A growing number of runners are turning their race calendars into travel itineraries at exotic locales.
Marathons are no longer just about crossing the 26.2-mile (42 kilometre) mark near home. In recent years, a new trend has swept the running community: ‘race-cations’.
What was once a niche hobby is now an international movement.
Running tracker app Strava’s Year in Sport Trend report reveals a 9 per cent increase in marathon and ultra participation over the past year.
Meanwhile, Running USA’s 2024 Global Runner Survey found that runners prioritise location as the top factor when choosing a race.
Turning race calendars into travel itineraries
This trend, often dubbed ‘marathon tourism’, sees a growing number of runners turning their race calendars into travel itineraries at exotic locales.
“We need a goal; we need to feel alive, so we run,” explains Dutch psychologist, prolific ultramarathoner, and running coach Roel Spierings.
“The combination with travel is more popular because we can afford it, it’s fun, and it gives us the feeling of pursuing a goal.”
The modern runner craves experiences beyond a finisher’s medal, seeking memories, personal transformations, and stories to tell long after the race is over.
As work-life flexibility increases and health-conscious lifestyles gain ground, running in bucket list destinations suddenly fills a niche for those seeking purpose and excitement in their leisure time.
Marathon tourism brings an economic boost to destinations
Industry experts and survey data confirm that marathon tourism is here to stay. In 2024, the New York City Marathon set a new benchmark with over 55,000 finishers, surpassing previous records held by the Paris and Berlin Marathons earlier that year.
Three-quarters of respondents from Running USA’s survey plan to participate in the same number or more races in 2025.
Cities in Europe, Asia, and Africa are capitalising on this craving for destination-based experiences, rolling out new events designed to attract runners and their travel companions.
And, destination marathons are no longer limited to just the ‘Big Six’ of Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City and Tokyo, which bring in hundreds of millions of euros in local spending each year.
Even smaller events around the world enjoy a dramatic surge in tourism around race days including the Médoc Marathon through Bordeaux vineyards where runners fuel up on wine.
Marathon participants also rarely travel alone. Surveys show that most runners arrive in groups of two or three. Some also book through specialist sports travel companies on small group trips filled with camaraderie.
Rather than going just for a couple of nights, 59 per cent of runners stay three to five nights or extend the trip to other nearby tourist destinations.
For example, in previous years, runners who have completed the London Marathon then venture to the Isle of Skye in the Scottish Highlands for a couple of nights in nature.
These extended stays highlight the marathon’s role as more than a one-day event, benefiting hotels, restaurants, and local attractions.
‘You’re literally running alongside wildlife’: Why people travel for marathons
Spierings has discovered that extreme physical challenges hold immense psychological benefits, especially when coupled with the thrill of visiting new locales.
Running itself is a potent vehicle for self-discovery. Add an unfamiliar environment, such as mountainous terrain or desert heat, and the transformation often deepens.
One of Spierings’ most memorable experiences was the For Rangers Ultramarathon, a five-day, 250-km stage race through five Kenyan national parks.
“It’s a self-sufficient race where you’re literally running alongside wildlife,” he recalls.
Another standout is the Eiger 250-km, which takes runners along a breathtaking UNESCO-protected route in Switzerland.
Beyond personal fulfilment, Spierings believes travel magnifies the psychological rewards: “You have to combine the suffering with the environment. The adventure makes you want to play the game.”
How to find the balance between vacation and competition
Travelling for a marathon adds layers of logistics and potential pitfalls, like jet lag and climate shifts.
Spierings recommends arriving a few days before the race to adjust to time zones and weather. The day before, take time to prep your gear. Sleep and eat well before the race, and avoid drastic dietary changes close to race day.
His best advice? “Drink a beer, and don’t change your whole routine. The work is done, last-day changes aren’t going to do any good.”
These travel hurdles make the final achievement all the more rewarding, too. “That’s why it needs to be abroad; it needs to be rough, and you need people around you to share it with,” he says.
