Our running adventure guides and founders
Cristina and I, Pablo, share a deep passion for our trail running adventures. It’s more than just a business; it’s our life. Please contact us if you have any questions. We’re always happy to chat.
7 Reasons a Running Vacation is Better Than a Destination Marathon
January 1, 2018 by Pablo Rodriguez
Destination Marathons, Running Vacations
Is traveling to another country to run a marathon the same thing as going on a running vacation?
We, the travel experts at NomaTrails, think not. As experienced runners who’ve run and raced in foreign countries across the globe, we believe they are two very different types of travel experiences. A true **running vacation** offers so much more than a race.
I remember once when I was helping my friend Sergio Sánchez organize the Coastal Challenge event in Costa Rica. More than just organizing, I was out there marking the route. I got to talking with one of the top female competitors in the race. Since the event passes through some of the same spots where we host our South Pacific Jungle route, I was excitedly explaining to her that there were so many beautiful things to see and extraordinary places to witness along the way.
She looked at me and said: “Well, I’m competing. I won’t have time to see anything; I can only see the ground.”
And I told her: “Yes, it really is a shame.” This interaction stayed with me. It highlights the massive difference between participating in a high-stakes competition and a tour like the ones we lead. When you come with us, you can actually get to know the heart and soul of the place you’re visiting, rather than just the four inches of dirt in front of your shoes. This is what a real marathon often misses.
Here are the top seven ways a running vacation is different from a destination marathon.
If you are a runner, you really should consider these differences before booking your next flight.
1. It’s Not All About Race Day
When you travel for a marathon, your entire trip is centered on that one optimal race experience. I’ll never forget my time at the Budapest Marathon. I was incredibly nervous, so I spent almost my entire pre-race time hiding in the hotel room, trying to rest. After the event, I was so physically destroyed that I was too exhausted to go out and see any of the city’s history. I basically flew across Europe to see a hotel bed and a finish line.
A running vacation is different. It’s not a one-day “do or die” deal. You can run every day if you feel like it, soaking in the views of the Atlas Mountains or the Mediterranean coast without that looming anxiety of a starting pistol. We leave the hotel to explore and find new vistas, not to hide from the sun until the gun goes off. It’s about the journey, not just the finish line.
2. Avoid The Crowds
Run the World Adventures Guide Pablo Rodriguez with a group about to start their 7-day adventure by the Mediterranean Sea.
Large marathons are forced to stick to wide highways to accommodate thousands of runners. You might catch a glimpse of a landmark, but it’s usually a fleeting view from the middle of a sweaty crowd. On a running vacation, it’s just you, a few like-minded companions, and a local guide. If you see a curious ancient ruin or a striking viewpoint, you can just stop! Our routes aren’t in guidebooks; they are custom-designed paths through the Pyrenees that bypass the tourist traps to find the truly spectacular spots. We get to places no bus or car could ever reach.
3. Experience the Local Culture & Community on Your Running Vacation
At a destination marathon, you’re mostly surrounded by other tourists. But on our tours, you spend your time with locals. This leads to what I consider the most important benefit: true camaraderie. You get to know people deeply because you have the time to actually interact. It’s not just a quick “hello” at a water station; it’s hours of shared stories on the trail and over dinner.
I’ve seen firsthand how these connections change people. My wife, Cristina, for example, has converted all her girlfriends into trail runners. They call themselves the “Pura Vida team.” We’ve run together in so many places around the world, from the dusty trails of Morocco to the lush paths of Costa Rica. Their time together has marked all our lives, including their husbands and children. It becomes a family affair, a shared experience that goes far beyond the miles run. It’s a testament to the power of a trail running community.
I remember one trip to Morocco, deep in the Atlas Mountains, far from any tourist path. We were running towards a place I didn’t even know, just trusting the path. After a while, we found this incredible, remote valley. It was like time traveling. We met a family there, living like people did 500 years ago. We saw a young girl, about 12, working by an irrigation channel in a deep canyon. She immediately ran to gather wood, made a fire, and offered us tea. We sat with them, shared a moment, and truly connected. This kind of genuine human interaction, this deep relationship with a place and its people, is what we chase. It’s the soul of a NomaTrails running vacation. You can read more about our Morocco adventures here.
4. No time restrictionsRunning in the Costa Brava, Spain
In a marathon, every second counts, and interruptions are stressful. But as that runner in Costa Rica taught me, if you only focus on the pace, you miss the jungle. Our running tours allow people of different fitness levels to run together. We’ve designed the format so that running becomes a social connector. We aren’t racing the clock; we are enjoying the movement together. We stop for photos, for a chat, or just to take in the view. It’s your running vacation, after all.
5. Get Close to Nature on Your Running Vacation
Time means nothing when running through the Jungle in Costa Rica
Instead of city asphalt, you get to refresh yourself in a secluded Costa Brava cove or a glacial stream. This is also an environment where you can train skills you’d never encounter in a city—like technical descents, river crossings, or navigating jungle roots. It’s a chance to challenge your body in ways a paved road never could. Pasquale, one of our guides, describes our Sicily trips where we start at the sea, pass through rural areas and mountain villages, then climb high through valleys, avoiding peaks, before descending back to the coast to places like Isnello, which overlooks the sea. Imagine waking up at 3 AM in the Moroccan desert, running behind Abdu for two hours in the sand, then stopping to watch the most incredible sunrise you’ve ever seen, feeling every single star above you. That’s the kind of raw, unfiltered nature experience a running vacation offers.
6. The feast never ends
Marathon runners are often terrified of trying new foods before a race. On a running vacation, you can dive into local flavors from day one. Whether it’s a Moroccan tagine or fresh pasta in Sicily, the food is a vital part of the adventure, not something to be feared. We eat what the locals eat, sharing meals that become as memorable as the runs themselves. It’s all part of the cultural immersion.
7. Have Afterglow instead of Aftermath
Running friends making lasting memories at the Atlas Mountains
A marathon leaves you broken. A running vacation, however, is actually world-class training. If you have a future marathon goal, this is a grand way to prepare. You can train at a high intensity for many hours—climbing steep slopes in the Pyrenees—but in a way that protects you from injury. You finish the week feeling stronger and energized, rather than depleted and sore. You get the fitness boost without the pre-race nerves I suffered through in Budapest. I’ve seen these trips truly change people. We’ve even had couples who were on the brink of divorce find their way back to each other, or later tell us, “This baby wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for you!” These are the stories, the “afterglow,” that stay with us.
To summarize why we prefer the trail tour over the marathon:
- True Camaraderie: This is my number one reason. You meet people you actually get to know because you have the time to interact during and after the runs.
- Social Running: You can run with people who have a different level than yours. Our format makes running a social thing, not a competition.
- Elite Training without the Injury: It’s a massive boost for your fitness. You train at high intensity for many hours, but the varied terrain means you aren’t pounding the same muscles repeatedly. It’s the perfect preparation for future races.
- Unique Skills: You can train in settings—like the South Pacific Jungle or the technical trails of Sicily—where you can practice skills you’d never be able to encounter in your normal daily life.
