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Start planning your 2018 Marathons. ©RunFun
Welcome to RunFun Travel – Start planning your 2018 Marathons.
It is never too soon to start planning your 2018 Marathons. In fact, now is the perfect time while everyone is currently pre-occupied with enjoying the European summer.
Hotel bargains are to be found everywhere and there is plenty of capacity to plan your travel in Europe while you're at it. This week we'll put some marathon temptations out there for you to consider. Of course, there are plenty of marathons to choose from but this week we will focus on Europe. You could, of course, run a couple while you're there!
Well, the IAAF World Champs certainly brought some surprises and some changes of the guard. The Ethiopians finally found a way to beat Mo, Bolt found the cold conditions of London impacted on his warm up and Sally Pearson reminded us all of what makes a champion.
Of course the greatest disappointment of the past week is Roger not winning Montreal but we must now move on to the US Open. It's that time of year when I am easily distracted by tennis so apologies to all those who aren't Roger tragics.
This week we also preview Adventurous Spirit – read below and grab yourself a copy. Truly inspirational.
Fran Seton & Dave Cundy
Your Marathon & Lifestyle Travel Gurus
Plan Ahead for Your 2018 Marathon
When planning your overseas travel to run a marathon it is advantageous if you can look ahead and take advantage of better hotel prices, bargain flights and the benefit of time.
To help with your 2018 running schedule, here are some great options to look at:
- Paris 8 April – the second biggest in the world and ticks off all the major tourist attractions during the run. The atmosphere is fabulous and the weather the past few years sensational. We will once again be hosting our trip to Paris – join us and experience Paris through the eyes of a marathon runner.
- Rome 8 April – so impressive, such great food and wine (after your run of course) and simply one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. We can also recommend an excellent Cooking Class for the chefs amongst you. We have some great suggestions for the rest of your Italian trip too…. Positano, Sicily, Puglia, relax, enjoy.
- Belgrade Marathon 12 April (TBC) – we have been there and loved it. Gorgeous city, interesting history, superb restaurants and close to a hop off to Croatia, Montenegro and eastern Europe. You could also think about boating it up to Vienna and doing a marathon double.
- Vienna City Marathon 22 April – a city of culture, history and romance, located on the banks of the Danube. Vienna is a stunning city and spring is the perfect time to see it at its most glorious best.
- Prague Marathon 6 May – we ran it, we loved it. Prague will capture your heart and take your breath away with its beauty. A city where you can spend a lot of time enjoying the culture, history, the wonderfully friendly locals and gourmet food.
- Midnight Sun Marathon 16 June – travel to the Arctic city of Tromso and run the midnight marathon in the daylight. Quite the experience. This has to be one of the most unique marathons in the world and a fabulous opportunity to head north. Like real north. Do some polar bear spotting while you're there.
- Mozart 100 16 June – distances from 100km to 11.5km, run on trails in the beautiful region surrounding Salzburg. Austria and Ultra Marathons, a perfect match! Our hint – grab a car and do yourself a favour by driving through Austria and into Germany. Simply stunning!
- Swiss Alpine 28 July – a perennial favourite with runners from around the world. Varied distances and difficulties, a week in the Swiss city of Davos. Enjoy Alpine running in one of the most spectacular regions in the world. We have a fully hosted trip with lots of hikes, runs and camaraderie in the hills and lakes of Switzerland.
Heather Hawkins: Adventurous Spirit
I had the pleasure of meeting Heather when she ran the World Marathon Challenge in 2016 (7 Marathons, 7 Continents, 7 Days). We had been in communication before hand but I remember clearly meeting her personally and realising what a special human being she is.
Heather had run the North Pole Marathon, winning the female division, and was back in her home town of Sydney for the final leg of the 7x7x7. Her support crew were there, in the middle of the night, to cheer her on. In Heather, they all saw something to be admired and a determination that all of us would aspire to. Heather then joined us for our trip to the New York City Marathon last November and it was a privilege to get to know her better.
In her book, Adventurous Spirit, Heather tells her story of how, at 41 with two young children, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Having conquered her cancer, at 47 she then pulled on the runners and the shorts….. the rest is history as five years later she has 17 marathons and 3 ultra marathons under her belt.
Heather's eternal optimism, courage and outlook on life is one we can all take note of. An inspirational read of a woman who took life head on, chose to see only the positives and challenged herself to make the most of the life she has.
Contact Info RunFun Travel 1300 383 690 | +61 (0)2 4342 7611 fran@runfuntravel.com www.runfuntravel.com
