Would you travel to a race for a half-marathon (or shorter)

[Jwolf]

I've noticed a couple comments in the Disney threads about people not travelling for "just a half-marathon". Why the bias towards marathons for travelling? Is this a common thought?

Other race distances have their unique challenges. To me it's not just about distance. But I guess there would have to be a reason to go somewhere else first-- then again I wouldn't travel specifcially for the purpose of doing a marathon, either.

eta: for some reason all the options didn't show up-- did i hava a limiit of three?

so there are no "no" options. sorry

[HCcD]

Umm, planning to go to Disneyland in September for the 1/2 Marathon, then follow-up with a weeks holiday

[Jwolf]

Ugh- all the poll results didn't show up!

There were supposed to be some no's in the answers, too.

[HCcD]

Ugh- all the poll results didn't show up!

There were supposed to be some no's in the answers, too.

Thought, it looked kinda skewed now that you mentioned it ... :think::think:

[Dr. S]

Ugh- all the poll results didn't show up!

There were supposed to be some no's in the answers, too.

Thought, it looked kinda skewed now that you mentioned it ... :think::think:

I was just going to ask what if we say no?!

But I said: "Yes, but only if I had friends that were going to be there."

I would be willing to fly to go run a half with my friend which I will be doing in the fall but if it is a 10K or 5K event I am only willing to drive a couple of hours.

[Jwolf]

how do i edit the poll answers?

[DougG]

There is no place for a no.
Other than Disney, or perhaps Ottawa,I would not travel. I assume by travel you mean overnight?

[Dr. S]

how do i edit the poll answers?

Go back to edit your first post and add more poll choices

[Jwolf]

how do i edit the poll answers?

Go back to edit your first post and add more poll choices

um... tried that!

[HCcD]

how do i edit the poll answers?

Go back to edit your first post and add more poll choices

um... tried that!

Guess you will have to lock this one and create a new one with more options ??

[Dr. S]

how do i edit the poll answers?

Go back to edit your first post and add more poll choices

um... tried that!

Guess you will have to lock this one and create a new one with more options ??

Maybe because people have started answering that you can't change it? If not, then I don't know.

[Jwolf]

how do i edit the poll answers?

Go back to edit your first post and add more poll choices

um... tried that!

Guess you will have to lock this one and create a new one with more options ??

Maybe because people have started answering that you can't change it? If not, then I don't know.

oh-- maybe you're right.

maybe I should start a new poll and ask if I need to start a new poll.

[BJH]

Well, I've driven four hours for a half marathon, driven three hours for a 10k and flown to Cape Breton to run 12k, but there were other reasons involved as well.

I'm still not sold on destination races. I've done two destination marathons and it was fun, but MrBJH doesn't run so it is asking a lot for him to plan a vacation around a race.

I don't think it is necessarily the way to run my best race. I will happily run in a new place, but, given I don't have to travel to race, for my best efforts I prefer to race close to home. I will probably travel to races in the future, but it will be because I want to visit the place or people and the race is just an extra.

[bnn]

I flew to Vancouver last year for the 1/2. Amazing fun time and great course. Why not. We just don't have a 1/2 of that caliber in Alberta.

[ultraslacker]

I'm kinda of the camp that thinks the race should not be shorter than the travel time. :)

But I would run races in other places if I was going anyway and there was something fun.

The exception, of course, was the Wolfe Island 10k. :)

[dgrant]

Absolutely. I've gone to such glamourous locales as Detroit, Flint and Utica (3 times) for a 1/2, 10mi, and 15K repsectively... just based on the quality of the race. I've also done 1/2s or shorter in Chicago (twice), Ottawa (many) and Las Vegas (in '07 and again in two months), although those trips were mainly for other purposes and I just happened to race while there.

Race distance is irrelevant to me.

[La]

I only like travelling for races if I'm going with a group of friends. I usually make the trip about more than just the race. I like destination races if the race is worth running and the destination is somewhere I want to go, and plan to stay several days after. It would likely have to be a 1/2M or greater, though.

That said, I did travel to PEC to run a mere 8K. But that was more about the company and fun times than the race itself.

[Jo-Jo]

I voted yes.
I did say in the Disney thread I wouldn't travel there for a HalfM...but that's because I really have no desire to go to Florida or Disney World generally...if I'm going to go there I wanna come home with a bunch of medals

[ian]

Interesting observation. In the past, I have done "overnights" in order to race half-marathons, but I've never flown to one. Part of it is my priorities but I think it's also the case that there aren't many shorter races that have a "must do" reputation. Those that do (Spokane's Bloomsday 12K race comes to mind) would be worth a trip with a group of friends.

[Magoo]

I voted yes because I want to go to the half in Montreal in April. My wife voted no because running would spoil a nice weekend in Montreal in her mind.

[dgrant]

but I think it's also the case that there aren't many shorter races that have a "must do" reputation.

Not sure how it is in the West, but over this way we've got tons (admittedly mostly south of the border). Utica Boilermaker, Falmouth Road Race, Crim 10mi, Mount Washington Road Race, Army 10mi, George Washington Parkway Classic, Broad Street Run...

If I lived out West I'd be champing at the bit to try the Dipsea Race.

[Tori]

Yup and wouldn't think twice about it. The 1/2 is my favorite distance and we have taken 3 larger trips now to run. It's lots of fun having an event as part of your vacation.

[Tri_K]

We're actually of the opposite thought in our house. We prefer to travel for a half marathon or less because then the vacation isn't so impeded by the race. Dh really wants to go back to Vegas because we went for the marathon a few years ago and he feels he didn't get to enjoy it because he had to watch what he ate, how much he walked, and limit alcohol consumption. I feel the same about Penticton. I went twice last year, once for a training weekend and once for Ironman. I don't feel like either of those were vacations because I had to be so careful about everything. I answered Yes, if there is some other reason to be there. We are going to Australia this year and will do the half at the World Masters Games. I would never go all the way there for a half marathon but it was a great excuse to finally plan a trip to Australia.

[Pat Menzies]

If you are serious about your racing you will travel for a 100 meter race if that's your best event. I have driven to Ottawa several times to run 600 or 800 meter races. Ran lifetime PB's too. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
I know a guy who FLEW to Ottawa and back one night because he felt he was ready to break 4:00 for 1500.
He is a pilot for Air Canada and it was probably more feasible for him but it still shows the lengths people will go to when ready for a good race.

[tri princess]

This is a good question, JWolf. I have sometimes wondered if traveling for a half is worth it. Like even Vancouver. It's not far from here at all but I have wondered if I should save the trip for the marathon later on. Kinda funny thinking now that I'm aware of it and I hear Banane saying how nice it is. Maybe it's a flying vs. driving thing because my husband and I go to Banff with another couple every year for Melissa's (10K or 22K depending on the year) and make a weekend of it.

I can't seem to vote. I have voted in polls before but something is different and I don't know what it is. I can only see results but see no button to click. Anyway, I would probably vote yes but I would make sure I saw the place I was visiting a little bit, too, or enjoyed a little break while I was there and it would make a difference if friends were there, too.