Running Tours

Run away from your family

Danielle Wright
8 June 2011


Have you ever wanted to run away from your family? One Auckland company, GetRunning Ltd is giving people the chance to do just that and many mums are choosing to literally run away from their families for a week to take part in marathons all around the world.

Marathon tourism used to be about getting in and out of the destination as quickly as possible, with the race the main event. Now people want to plan their vacations around marathons in exotic locations.

Last month, GetRunning organised a group to go to the Paris Marathon, hosted by Kerre Woodham. Next is the Hawaii marathon hosted by Dom and Jay-Jay from the Edge radio station and there’s New York and London marathon trips planned in the future.

There’s plenty of training together before the trip with weekly group runs and sessions on biomechanics, nutrition and breathing, as well as someone to drink cocktails with after the event (reward is part of the marathon running experience!).

Many travel companies are now including marathon tourism destinations, such as Walt Disney World marathon weekend where you get to run through all the major theme parks one day, and follow behind your kids racing through them the next.

An Antarctica marathon was even set up so people could form a Seven Continents Marathon Club. The trip starts in Argentina, followed by a cruise to Antarctica, including lectures and wildlife excursions. Or, how about a marathon across the Great Wall of China?

Whichever you choose, it will be one holiday where you’ll get at least a couple of hours worth of ‘me’ time on the itinerary.