Why your next run should be international
On Sunday I’ll run my eleventh marathon outside of my home country — in Sapporo, Japan. It’s a great way to combine running and travel, so here’s three reasons why your next marathon, half or 10k should be international.
A reason to travel
Cities you might not have considered
Everyone loves a holiday, so give yourself a reason to deserve one. A marathon can easily fit into a cheap city break. There is also a range of adventure races if you are feeling bold — the Great Wall of China, during the Tromsø Midnight Sun or even a marathon with 23 wine stops.
It can also help you pick a destination, including cities you might not have considered. When the best fit for my schedule was the Vilnius marathon, it became the perfect excuse to travel to a new corner of Europe, resulting in a great Baltic holiday to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Get to know a city
Feel part of an elite group
You really get to know a city when you have toured its landmarks for 26.2 miles. I’ve ran past the Eiffel Tower, Belfast murals, Amsterdam canals, the Budapest Parliament and the beautiful Lisbon riverfront. Each were amazing experiences and a great source of motivation. My highlight was finishing the Athens marathon in the epic Panathenaic Stadium — the final stretch for Greek Pheidippides who ran from the town of Marathon to Athens in 490BC with news of a military victory before dying.
You also get to share the highs and lows of the experience by running shoulder-to-shoulder with the locals. You’re likely to discover new national delicacies and music as you run the course. Cologne had the most enthusiastic crowds and a well-deserved German beer was literally waiting for me at the finish line. Not to mention Paris, where at mile 23 I accidentally downed half a glass of white wine, thinking it was an energy drink. I can’t wait to find out what the Japanese have in store for me!
Instead of travelling home for an early night after the race, you can feel part of an elite group as you hobble around the city. It was an easy way to strike up a conversation in a crowded Cork pub. Even in Paris, when my friend and I were struggling to use the stairs, Parisians recognised us as runners and asked to see our medals.
Run a better race
Advantageous conditions for your race
Some people may prefer staying closer to home before a big race, so they can plan every meticulous detail, but I think taking your race overseas can help you run it better.
Firstly, you can choose advantageous conditions for your race. Berlin’s famously flat course secured me a PB, while in Ireland I could relax knowing my summer marathon would not be too hot. I also found that the speedy Dutch runners encouraged me to try to catch them up. Secondly, you can choose to run the big races which tend to be better supported with more water points, as well as having bigger crowds and more bands to keep your spirits up. Finally, when you pass a huddle of supporters waving your country’s flag while waiting for their running friend, you almost always get an extra loud cheer to motivate you when they realise that you are from the same place.
Running after all is about getting somewhere, so why not let it take you somewhere interesting.
Oliver Carrington
