Race for life

I don’t plan my breaks. I plan my races and those are a break from everything for me,” says triathlon runner Pankkaj Dhiman. His passion for running has taken him to Vietnam, Oman, Sweden, Denmark, England, Germany, South Africa, Thailand and many other countries. He is among a growing breed of running freaks who now travel the world to take part in global marathons. Rather than looking up long weekends or festive breaks, they check the global marathon calendar to plan their travel.

On The Run
Racing buffs are on the run and there is no city that is out of their reach. What started as a hobby run in the neighbourhood park has become an obsession for the likes of entrepreneur Reeti Sahai. An active runner for the last seven years who has participated in various half marathons, Sahai not only heads one of the most popular running clubs in Delhi but also participates in as many global runs. Turning 40 last year, she decided to go for a full marathon. Having done the Amsterdam and Munich half-marathons, the marathon bug took her to Berlin Marathon 2018, Boston Marathon 2019; she is currently training for the NYC Marathon 2019.


And yes, over the years, most of her vacations are planned around a marathon. What makes this running vacation or ‘runcation’ more exciting than a regular trip is the ability to view a new place from an entirely different perspective. “Running frees you from tourist traps and allows you to explore secret nooks and crannies of a city or discover an outdoor wonder,” she says.

All in the family
The race can be the focal point of the trip, but it isn’t everything. Pick three to five top things in the city that you want to see or do and chalk out your itinerary in a way that you spend a great weekend after the race. Also, having a familiar face cheering for you in a strange city can really give you an extra boost, so turn your runcation into a family vacation or outing with friends. For investment banker-turned-marathon runner Sushant Sachdeva, most running holidays have been built around his family. Even his 7-year-old son who has been bitten by the racing bug, participates with him in Iron Kids. His run breaks in Dubai, Canada, Sweden and closer home in Ladakh and Satara over the last two years have also been family vacations. His mantra is to reach a few days early and while he gets accustomed to the place, he allows his family to explore and enjoy.

Toughen up


A marathon vacation is no jog in the park though. Communications professional Mukta Kapoor says it needs proper planning. Kapoor, a member of fast growing weekend running clubs in our city, says she actually planned for six months before taking part in the Amsterdam Half Marathon. From watching her diet, avoiding alcohol, reaching the destination a few days in advance to acclimatise to heading for a vacation post the run is how she usually plans for a runcation. “You also need to register in advance, meet the eligibility criteria, pack in essential running and race gear, fluids and appropriate medicines,” she says. Dhiman who usually reaches a destination well in advance to acclimatise for his gruelling triathlon and Iron Man runs says it is best advised to know the terrain well. “Vietnam was my first race and one of the most difficult ones whereas South Africa was the most gruelling due to the terrain and conditions,” he adds.

According to research, travellers today prioritise high-quality fitness offerings when planning a trip and almost half of them look for a place close to nature

1) Prepare well in advance for a marathon.
2) Check eligibility criteria – do you qualify for the run?

3) It is important to reach the destination in advance and do test runs before the main run.

4) Pack your race and running gear; if you are going for a triathlon that requires cycling, swimming and running, you should be prepared to pay extra for the baggage.

5) Most runners stick to a non-spicy diet and avoid drinking and smoking for a month before the run.

The most popular runcations are the marathons in Berlin, Boston, Chicago, New York City and London, as well as the more adventurous ones such as the Bagan Temple Marathon in Myanmar, the Great Wall Marathon in China, and the Australian Outback Marathon.