I LOVE traveling for races! In fact, four of my recent half marathons took me to completely different destinations—BMW Dallas Half Marathon, Niagara Falls International Half Marathon (Canada), Glass City Half Marathon (Toledo, OH), and the Key West Half Marathon. Dallas was perfect weather in December, Canada was chilly in October, and Key West was humid and warm in January. Toledo? It rained. From these races and others I’ve learned some things that might make traveling for your next race a little easier.

The earlier you decide to enter a destination race, the better.

• Book your lodging. If the race is in a popular location, you might need to book a room before you even register for the race, especially if you plan to stay in the host hotel or close to the start and finish lines.
• Book your travel. Again, if your destination is popular, the less expensive airfares may go quickly.
• Register for the race. This may be obvious, but if you race often, you know prices go up quickly, and destination races can be especially expensive. Be sure to register when the fees are the lowest, sometimes nine months to a year before the race!

Packing can be a challenge.

• Check the weather for your race location and even check the history of the race. It’s a good idea to bring an extra layer just in case it rains or is colder than you expect. If you pack a throwaway layer (like an old sweatshirt you can toss at the start line) you’ll have extra space for your way home.
• If you are flying, limit what you bring. You might even travel in your race shoes to save space in your bags. If you can get by with a carry on, flying is easier and on some airlines it is cheaper.
• On the other hand, if you’re driving you can pack extra race clothes for any weather conditions so you have plenty of choices.

Should you be a tourist?

• Try not to be too much of a tourist the day before the race. In both Canada and Key West I walked a lot the day before the race. How can you not when the Falls are right outside your hotel and Key West is simply Key West. That said, it made race day a little more difficult for me. If you plan to stay an extra day, you can be a tourist after the race.

What should you eat?

• Don’t eat anything unusual the night before that might upset your stomach. It’s not the time to try out Tony Packo’s in Toledo for the first time. (Yes, I know from experience.)
• Be sure to pack what you normally eat race morning. I always have toast with peanut butter before a race. If I’m driving, I take my toaster and if I’m flying, I bring just my gluten-free bread and peanut butter.
• Be sure to pack extra snacks just in case. There aren’t always gluten-free foods available for me, especially after a race. So I typically have a stash of something with me.

Plan your race morning.

• The night before the race, set out the clothes you plan to wear and attach your bib with pins or a race belt.
• Do you know where the race starts and finishes? Is there a shuttle?* Will you walk? Will you drive? Make sure you know how to get there and how to get back from the race.
• If someone is picking you up after the race, plan where you will meet and when. (Again, I know from experience, this time in Dallas.)
• Leave early enough to get to the start line and your corral with time to spare. If you are driving, plan for traffic. If you typically need a porta-john before a race, leave even earlier—there will be a line.

Enjoy the race!

• You don’t have to PR when in a new race location. Take time to enjoy the scenery on the course, take pictures, and after you finish, try the local cuisine.

With a little planning ahead, destination races become more than just a race—they’re an adventure. So pick your destination, book early, and get ready to explore somewhere new while doing what you love!

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*A Cautionary Tale: The Toledo Shuttle Disaster

When I did the Toledo Half Marathon recently, we stayed at a specific hotel because there was a shuttle stop right out front and we wouldn’t have to drive and fight traffic. We picked up the shuttle and got to the start of the race with plenty of time. It was easy!

It started to rain during the race and by the end it was pouring!

After I finished, I wrapped up in my silver blanket and looked for signs for the shuttle. I didn’t see any. I asked a race staffer where to catch the shuttle and she didn’t know. I walked farther and asked a few other staff people and none knew where I should catch the shuttle. Finally, one person sent me to the starting line. By this time I had walked more than half a mile in the downpour looking for the shuttle. There were no shuttles at the starting line.

I walked up to a building with an overhang and pulled up Uber on my phone. Unfortunately, it needed an updated credit card and I didn’t have one with me.

The friend I was traveling with never carries a phone. during a race, so I couldn’t call her.

I stood there next to the building feeling totally lost and alone—I was very cold, very wet, and my feet hurt. I just couldn’t see roaming around longer looking for the shuttles.

I was standing next to a parking lot and saw some race finishers going to their cars. I decided to ask for a ride.

I went up to a couple of cars, knocked on the windows, and asked for a ride. The first few people couldn’t for a variety of reasons. Finally I saw a couple about my age in a pick-up truck. I knocked on the window, told them my predicament, and they offered to drive me to my hotel which happened to be on their way!

The woman hopped in the back seat and let me sit up front. The driver turned on the seat warmers for me. They knew exactly where my hotel was and drove straight to it.

As I got out of the truck, the race shuttle pulled up and my friend hopped out. She spent more than 30 minutes looking for the shuttle and eventually found it near the finish line, not the starting line.

And this is why I say, know where the race starts and ends and how you are going to get back to your hotel.

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