A Little Running Here, A Little Running There

I was raised to be the type of person that can't really sit still on a vacation. In my family, vacations included going to countless museums, castles, churches (ask my parents how much I loved those as a teenager!). The idea of going somewhere to just sit on a beach day in and day out has always been foreign to me. So it's no surprise that for me, travel often goes hand in hand with some sort of physical activity. I've found that triathlons have been a great way for me to explore New England, visiting various spots in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont that I never would've gone to otherwise. Running and biking is also a great way to explore a new city, race or no race. I recently did a 10-mile run in Salem, MA that took us past the historic House of Seven Gables, to the rocky shores of Marblehead, and back to the city of witches (see photo).


Going for a training ride or run or signing up for a race in a new or exotic location can also be a great way to stay active on your vacation. Sure, you might spend the rest of your time there doing little else besides eating the local cuisine and sampling the local drinks, but you'll feel much better about it if you've done something to earn it! It's also a great way to bond with family members that live far away. My brother and I live halfway across the country from each other, but we've gotten together to do a triathlon in Maine, a Livestrong Challenge in Texas; he and my dad have done a trail half marathon in California as well as a marathon in Austin. The point is, while there's never a bad place to exercise, why not take a vacation to an awesome place to exercise?

Depending on your sport of choice, here are some links you might find helpful in planning your destination event:
Best Marathons in North America
10 Most Scenic Triathlons
Road Trippin Triathlete Blog
Top 25 Best Half Marathons
Destination Marathons (suggested by Lululemon)