lane, 400-metre running track within a 5000-seat stadium, along with a great onsite gym for weight and cardio training, and extensive track and field training facilities. There’s a choice of accommodation (from budget to luxury) within walking distance of the stadium, and Playa de Las Americas is a highly accessible destination, just 20 minutes’ transfer from Tenerife South Airport.
The Gran Tarajal Athletics Stadium, on Fuerteventura, offers superb facilities for athletes coming for a warm weather training break. The stadium is equipped with a 6-lane, 400 metre track, along with a high standard of other field sports facilities, a gym, and an Olympic swimming pool. The stadium is about 5km from Las Playitas, where there is a host of excellent hotel, villa, or apartment accommodation available for the duration of your training period.
Cyprus
Cyprus is an up-and-coming destination that’s already popular with tourists, but now also offers multiple options for athletes to enjoy some warm weather training during the UK winter.
Within the lovely southwest coastal region of Paphos, the Yeroskipou Sports Centre, the Pafiako Stadium, and the Pagela Sports Stadium all offer excellent opportunities for track and field training camps. All three venues are equipped with 8-lane, all weather synthetic tracks, discus, shot and javelin areas, sand pits, pole vault and high jump beds, throws equipment, track training equipment, and onsite gyms.
Extremely accessible from the airport (it’s a small island, after all) and with plenty of low cost flights from the UK, you can choose from a wonderful range of accommodation around Paphos, from luxury beach resorts to budget self-catering apartments – all just a short drive from these high-profile sporting complexes.
Malta
With a lovely tropical climate and several well-facilitated sporting complexes, Malta rates highly on the list of options for warm weather training camps. For track and field athletes, Balzan Sports Stadium and Marsa Sports Stadium are both equally as popular for training opportunities, and both are equipped with 8-lane, 400 metre tracks. The stadiums also house extensive field event facilities, including long and triple jump runways, hurdling equipment, and onsite gyms.
Accommodation is available throughout the island (some within walking distance of these two venues) and ranges from budget friendly 3-star apartments right up to luxury beach resorts. Many of these will also provide transport to and from the training venues if and when required.
Let Shuttle Direct Take Care of Your Airport Transfers
If you’re planning on heading abroad for some warm weather training, no doubt there’s a lot to organise. Let Shuttle Direct take care of your transport to and from the airport and that’ll be one less thing to worry about! We’ve been transporting sportspeople and their equipment for years, so whether you’re training in Cyprus, The Canaries, Malta, or anywhere else, we can help take the hassle out of your travel arrangements.
Visit our website to make an instant online booking and one of our friendly, efficient drivers will meet you at the airport of your choosing and get you to your sporting complex or accommodation in no time at all. If you’re travelling with sporting equipment, just let us know and we’ll come prepared in the right vehicle. Depending on your budget, you can choose from a private vehicle just for you, or a shared budget-friendly transfer. Trust your travel arrangements to Shuttle Direct and the only running around you’ll have to do is the kind on the track!
