Who Runs That Website??

When you’re in the business of putting together a website dedicated to running you tend to surf (or run) the web a lot searching for sites with the latest running news. While there are always the big time companies that we've all heard of, at Running The World, we are partial to lookin’ out for the little guy. So here is a list of blogs and websites that you may not have heard of yet, but are worth taking a look at if you’re an active traveler seeking information like us!

1. Ryan Run’s Europe: http://ryanrunseurope.blogspot.com/
In 2009 Ryan  Johns, a fellow graduate of my alma mater, Columbia University, ran from Amsterdam to Athens in four months. And he blogged the whole way. That’s over 2,300 miles, 7 countries, averaging over 20 miles per day. That’s a lot of people yelling “Run Ryan Run” by the end of the journey. If this blog doesn’t inspire you to get out and run abroad, I don’t know what will!


2. Run Abroad: http://www.runabroad.com/
A website devoted to picking the top 101 races to run before you die (or break your knees!). This is a great resource for the traveler planning a trip with an active goal included in the vacation package.

3. Cruise to Run: http://www.cruisetorun.com/
And I thought that running on a cruise ship was the most monotonous and horrible thing place I ever ran. These cruise lines are revolutionizing the idea that you go on a cruise to eat and be lazy! Cruise to Run offers its vacationing runners the option to cruise to the Caribbean or Alaska and run some phenomenal routes along the way. They even have motivational guest speakers and, of course, offer the obligatory cruise buffets.

4. Running Crazy: http://www.runningcrazy.co.uk/
Those crazy runners! Always looking for races and runs to do while “vacationing”. We sure know how to take the lazy out of the vacation! Running Crazy will help you plan a trip that revolves around a race. Founded by a group of British runners who like to travel, they make great consultants for corporations, groups or individuals who want to make a vacation out of a marathon.

Top 5 - Going When You're On the Go

If you're an active traveler, chances are it's happened to you. It's a beautiful morning, you're in the middle of a great run, you're moving and grooving and enjoying the scenery of your new destination, and then all of a sudden . . . 

Yep. Once your blood is flowing chances are that other bodily fluids will also start their course through your system. 

Getting it out of the system - 

Waiting for a Port-o-Potty at the Prague Marathon, 2008

There are few things more frustrating than having to go to the bathroom when you're on the go, especially when you're running in a foreign country and don't know where the nearest toilet is. At Active Travel Kate and I have had that happen to us more than a few times (after all, we are women), and don't wish a similar fate on any fellow traveler. 


Therefore, this week we decided to share a Top 5 Best Practices for Looping The Loo. That is, the best strategies to find the freshest, cleanest, and most hygenically-acceptable toilets in Europe's favorite destionations:


5. Hang on to extra currency when heading out the door. 
Many public restrooms in Europe charge a bit of change to use their facilities. It's better to pay the euro than use up your running time looking for a free Jon (or Juan, or Giovanni . . .)

4. Confidence is key: Jaunt into a decently crowded cafe and head straight back for the toilets as if that's what you've done every day of your life. Avoid making eye contact or asking anything, and chances are you will get away with it.

3. Indulge in American cultural imperialism: Traveling runners can tell you the true reason chains like McDonalds, Starbucks, and Subway thrive overseas - these companies have mastered the art of producing restroom facilities that, no matter what country you are in, look and smell just like any other of their restrooms in any other part of the world. 

2. Don't drink this:

 Then chances are you'll be able to wait until you're back at your accommodation.

And the number-one way to find the best bathroom stops on your next active adventure is . . . 

1. Download the Active Travel guide for your given location! 

Like I said, Kate and I have dealt with the bathroom problem more times than we care for. Our commitment to providing our clientèle with the maps, stats, and cultural information they need for safe, scenic and rewarding fitness experiences when overseas includes providing bathroom-break information for each running, biking, and swimming route we describe. 

