Beach or mountains? That’s the classic daydream question about a preferred vacation destination. But a cosmopolitan member of our team (clue: she’s the shorter of the two founding partners!) always craves heading to a city, instead.
It got us wondering where folks want to go when sporty endeavors are thrown into the tourist-mix. We asked Team AMR: What is your ideal vacation location where you want to enjoy running or hiking: beach, mountain, or city? Here’s a carry-on bag’s worth of their responses.
Sarah explores Paris on foot
“The struggle is real on this one! Since I live near the beach, I’ll choose mountains for a vacation! You can completely get away—no cell-phone reception, not a lot of people, just you and an adventure. What feels more like a great adventure than an awesome mountain trail run?”
—Jen Steele, TLAM Club 5K Programs Coach
“My ideal location would include running somewhere warm where there was soft ground to run on like packed dirt with the sun beating down on me with just the right mix of overhang from trees to provide shade when I need it. I’m thinking back to a run I did in Gold Coast Australia a few years ago: I planned on going for 3 miles and ended up running over 10 miles because it was just perfect—soft trail by the beach and very sunny. Perfection.”
—Britany Williams, podcast co-host
“Mountains: Hiking only, no running! I want to get away from the noise of life and connect with nature.”
—Liz Waterstraat, Heart + Sole and Triathlon coach + co-host of Miles of Books
Michelle catches the sunrise on Narragansett Beach
“Beach. Always the beach. I’m fortunate enough to live in a beach town, where I can run at the ocean whenever I want, and there’s just nothing like running with waves crashing alongside you: It’s invigorating, uplifting, and soothing all at the same time. The ocean is my happy place, at any time of year.”
—Michelle San Antonio, Community Supporter
“While I like vacationing at the beach and in the mountains, I truly love exploring cities on foot, either on vacation or while on overnights for my job as a flight attendant. Most cities have fun trail systems or parks to discover, and I love to seek them out! I usually pull up maps from Strava, verify with the hotel to make sure the routes seem safe, then go explore. While in New Orleans before a cruise with my family, I made sure to get up extra early to get in a run before boarding the ship. The usually crowded streets of the French Quarter and Jackson Square were quiet, and I was able to really take in the amazing history and architecture. The last time I visited Pittsburgh, I had the paths along the Ohio and Monongahela rivers all to myself in the pouring rain. This Oregon-raised gal was happy!”
—Brooke Thames, BAMRbassador + Retreat coordinator
“Mountains. I really enjoy getting lost in nature: I love the smells, the birds, the noises—they are all super-relaxing to me.”
—Jennifer Harrison, Heart + Sole and Triathlon coach
“I love all three—I can’t choose! I use running to explore wherever I am and find so much joy in all of those locations. On a recent trip to London, I ran around St. James’s Park and enjoyed all the different pond birds, but also got to see the Changing of the Guard process. Then I was able to hop over to see Hyde Park and take in the beauty there. It was a great way to tour part of the city!”
—Amy Skorich, TLAM Club Traditional Programs coach
“This one is easy—mountains! I pretty much exclusively choose vacations that involve mountains (my favorite being the Adirondacks—go on the Lake Placid retreat to see why!). I have run races in mountains, hiked a growing list of the High Peaks in New York State, and seek out peaks wherever I go.”
—Amanda Loudin, podcast co-host
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