Destination Events

By T.J. Ford

Feel like your walking and training, training and walking is getting stale? Not sure where to find the motivation for the next marathon or half-marathon? Consider crafting a vacation around your next event to make it meaningful and memorable for you and for your family or friends.

Many people find that it is fun to take the whole family to a destination where there just happens to be a event that you’ve signed up for. In this win-win situation, you get the accomplishment of finishing the event, plus a few days or more on either side to enjoy everything the area has to offer. It’s great for your family to be able to share in your event from a front-row seat. At some smaller races, your kids can be right at the finish, and in some cases they can cross the finish line with you — a great way to celebrate and be a true role model to them.

Maybe you’ve decided that you need a “girls weekend” away — so grab a few of your training partners and head out for a few days of sisterhood. Share a unique experience. Treat yourselves to a pedicure the day after you walk a marathon; take your group out for an indulgent meal and encourage everyone to order dessert. You can even have a slumber party in your room to celebrate your friendship and your accomplishment. The best part is that now you’re a grown up, so you can stay up as late as you want. (pillow fights optional.)

Another option is choosing to walk for a cause beyond yourself. There are many organizations that organize your travel arrangements for you, while you train for your event and raise money for the organization. Team in Training is one of the largest fund-raising groups around — this year they’re approaching the $1 billion mark of money raised for research and patient support services. They also coach you through your training season, with supported long walks and track workouts, as well as information about many aspects of being an athlete — hydration, nutrition, and stretching, for starters. Their destinations include Mayor’s Walk, Portland, OR, this October 5th, Midnight Run in Alaska in June, the Phoenix Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon and Half Marathon in January, and the Honolulu Marathon. What better place to enjoy a marathon walk for a great cause than in Honolulu in December?

Many other charitable organizations are integrating marathon training and travel with fundraising. Joints in Motion raises monies for arthritis research, while Team Diabetes supports people dealing with all aspects of diabetes mellitus. Perhaps you have a family member you’d like to honor or remember — this is a great way to do it, while enabling you to meet new friends and travel all over the country or the world.

A bonus with this kind of destination-cum-fundraising trip is that along with the training and travel support these charities give you, they also introduce you to many new friends and training partners. It’s perfect if you are a solo traveler, or your family can’t get away during certain times of year. You’ll be spending time with people who share lots of the same goals; lifelong friendships arise from the hours spent training and traveling together.

Choosing a destination event doesn’t mean you have to break the bank, either. These days, when we’re all aware of the increased price of gas, hotels, air fares, and food, a good option is to look right here in our backyard. We are blessed to have a plethora of races to choose from in the Northwest. They are all within a day’s drive of Portland: the Eugene Marathon and Half in May, the North Olympic Discovery Marathon and the San Juan in June, the Whidbey Island Marathon in March, and the Seattle Marathon and Half Marathon on Thanksgiving Day weekend (way to work off that extra piece of pumpkin pie.) The Seafair Marathon has been promoted and is now the Northwest’s Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon. This event happens during the summer Seafair festival in Seattle/Bellevue — a gorgeous time in the Emerald City, and packed with festivals, events, and parades.

Of course, you can find one of the most well-organized, walker-friendly, and easiest to get to marathons right here in our backyard — the Portland Marathon, the first weekend in October. Instead of leaving town, just take a few days or a week off work and have your very own “staycation” right here in Stumptown. Explore neighborhoods you’ve never been to, eat at restaurants you’ve only heard about, take a boat trip on the Willamette or visit the Portland Art Museum. Portland has so much of interest to offer that we often don’t notice in our daily lives. This gives you the opportunity to see your hometown through new eyes.

The keys to having a successful destination event are first, making sure your friends and/or family are on board with you. Choose a place that has something for everyone. You may be out on the course for a long time, so make sure the kids (and the spouse) have options to keep them happy. Maybe it is museums and shopping, maybe it is amusement parks, or maybe it is a quiet natural area; find something you can all agree on. Second, it takes some long-range planning to pull this off — start thinking about it a year in advance, and then you won’t panic when it is time to start training, or to book the hotel room. You’ll get a better deal, too, the earlier you can reserve hotels and airfare. And finally, relax and enjoy your vacation — the most important thing is to share the good times with your loved ones, and ensure that everyone has a great trip. You’ll make great memories, and who knows — you may start a new family tradition.

T.J. Ford is the owner of Run Amok Tours, an international marathon travel company. She started running marathons in 2000 and is on track to complete 50 by the time she turns 50. T.J. is also a massage therapist and running coach in private practice in Portland, focusing on sports massage and injury rehabilitation. For more information on Run Amok visit www.runamoktours.com.