We apologize that this information won't be available until Active Travel officially launches our Running The World guide series in June 2010. In the meantime, we hope that the above advice helps a bit no matter where your travels take you.

Reckon Casey Ended Up In . . .

Good job, Miss Tanya! Our good friend Casey Morse was indeed taking a mini-jog in Stonehenge when he ran into the end of the trail. The day probably could have been worse though - not many people get to see this spectacular location under such sunshine (especially in January!).

Why We Run Away - To Make Friends!

"Run here often?" - It’s my favorite pickup line of all time. For running partners, that is. I’ve run in over 14 countries in the past five years and made a countless number of friends on the road. Whether they’re locals or other travelers, meeting running partners while traveling enhances the experience and can even lead you in a new direction.

While picking a permanent running partner might require a test of higher scrutiny, when meeting someone on the road in Rome for a few miles (and maybe a cup of gelato afterwards) try to keep an open mind. Often running travelers are excited to meet a fellow runner who speaks their own language and is on the same adventure they’re on. After all, conversation shouldn’t be too taxing when you’re running past the Eiffel Tower or along the Seine River. At least you know you have at minimum two common interests.

A good way to find a safe and knowledgeable running partner in another city is by using the mapmyrun community. This site helps connects runners with common paces and goals. But don’t let all your guards down. Even though it’s exciting and enticing to meet up with other runners in foreign cities, don’t forget that all websites have their scammers. If you’re setting up a run in a new location, stick to the rules of blind internet dating, and meet in a safe, public, crowded location.

In my personal experience, running alone while traveling has its advantages of allowing you to absorb your surroundings and really pay attention to your direction, but sometimes your most memorable moments come when you do the unexpected, and reach out to a new friend. I have made four of my closest friends through running, and I have traveled with two of them. (The four are pictured in this post) You never know when the young woman you meet while running along the Hudson River one early fall morning will end up being a life long running partner and friend. And if nothing else, at least you’ll have someone to ask “do you remember how to get back to our hostel?” when you realize that you’re totally lost in a foreign country, yet again.



Top left photo: Me (Kate Lincoff) and Alicia running in Central Park. Both of us were visting from St. Louis.

Top right photo:  Laura Cosan and I running the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC. Both qualified for Boston!

Bottom left photo: My original college running partner, Claire and I before our second half marathon. We will be running our fifth(?) half together in April in St. Louis.

Bottom right photo: Myself and Anna Murray before Anna's first triathlon in Pennsylvania. Anna and I have plans to run in New Jersey the morning of her wedding this June!

Reckon Casey Lost The Trail In . . .

We've all had it happen to us when we travel. We've woken up early on a pristine day, tied on our running shoes, and set off to explore an amazing-looking path or trail just out the front door. And then, in less than 500 meters, we've come around the curve and hit a dead-end. When Active Travel launches in June, we will provide you with the routes, maps, stats, and information you need to ensure that doesn't happen any more. Until then, well, there's always a chance that what happened to Casey in the photo above will happen to you.

Speaking of Casey, any guess where that guy is running this time around? Guesses go in the "Comments" section below, and the answer will come out on Friday!

Do Something!

Exploring our world one step at a time! Sport is a speedy way to spread international awareness, and this week Active Travel - Running The World was recognized for its work as the Project of the Week for DoSomething.org. We are excited to receive this national recognition for our project, and look forward to working further with DoSomething to step by step, running route by great running route, country by country and community to global community, help people connect to each other through the activities they love most.

Avec Vous

We generate energy when we run, and sometimes that energy needs to be channeled and sent to those who need it more than we do.  Running The World would like to encourage all our readers to send their energy, their thoughts, and any help they can to the victims of Tuesday's earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  Nos pensees sont avec vous, our thoughts are with you on this week and night of nightmare nights.

To send donations and support, visit the MSNBC website for a list of organizations supporting the cause.

Oh The Places You'll Run...

