Business travel is a marathon effort for Egencia Australia's Matt Christie

Hoka One One shoes. "They're perfect for those in their twilight years who value the cartilage in between their knees ...
Hoka One One shoes. "They're perfect for those in their twilight years who value the cartilage in between their knees and want to maintain what foot arch they have left." Louise Kennerley
by Matt Christie

Travel company boss Matt Christie packs running shoes with his suits for exercise around the globe.

Working for a travel management company like Egencia requires a fair amount of international travel, so I try to tie in some triathlon and running events when I travel for work.

For example, I recently completed the Disneyland Half Marathon and Disneyland 10K in California after our company off-site team event in Phoenix. My favourite races would be the City2Surf in Sydney, the 70.3 Half Ironman in Kona, Hawaii, and the now-defunct Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship in Melbourne.

I’ve found that maintaining your hydration and nutritional levels to be race fit on long-haul trips remains difficult, and your results tend to be poor when you travel extensively and then compete.

Matt Christie, MD of Egencia Australia, mixes in training with his business travels.
Matt Christie, MD of Egencia Australia, mixes in training with his business travels. Louise Kennerley

I had a fairly lacklustre day at the Ironman Western Australia in Busselton after arriving straight there from a Singapore business trip – I found myself short on energy early into the ride.

To be honest I’ve not yet figured out how to stay race fit while travelling, but it doesn’t stop me giving it a go.

Matt's fitness travel kit

Garmin 735XT

My favourite bit of kit when I travel is my Garmin Forerunner 725XT triathlon watch. It has heart‑rate monitoring and interfaces with your mobile. There's an "everyday" mode that allows you to monitor sleep and resting heart rate, so you can gauge how your fitness is affected by jet lag. It also has a handy GPS-enabled open‑water swimming mode. If I'm able to squeeze in a swim in the hotel pool (or dip in the ocean), I like to record it, even if more as a travel diary than an analysis of results.

The Garmin 735XT triathlon watch. "It has a handy GPS-enabled open‑water swimming mode."
The Garmin 735XT triathlon watch. "It has a handy GPS-enabled open‑water swimming mode." Louise Kennerley

Hoka One One shoes

I've recently switched to Hoka One One running shoes, which I take on most of my business trips. They're perfect for those in their twilight years who value the cartilage in between their knees and want to maintain what foot arch they have left.

Lines to cross: bucket list events

  • New York Marathon, November 5, 2017: Run through one of the globe's most recognised cityscapes.
  • Challenge Roth, July 9, 2017: Held since 1984 in Bavaria, Germany, this triathlon takes in stunning scenery along the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal.
  • Ironman World Championship, Hawaii, October 14, 2017: You have to earn your entry there, and it is hard, but also incredibly rewarding (so I'm told!).