I fled New York City every Friday in July and headed to Nantucket, where, in between feasting on the island cuisine (21 Federal, Galley Beach, and Lo La 41), I managed to cobble together my own more relaxed version of triathlon training. For starters, I covered almost every inch of the fifteen-mile-wide island on a vintage turquoise-and-white Schwinn rented from Cook’s Cycle Shop. (Young’s and Nantucket Bike Shop are also great.) From town, I would pedal nine miles to the Wauwinet beach resort for a massage for which my muscles will forever be grateful (for more about Wauwinet plus other ways to relax, check out Nantucket Spas) before continuing on to ‘Sconset (another eight miles) to hit the courts at the Siasconset Casino Association. A shellfish medley and a glass of Domaines Ott Rose at The Summer House’s Beachside Bistro fueled my more leisurely ride back. To prep for my next leg of the triathlon, I headed to Island Company in search of a bikini. There’s great swimming at Dionis Beach, killer surfing on Nobadeer (the best surf shops are Indian Summer and Force Five), not to mention windsurfing and sailing—rentals for both are available at Jetties Beach. (I heard rumors of sunrise yoga at Jetties but I never got up that early; if you don’t mind working out indoors, I recommend Shadow Yoga at YogaSmith and spinning, Pilates, and sculpting classes at the Nantucket Health Club.) I replaced running with speed walking, and made a quick dash to town (don’t miss the Capri-inspired sandal company Il Sandalo and Lady Bird Lingerie). I rounded out my training with beach walks and dune climbs on Surfside, Cisco, or Ladies (with stops for handstands and cartwheels) . The eleventh annual Nantucket Beach Fitness Camp—cardio drills, plyometric and agility stations, and team relays—organized by fitness expert Tom Holland will take place this week and next (spots are still open). Sadly, I will miss it as I’m spending my next two weekends on Lake Placid and the North Fork of Long Island where I look forward to discovering new ways to keep moving.
DIRECTORY 21 Federal 21 Federal Street, (508) 228-2121 21federal.com Galley Beach 54 Jefferson Avenue, (508) 228-9641 Lo La 41 15 South Beach Street, (508) 325-4001 lola41.net Cook’s Cycle Shop 6 South Beach Street, (508) 228-0800 Young’s Bicycle Shop 6 Broad Street, (508) 228-1151 youngsbicycleshop.com Nantucket Bike Shop 4 Broad Street, (508) 228-1999 nantucketbikeshop.com The Wauwinet 120 Wauwinet Road, (508) 228-0145 wauwinet.com Siasconset Casino Association 10 New Street, Siasconset (508) 257-6585 siasconsetcasino.com Summer House Beachside Bistro 16 Ocean Avenue, Siasconset, (508) 257-4542 thesummerhouse.com/beachside Island Company 17 Centre Street, (508) 228-2859 islandcompany.com Indian Summer Sports 6 Broad Street (508) 228-3632 indiansummersurf.com Force Five Watersports 6 Union Street, (508) 228-0700 YogaSmith 9 Amelia Drive, (508) 228-9920 yogasmith.com Nantucket Health Club 10 Young’s Way, (508) 228-4750 nantuckethealthclub.com Il Sandalo 13 Centre St., Nantucket MA 02554 (508) 825-2006 ilsandalo.com Lady Bird Lingerie 1 Orange St., Nantucket MA 02554 (508) 228-6093 Eleventh Annual Nantucket Beach Fitness Camp Jetties Beach 877-866-4348 teamholland.com
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