This article from the New York Times is sure to wet any travelers palate. Have you run in any of these hot spots for 2010? Have any advice for a runner heading to them? With all of the articles being posted about 2010 as a year of travel increases, the folks at Running The World couldn't help but post an article full of ideas!

Check out this link to see the 31 Places To Go (and run!) In 2010

Training for Change

Part of our goal at Running The World is to work closely with organizations that encourage individuals to be active, positive influences on their communities.  We therefore welcomed the opportunity to present this morning to members of the Institute of International Education's Middle East Peace Scholars exchange program.  These incredibly bright, talented undergraduate students hail from Morocco, Algeria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and elsewhere across the peninsula and Northern Africa.  They are spending a year studying in the United States learning how to start socially minded business organizations that support the integration of orphans in greater communities, establish business training programs, work with renewable energies, and launch continuing education programs.

Greater social change in the Middle East starts with amazing people like them.  Running The World extends a great thanks to the IIE - Rocky Mountain Regional Center for allowing us to help speed these individuals along an exciting journey.

And of course, we also thank them for giving us twenty new people to go visit when we write A Runner's Guide to the Middle East.

Sweet Rewards

Part of our goal at Running The World is to use running as the entry point

by which active travelers more deeply access foreign cultures.  For example, after going for a run, we suggest several local culinary delicacies that are worth the risk - and the caloric input - of sampling.  We also provide a bit of the history and local tradition surrounding these dishes, allowing our readers to more deeply delve into their chosen culture.  In this way, runners learn that the light pulla pastry was traditionally the mid-afternoon treat for field workers in Finland, and today is the perfect post-run pick-me-up (along with coffee).  Or, when in Riga, they learn taking a shot of the legendary Black Balzams is not imbibing a poisonous substance, but rather intaking an alcoholic herbal remedy that once cured the mysterious ails of Russia's Catherine the Great (and it is not all that bad when mixed with warm blackcurrant juice).  And "bulgur yogurt" is bulgur yogurt because it comes from Bulgaria.

What's even more interesting about this section, though, is the way food also becomes a historic and cultural marker that shows connections - and clashes - between people over time.  For example, when traveling through the Balkan countries, you might be told that "burek" is a Bosnian staple.  But the countries on the peninsula were united under the Yugoslav flag for three-quarters of a century, and Austrian, Ottoman, and Roman ones before that.  While burek may today be classified Bosnian, the best may be found in Belgrade.  As another example, the delicious cevapi in Sarajevo becomes cevapcici in Split (Croatia) and in Serbia, and in each locality everyone thinks they do this grilled meat dish best.

You also learn that, no matter how particular people like to claim a certain dish is to a culture, there are some unique local specialties that are more or less universal.  Palacinke in Serbia is blinni in Russia is crepe in France.  And in each country, it is delicious - especially if you add a lot of Nutella.

At Running The World, we believe sport, and physical activity, is an under-appreciated way to begin understanding a foreign culture.  When we officially launch in June, we will, week by week, begin to show you exactly how running, sport, and healthy activity can also open up and stimulate your mind.

January Running in Europe - Races, Fun Runs, and Charity Events

It's time to kick off 2010, and what better way to make sure this year starts off on the right foot than by dashing headlong into it? (wow, even we were not prepared for how many cliches we could get into that kick-off sentence).  There's tons of good running to be had in Europe at this time of year, and below are some runs you should be sure to not miss:

• NORWAY:  The Polar Night Half-Marathon and 10K takes place under the cover of complete darkness in Tromsø on January 9.  
• SPAIN:  If running along the Costa Blanca sounds a bit more of your wintertime speed, check out the Mitja Marató Internacional Vila de Santa Pola.  This half-marathon takes place on January 24.
• UK:  If you're looking to get a serious head start with your mileage this year, the Go Beyond Ultra Country to Capital is a 45 miler that takes place on 16th January
• MOROCCO:  The 8th Marathon International Marrakech takes place on Sunday, January 31.  No need for aid stations when you're running under orange trees.

Photo courtesty of runninginspired.co.uk