Why the 'race-cation' is taking off as a huge travel trend this year

Meghan has always had a goal of running a marathon before she turned 40.

Sure, she could just sign up for one in her hometown of Adelaide. But instead, she's heading to Florida next year to run in one at Disney World.

She's not alone: according to Skyscanner, one in two Australians are planning to engage in 'run travel' this year - a new travel trend that is soaring in popularity. 

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Run travel - also called runcations or racecations - allows people to combine an interest in running with a love for travel. Skyscanner's data shows the top motivation for run travel is the chance to explore new places.

It can be adapted for everyone, from novices to seasoned ultra-marathoners. A runcation can be a 10-day guided running tour that clocks hundreds of kilometres, or an overnight stay near a great trail run.

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It could be a trip to Florida for a marathon or a weekend in Sydney to run the City2Surf. 

Contiki has even introduced 'Run Club' trips, which they say "shows you Europe's best bucket list destinations in two weeks – with plenty of scenic runs along the way".

For Meghan, combining her marathon goal with her love of travel just made sense. Not only can she tick something off the bucket list, but she gets a holiday out of it, too. 

"I thought I might as well make the most of the 20+ hour flight and reward myself for my hard work - post-marathon, I'm planning a relaxing stay at a resort in Florida where I can pamper myself a bit before heading home."

Travelling to compete in a race is increasingly popular amongst Aussies. After her friend had to pull out of a half-marathon in Sydney last year, Sindy took a trip with her friends to compete in the Adelaide equivalent, so their training wouldn't go to waste.

"We saw it was a flat course and wanted to make a fun weekend out of it," Sindy tells 9Travel. 

And Phoebe tells us a similar story - her fiancé and his friends planned to travel from Sydney for the Gold Coast marathon.

"Myself and a few of the girlfriends wanted to come along as pit crew and enjoy a weekend away…one of the girls decided to also sign up [for the half-marathon] and it just kind of snowballed from there."

Both Sindy and Phoebe built a long weekend itinerary around their race - exploring the city, going out for drinks and dinners. 

Don't worry - you don't have to be a marathon runner, or even interested in signing up for a race, to embrace a runcation.

While travelling through Europe, I would try to do a short run in every new place I visited - it's a great way to get a feel for the city that's different from the usual tourist itinerary.

Aussie brothers Stefan and Lachlan Lamble (aka The Lambros Army) embraced run travel before it was a trend - they completed an epic run across the entirety of Australia to raise money for cancer research after losing their grandmother to the disease. Since then, they have travelled the world in search of more running opportunities. 

"The great thing about running is you can explore a city's backstreets by foot or take the scenic route on a mountain trail," the brothers tell 9Travel, "allowing you to truly see a place, rather than just pass through it."

The duo has partnered with Skyscanner to create a Runner's Map - their top running destinations around the world for anyone keen to have a runcation of their own. 

They highlight the Adelaide Hills as one of the world's best running destinations. With some trails clocking in at just 3km (and some stretching over 20km), anyone can get amongst it no matter your skill level.

Health-based holidays aren't a novel concept, either. There's been a shift away from holidays centred around drinking and partying - instead an increasing number of travellers are booking fitness and wellness-based getaways. This is particularly true for the younger generations. 

"We think more Australians are starting to seek out travel experiences that are active and immersive and run travel ticks all those boxes," Stefan and Lachlan say.

The brothers are now attempting to run the entire length of the UK while raising £250,000 ($520,000) for cancer research. 

Since their run across Australia, the boys say that run travel has become their favourite thing: "every destination becomes an opportunity for a running adventure."

"From tackling the Bali Hope Ultra to exploring Canada's Seawall and running the Dolomites in Italy, we've made it a priority to experience new places on foot."

Active holidays don't just have to be about running - cycling holidays are also gaining popularity for those after a fast-paced trip away.

Europe dominates the cycling scene, with France and Italy topping the list of dream destinations. With a European active holiday, you can enjoy all the wine, gelato, and pasta you like guilt-free.

Vietnam and Japan are also emerging as top cycling hotspots, reflecting the growing appeal of combining cultural immersion with physical activity.

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