Many of the vacations I have taken with my family over the last few years incorporate some sort of event.
We went to Las Vegas in 2011 for the Long Course Triathlon world championships.
We went to Maui, so I could ride Haleakala. Haleakala has the highest paved climb in the world with over 10,000 feet of climbing in under 50kms.
We went to Europe and I ran around and through some of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, like the Eiffel tower, the Louvre, and Notre Dame Cathedral.
Some people think it’s stupid to take a vacation and race an event, or even exercise during a vacation at all. I think it’s awesome. You could argue that taking a vacation to go golfing or to see a concert would be equally silly.
I have friends who ONLY go on vacations that have something they can do that is fitness related. Some go to Arizona to get some spring cycling miles in. I have friends who go to Ironman world championships in Hawaii every fall. Some head to Boston to run the famous marathon.
Combining a vacation and fitness to create a goal is a spectacular idea. For instance, Run Disney has a four day weekend of running in and around their parks. You run a 5k, 10k, a 21k then a full marathon if you want, and each one gives you a medal, pictures with the characters, plus you can actually go on rides while running the marathons! This weekend is crazy popular and sold out in 48 minutes last year.
There are cycling gran fondo’s and cycling vacations all over the world. Tour companies will rent you a bike and either guide you or set you free on your own, taking care of all the food stops and hotel stays for you.
Travel Italy, France, Thailand, even New Zealand, you name it. You stay in shape, with all the cappuccino stops you want and get to sightsee at 20km/h.
One of my friends mothers has been running marathons all over the world through a tour company. She’s run on the Great Wall of China as well as in the African Serengeti. The race organizers actually go ahead of the racers and throw out animal carcasses so the predators won’t attack the racers, phew!
Do a bit of research on the internet, and you’ll find that choosing something like a week long cycling trip in Europe may just be better for you than that all-inclusive week of buffets and all your liver can handle of endless pina colada’s and daquiris in Mexico.
Wayne Little