2025-W26 — A380 Dreams, DC Heat, and “Speed Tourism” Runs Before Breakfast

What happened this week

On June 28, we traveled from Chemnitz to Munich and flew to Washington DC on the A380—something we’d wanted to do as a family for years. We sat in the last row on the lower deck, literally in the tail of the plane. The cabin showed its age (worn seats, a finicky headphone jack), but the experience still felt like a milestone.

We arrived late at night and started exploring the next day. DC hit us with serious summer heat, so we adapted fast. We became what I’d call “AC nomads”: walking from museum to museum and staying inside long enough to cool down before stepping back into the heat.

The travel + wellness thread

I always travel with my running kit—shoes, clothes, phone, earbuds—because it’s my simplest way to keep a routine intact. In Washington DC, I kept it basic: I skipped breakfast and went out for early runs, fasted, before the city got loud.

I call this practice speed tourism. It’s not about chasing a PR. It’s about using movement to experience a city in its quiet hours. During those runs I passed the White House, the Capitol, the National Mall, and several memorials. Seeing those places at sunrise—nearly empty—felt like a different kind of tourism: less consumption, more presence.

People, food, and the real story

During the trip we met up with an old University of Wyoming friend (and his son) who lives in the area. He treated us to a generous Chinese dinner—one of those meals where the table keeps filling and you stop counting plates because the experience becomes the point.

After DC, we traveled to visit my best friend for Fourth of July celebrations. We did a river cruise, saw Memphis landmarks (including the famous pyramid), and tested BBQ at several Memphis institutions. He also made his “legendary” pulled pork, which lives up to the reputation. And in a moment I still can’t fully believe, I had the privilege of driving his Shelby Cobra—my dream car.

Through all of it, I kept the same simple structure: fasted runs in the morning, and movement as the anchor that made travel feel like life—not like a pause button.

What I learned

This week reminded me that travel doesn’t have to break your habits. It can actually reinforce them—if your routine is portable and not overly complicated.

For me, speed tourism is one of the most reliable tools I’ve found: it keeps movement consistent, improves how I feel in a new place, and turns the “travel chaos” into something I actively shape instead of passively endure.

Next week’s tiny focus

On travel weeks, keep it simple: water first, walk on purpose, and get one intentional movement session in before the day gets away from you.

What happened this week

On June 28, we traveled from Chemnitz to Munich and flew to Washington DC on the A380—something we’d wanted to do as a family for years. We sat in the last row on the lower deck, literally in the tail of the plane. The cabin showed its age (worn seats, a finicky headphone jack), but the experience still felt like a milestone.

We arrived late at night and started exploring the next day. DC hit us with serious summer heat, so we adapted fast. We became what I’d call “AC nomads”: walking from museum to museum and staying inside long enough to cool down before stepping back into the heat.

The travel + wellness thread

I always travel with my running kit—shoes, clothes, phone, earbuds—because it’s my simplest way to keep a routine intact. In Washington DC, I kept it basic: I skipped breakfast and went out for early runs, fasted, before the city got loud.

I call this practice speed tourism. It’s not about chasing a PR. It’s about using movement to experience a city in its quiet hours. During those runs I passed the White House, the Capitol, the National Mall, and several memorials. Seeing those places at sunrise—nearly empty—felt like a different kind of tourism: less consumption, more presence.

People, food, and the real story

During the trip we met up with an old University of Wyoming friend (and his son) who lives in the area. He treated us to a generous Chinese dinner—one of those meals where the table keeps filling and you stop counting plates because the experience becomes the point.

After DC, we traveled to visit my best friend for Fourth of July celebrations. We did a river cruise, saw Memphis landmarks (including the famous pyramid), and tested BBQ at several Memphis institutions. He also made his “legendary” pulled pork, which lives up to the reputation. And in a moment I still can’t fully believe, I had the privilege of driving his Shelby Cobra—my dream car.

Through all of it, I kept the same simple structure: fasted runs in the morning, and movement as the anchor that made travel feel like life—not like a pause button.

What I learned

This week reminded me that travel doesn’t have to break your habits. It can actually reinforce them—if your routine is portable and not overly complicated.

For me, speed tourism is one of the most reliable tools I’ve found: it keeps movement consistent, improves how I feel in a new place, and turns the “travel chaos” into something I actively shape instead of passively endure.

Next week’s tiny focus

On travel weeks, keep it simple: water first, walk on purpose, and get one intentional movement session in before the day gets away from you.

What happened this week

On June 28, we traveled from Chemnitz to Munich and flew to Washington DC on the A380—something we’d wanted to do as a family for years. We sat in the last row on the lower deck, literally in the tail of the plane. The cabin showed its age (worn seats, a finicky headphone jack), but the experience still felt like a milestone.

We arrived late at night and started exploring the next day. DC hit us with serious summer heat, so we adapted fast. We became what I’d call “AC nomads”: walking from museum to museum and staying inside long enough to cool down before stepping back into the heat.

The travel + wellness thread

I always travel with my running kit—shoes, clothes, phone, earbuds—because it’s my simplest way to keep a routine intact. In Washington DC, I kept it basic: I skipped breakfast and went out for early runs, fasted, before the city got loud.

I call this practice speed tourism. It’s not about chasing a PR. It’s about using movement to experience a city in its quiet hours. During those runs I passed the White House, the Capitol, the National Mall, and several memorials. Seeing those places at sunrise—nearly empty—felt like a different kind of tourism: less consumption, more presence.

People, food, and the real story

During the trip we met up with an old University of Wyoming friend (and his son) who lives in the area. He treated us to a generous Chinese dinner—one of those meals where the table keeps filling and you stop counting plates because the experience becomes the point.

After DC, we traveled to visit my best friend for Fourth of July celebrations. We did a river cruise, saw Memphis landmarks (including the famous pyramid), and tested BBQ at several Memphis institutions. He also made his “legendary” pulled pork, which lives up to the reputation. And in a moment I still can’t fully believe, I had the privilege of driving his Shelby Cobra—my dream car.

Through all of it, I kept the same simple structure: fasted runs in the morning, and movement as the anchor that made travel feel like life—not like a pause button.

What I learned

This week reminded me that travel doesn’t have to break your habits. It can actually reinforce them—if your routine is portable and not overly complicated.

For me, speed tourism is one of the most reliable tools I’ve found: it keeps movement consistent, improves how I feel in a new place, and turns the “travel chaos” into something I actively shape instead of passively endure.

Next week’s tiny focus

On travel weeks, keep it simple: water first, walk on purpose, and get one intentional movement session in before the day gets away from you.