The New Vacation:
Destination Marathons or Walking Vacations

By Pam Torres

It may sound like an oxymoron, marathon and vacation in the same sentence, but many participants are looking at marathons that offer a complete package, one that takes into account that event participants have families and interests beyond the actual event.
What is a family friendly marathon you ask? Quite simply it's an event that takes into account the whole family, appealing to all different ages and skills of competitors. It may provide a location that provides great siteseeing and shopping. More and more marathons are combining the demanding marathon run for serious competitors, with half marathons, walking events, 10k and 5k run/walks; kid runs and diaper dashes, even doggie runs, not to mention the on-course entertainment.

“At first marathons were all about the hard core athlete, but as America has become more health conscience, and now even into the European scene, the marathon is reflecting this movement towards health,” said Dr. William Burke, president of the Los Angeles Marathon for two decades and now the New Las Vegas Marathon. He believes the activities surrounding the marathon should also reflect this new movement towards a healthier lifestyle, and should aim to include the entire family.

There is another important reality facing event planners. The population of marathoners has changed over the last decade. Rather than hanging up the marathon all together, many hardcore runners are transitioning into slower runners or walkers as they mature. It's less stressful on their bodies and they can still keep a competitive edge. Younger runners are getting into the act as a way to raise money for important causes. Nonprofit foundation-run events accommodate their participants with plenty of water and aid stations, as well as restroom facilities, as walkers and slower runners are on the course longer and need more support. Planners who recognize this reality reap the rewards of larger turn-outs.

“The marathon is the ultimate fitness test. Marathons now have spouses, children, and whole families competing on their own level,” Burke says.

Adding a “kid element” has been an important part of making their events family friendly according to P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon spokesperson Susan Reid. “We have a Kids Rock program, sponsored by the local Phoenix Children's Hospital, that works with area schools to create a training program where children can run a mile each day (or week) leading up to the marathon. The kids then run the final mile of the marathon on race day.” The event is open to all children (ages 6 to 12), whether local or traveling out of town. Getting the family involved is all about health and fitness.

What to Consider When Choosing a Destination

There are a number of things to think about when choosing a marathon. The first, of course, is location. What does the location offer that will appeal to your family? If you have young children with boundless energy, then a trip to San Diego, with its miles of beaches, the world-famous San Diego Zoo and Seaworld Adventure Park might be the perfect match to with the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in June.

The second important consideration is the season. The time of year that the event is planned makes a difference in the activities that will surround the event. The Lake Tahoe Marathon in October offers breathtaking views above and around the lake besides an entire week of events: kid runs, walking events, swims, bike races, kayak and paddling events and extreme or speed golf. The Seattle Marathon is scheduled on Thanksgiving weekend giving participants the perfect opportunity to meet up with relatives, with a little holiday shopping in Seattle to kick off the season. Or consider the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon and half marathon in January. Winters are beautiful in the desert — suitable for golf, tennis, hiking or a side trip to see the Red Rocks of Sedona or the majestic Grand Canyon

Another question to ask, “What am I going to do after the race?” There are several marathons focused on turning the event into a full weekend of festivities. Event producer Elite Racing has mastered the concept with its series of rock 'n' roll races held in destinations such as Nashville, the Valley of the Sun (Arizona), and San Diego. Each event features a headliner concert the evening of the race in addition to its celebratory finish line festival. Many events include concerts, art shows, and other special attractions. In Las Vegas this year, kids and adults will love participating in the first ever Santa run, down the strip, donning their free Santa costumes, hoping for an entry into the Guinness Book of World records.

Another important thing to look at is transportation and lodging. Can the location handle the increase in population that the event will bring? Is there access to adequate accommodation and transportation? Most cities offer discounts for participants at hotels, motels, and car rentals. Often there are special discounts with the sponsoring airlines that fly into the area. Look for events that have a proven track record. Salt Lake City, which hosted the Olympics, has already tested its ability to accommodate increased visitors, with more than 30,000 hotel rooms within 90 minutes of the city's international airport, with 17,000 rooms in Salt Lake County and nearly 8,000 in the downtown area. Salt Lake City is an excellent destination, hiking, water sports, and shopping.

Arizona's Valley of the Sun, which hosted the Super Bowl in 1996 is another location ready for an influx of visitors, with more than 55,000 hotel rooms in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and the Tempe area. With luxury accommodations the greater Phoenix area has become the top hotel destination in the United States according to a recent Zagat survey of frequent travelers.

Finding a Walker Friendly Venue
This isn't as difficult as it used to be. More events have recognized that walkers represent a larger percentage of the population besides a bigger piece of the profit.

It's important to point out that accommodating slower runners and walkers doesn't make a marathon any less competitive. The Seattle and Portland marathons, which have been long-time walker friendly events, are still qualifying runs for the Boston and other important competitive events. Portland has repeatedly been voted the most walker friendly event as reported in Runner’s World.

“All of our events are walker friendly; we encourage walkers by providing generous time standards and treating them with the same attention and respect as runners. The bands keep playing until the last walker has walked through. Every participant receives the same
positive reception,” Reid says.

If walking is your passion, but you don't have a family, there are plenty of groups that will train with you, plan your trip, and attend the event with you. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training and American Stroke Association's Train to End Stroke and the Arthritis Foundation’s Joints in Motion are just a few of the groups that build around families through their team training, coaching, and fundraising for important causes. Each training program offers fabulous destinations year-round, giving participants a variety of choices for future vacations.