Say What You Will, But I Love Running on Vacation
Yes, I said it, I love running on vacation!
But trust me, this is a new development. And I don’t expect all of you to get it. In fact, I bet most of you think I’m crazy. That’s totally fine. Skip this post and move on to some of my travel guides. Or one of my all-time favorite food posts to remind you that I’m not just about fitness. Life (and travel) is all about balance, right?
Ok so if you are sticking around for this post, let me tell you why I love running on vacation. And I also want to share some of my FAV destination races. So let’s get to it!
Whyyyy?
Unless you are an avid runner, you are probably thinking this. WHY? Why spend valuable vacation and travel time running? Just hear me out, ok?
So I first started running in 5th grade when I joined my middle school cross country team. And I really haven’t looked back since. My parents (God help them) tried for years to get me involved in an organized sport. But listen, my hand-eye coordination is…less than stellar. And I tried them all: basketball, softball, soccer, tennis, swimming, dance. None of them clicked. But when I tried running, something changed. This was an individualized team sport. And it didn’t involve balls, bats, nets, or anything that would show just how impressively bad my hand-eye coordination actually is.
Don’t worry, I won’t regale you with a history of my running career. But let’s just say from 5th grade on, I never stopped running. I had my thing. I ran Varsity Cross Country (Glory Days plays softly in the background) in high school. I continued running throughout college. And this is when I ran my first half and full marathons. Oh, and I met my husband through running (we were both on that high school cross country team).
So, running is a huge part of my life. It’s my thing. I start most days with a light 3-4 mile run.
But I used to put that on hold when I traveled. As most runners do, I had a love-hate relationship with running.
So What Changed?
To be honest, I still have a love-hate relationship with running. So why do I run when I travel?
Mostly, I want to feel like myself. I love that travel gives me the chance to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. But I also need to feel good to enjoy the experiences. Running is a major part of my daily routine. And it started to feel strange to put that on hold for traveling. These are two of my greatest loves. I felt like they needed to meet.
And the other thing that changed? I discovered destination races. Of course, I knew about the Boston Marathon (but that feels so unachievable for me). So when I learned that there were destination races I could actually sign up for, I felt like I had tapped into a whole new world of possibilities.
I found marathons, half marathons and 5ks all over the world. This was the opportunity to combine two of parts of myself and I couldn’t wait to get started.
But before we get too far, I also want to mention this. I don’t run destination races during all of my travels. Honestly, these races are expensive and I just can’t sign up for all of them. But I still try to run at some point during my trips. And this has been a great way to explore cities. During some recent travels, I’ve mapped incredible runs on Miami’s South Beach boardwalk, along the Boston waterfront, and past DC’s popular monuments.
Destination Races
My obsession with destination races all stated with Disney World.
Yes, when I learned that you can actually run a marathon that goes through Cinderella castle, I knew I HAD to sign up. And I did. In January 2014, I ran the happiest 26.2 miles of my life. After completing the Disney World Marathon I was hooked. I immediately wanted to register for another one.
So I did. But this destination race was a little different than the last. It involved doughts. A dozen, in fact.
Yes, I traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina to run the Krispy Kreme Challenge. Participants run 2.5 miles, eat a dozen original glazed doughnuts, then run back to the finish. To successfully complete the challenge, you must finish this in under an hour. I know how it sounds. But it was one of those once-in-a-lifetime events that my early 20s-self decided I needed to try.
The doughnut race isn’t for everyone. Totally get that. But my next race might have more mass appeal.
In 2017 I completed the Baff Half Marathon. Banff National Park is stunning. You’ve probably seen pictures of the gem-colored waters. I knew running through this park would be special. And it was. As an avid runner and lover of national parks, this race was perfect I just had to remember that this was different from the Disney races. The bears on the side of the road were NOT friendly.
Find Your Thing
But hey, not everyone is a runner (shocking, right?) I mean even I have a love-hate relationship with running. This post is not meant to convince you to become a runner.
I just wanted to share my thing with you. And I wanted to spread the joy I felt when I started running on vacation. Not because I think everyone should run. But because doing my thing when I traveled only made traveling better.
So (if you haven’t already) consider doing more of your thing when you travel. Are you an amateur home chef? Sign up for a local cooking class on your next trip. Love history? Check out a historical sights tour. Some great places to look are Meetup Groups or AirBnB Experiences.
So, do you do your thing when you travel? If you are a runner, have you participated in any destination races? I would love to hear from you. Let me know below.
