On foot: It’s the ideal way to see a new-for-you place—and when you proceed at a running pace, you can see so much more! Yet there are a lot of details and logistics to figure out when planning a running-related vacation (a.k.a. “runcation”) or a race-related getaway (a “race-cation”). To help you, we pulled together a slew of suggestions from gals who have been there (and there, and there!), done that.
Denise + running buddies hit the beach in Santa Barbara
“Be open minded: Unless you have a specific race in mind, let fate pick a race for you! (And by fate, I mean a weekend when everyone is free and can travel.) We’ve had a blast in unexpected places that we might not have gone otherwise. Being with my friends is the most important part!” —Kristin from Syracuse, NY, who has done several race-cations (Myrtle Beach, D.C., Philly, etc.) with six friends
“A trip doesn’t have to revolve around a race; you can run anywhere any time. Just run with the intent to seek joy. When I do this, all my senses seem so much more active, and I truly experience things.” —Megan, who traveled from Kentucky to Savannah for a solo run-cation
Amy marveling at California redwoods
“Plan at least six months ahead so you can find the kind of accommodations you want, and rent a car so you can really see the area.” —Amy, who has ventured from South Carolina for half-marathons in the Grand Tetons, Martha’s Vineyard, and California’s Avenue of the Giants
“Pay attention to the race start/finish locations compared to where you are staying.” —Denise, who has run races in San Jose, Las Vegas, Savannah, and Nashville with her Oregon running group
Penny at Crater Lake after Eugene Marathon
“Be willing to be flexible and make a detour to see something unexpected or unique. Have fun running your base runs in beautiful places.” —Penny, who has run a marathon in 47 states and often travels solo post-race
“Be flexible in your accommodations: Don’t always assume hotels will be the best option.” —Virginia resident Gina, who has run races in Maine, New York, and Florida and who’s a fan of VRBO house rentals
“Find a place to stay that allows you plenty of your own space for pre-race jitters—a hotel room with 4 people in it would be fine for a regular night, but definitely not pre-marathon for me. And if you’re traveling home after the race, make sure you’ve thought about how you’re going to shower (or clean up a bit) after the race.” —Kansan Jamie who road tripped with her husband through seven states en route to Missoula [Montana] Marathon
“Save the sightseeing for after the race.” —Gini, who traveled from Wisconsin to Dublin, Ireland, to run that city’s marathon with numerous family members
“Be able to go with the flow, so that you can enjoy the whole experience and not just the race you signed up for!” —Barb, who thoroughly enjoyed the Big Apple when she visited from Oregon to run New York City Marathon
“If you’re traveling with a large group, make sure you define all the costs—and have Venmo!” —Minnesotan Jen, who drove to Chicago with 11 (!) pals to run a Ragnar Relay
The Marilyns (including Suzanne) in front of a French chateau
“Step outside of your comfort zone and do the adventure.” —Michigander Suzanne, who ran Marathon du Medoc, a wine-tasting marathon in Bordeaux, France, with five friends. All of them were dressed as Marilyn Monroe!
I love runcations! I’ve done many. My only two marathons were runcations. I thought if I was going to do something like a marathon, we needed to go somewhere fun and enjoy the post run time. Honolulu and San Diego. But I’ve done half marathons in Phoenix, the Redwoods, Victoria BC, London, Sonoma. Finding a wonderful group of running friends has been the best!