Running Around the World

Airline tickets, check. Hotels, check. Training, eh.

Anick J., at the finish of the Hartford Marathon

In just a few weeks, I leave the states for my fifth marathon abroad, this time in Berlin, Germany, one of the so-called World Marathon Majors, though I doubt I'd have a shot at the cash prizes. Nonetheless, I'm looking forward to running through the Brandenburg Gate and visiting many of the neighborhoods on both sides of the former Berlin Wall.

Marathons are a great way to experience the world, often taking you off the beaten paths – to places tourists wouldn't normally traverse. Just think of visitors coming for the New York City Marathon, and ask yourself how many of them would likely stumble upon Bay Ridge, Long Island City and the Bronx by following their guidebooks. When I go places, I'd like to see more than monuments and tourists traps.

If you haven't traveled for one yet, you're missing out. But there are plenty of races still open this fall, and plenty more in the spring. Start with the Flyers events calendar, where many of the out-of-town races have been added. You can see who else is doing the race as well (and drop me a line if you see a race to add to the calendar). Also check MarathonGuide.com and browse through the races that fit with your schedules and budgets – domestic and international marathons are listed separately.

Keep in mind that big cities are often easier to get to, with plenty of cheap flights from New York, but hotels can get expensive, especially for bigger races such as Chicago. If you have a car or could rent one, there are plenty of options within driving distance.

If you still can't decide, here's my top 10:

10. Hartford (October). It takes place on a Saturday and is one of the few to allow for race-day pickup, so if you can't get off work, it's possible to take a train there the night before and get your stuff in the morning. Free showers are available at a nearby Y, so you can return that afternoon without smelling up the train.

Enjoying a pretzel in Philly

9. Philadelphia (November). Like Hartford, you can get there without taking a day off from work. Because it's late in the season, it's likely to be much cooler – though one year, that meant freezing. Half-marathon and 8K versions available.

8. Vermont City (May). This race in Burlington, VT, takes place Memorial Day Weekend. The course is like a cloverleaf, bringing you back to the center of town several times. That means you never go more than a few miles without hordes of cheering spectators. A relay option is available. Just expect those participants to pass you near the finish.

The sights of DC

7. National (March). This race in D.C. isn't as well known or attended as the Marine Corps Marathon in October, but I like that the race takes place entirely within the district and takes you to various neighborhoods far from the typical tourist spots. I lived in D.C. for five years and saw some of the parks and sights for the first time during the race.

Heidi I. and Anick J. take Paris!

6. Paris (April). It's Paris! Don't expect amenities such as Gatorade and mile markers, though. You get fruit slices with peels that runners can slip on, along with kilometer markers.

5. Eugene (May). It's one of the prettiest marathons I've done, and it's small enough that runners get to use recreational trails along the Willamette River. When I ran it last year, the start and finish were near the famed Hayward Field. But now, you actually get to finish on the track.

Eugene: We're not in NYC
anymore, that's for sure.

4. Spitsbergen (June). This little-known island also known as Svalbard is located at the top of Norway, about 800 miles from the North Pole and is quite a sight. Be prepared for 24 hours of daylight and polar bear patrols along the course. While you're there, take in an Arctic cruise and go dog sledding. Typically only about 30 or 40 people do the full marathon (a half option is available), so your chances of placing are high.

Watch out for Polar Bears at this Norwegian marathon.

3. Big Sur (April or May). Hilly, but beautiful. It’s not one you do for time (though it IS a Boston qualifier). You may have driven along the Pacific Coast Highway before, but you can’t appreciate nature the same way at 40 or 50 mph. A ceramic medal awaits you at the finish. And if you’re crazy enough, you can earn a bonus medal for running both Boston and Big Sur – just six days apart this year, 13 days apart in 2011.

Antarctica!

2. Antarctica (February or March). It may be cold and a trek to get to, but it's well worth the trip. You can only sign up through Marathon Tours, and there’s a long waiting list, but the package comes with several days of sightseeing – penguins, whales and more. Although it's my slowest marathon to date, at 6:24:11, it would be my favorite were it not for …


1. New York City (November). There's just nothing like it.

New York - You gotta be a part of it!

Please note that the list excludes those I have yet to do, including Boston, which I'm too slow for, and Disney, which I am planning to do in January and have heard many great things about.

And an honorable mention goes to the New Jersey Marathon – at least the old course that starts in Sandy Hook and finishes near the current spot in Long Beach. It could be a bias on my part. It's where I had my personal best of 3:43:15 – still not good for Boston, but something that seems further and further out of reach these days.

You may be asking yourself why haven't I listed any of the Rock 'N' Roll marathons. I've done two – in San Diego and Phoenix, AZ, and found the promised bands are few and far between. Many marathons are pretty good about providing entertainment on the course these days, so the bands are no longer special. Avoid the hype and really try something unique.

Once you've selected a marathon to do, the next step is to prepare for the travels. That'll be the subject of a future blog post. - Anick J.