Marathon Tourism: The excitement of running the beauty of the world

In recent years there has been a new Trendy called Marathon Tourism or Tournament Tournament. This new trend not only enhances running interest, but also provides a great opportunity to experience new and interesting places.

What was once a special entertainment has now become a global movement. According to the Strava app last year, the number of people competing in marathon and ultra has increased by 5 %. In addition, a world poll in Year 2 showed that runners were first of all attention to the venue of the tournament. These statistics show the increasing desire for sports trips and participating in different purposes.

Find out more about marathon tourism:

What is Marathon Tourism?

Marathon tourism is a journey where people travel to different cities and countries to participate in the marathon. This type of tourism is a combination of sports, travel and discovery of new cultures.

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Participants are not only going to run on attractive and challenging routes to the destination, but they also enjoy the opportunity to visit tourist attractions, experience local cuisine and interact with the people of the area. Some professional runners participate in the competition for points and records, while others are only to enjoy a unique experience and a combination of sports with tourism.

Marathon Tourism History

The marathon is one of the types of endurance two -kilometers and 2 meters. The race is based on the marathon battle in Greece, which took place in the year 5 BC. According to legends, after the Greek victory over the Iranians in the battle, a message called PHEIDIPIDES ran the distance between the battlefield and Athens to announce the victory and then died of fatigue. This inspirational story has been held at the first marathon at the Athens Olympics, and since then, the marathon has become one of the main events in athletics..

In recent decades, marathon tourism has flourished significantly. Many runners and sports enthusiasts travel to the famous marathons of different cities and countries. This type of tourism not only provides an opportunity for sports competition, but also the ability to get acquainted with diverse cultures, landscapes and attractions.

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Combine the excitement of competition with the pleasure of tourism

The “marathon tourism” process is growing, and more day -to -day runners choose their tournament calendar based on traveling to attractive places..

Roel Spirings, a Dutch psychologist, a professional ultramatiner, and a running coach, believes that running with travel is more attractive; Because in addition to the joy of running, people feel a specific goal. She says:

We need a goal to run; We have to feel that we are alive, so we are.

Today, runners are more likely to experience experiences beyond the end of the race medal. They want to have special memories, personal developments, and stories that tell others after the competition is over..

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With increasing flexibility in working-life and growing healthy lifestyle, running for specific destinations is an attractive goal for those who want to experience more excitement in their leisure time.

Gauri Jayaram, founder of Active Holiday Company, says:

Taking a photo in front of the Eiffel Tower has replaced the athletes’ photos with their sports medals. Five years ago, social interactions were mostly in cafes; But today we see this in the field of fields of interactions.

The Impact of Marathon Tourism on the Economic Boom of Tourism Tourism

Marathon tourism attracts international runners and tourists to boost economic boom by increasing the income of hotels, restaurants and local businesses. In addition, these events introduce local culture to the world and reinforce the cultural interaction between participants and the host community.

Industry experts and survey data, given these profound economic effects, confirm that marathon tourism is becoming a lasting process. In year 2, the New York Marathon set a new record with more than 2.5 participants and surpassed the previous records of the Paris and Berlin marathons that were held that year.

According to the World Running USA poll, three -quarters of respondents intend to compete in the same number or more in year 2.

Cities in Europe, Asia and Africa have been able to exploit this interest in sports trips, and have launched new events to attract runners and their companions. According to Gori Jiaram, Valencia has now introduced itself as a destination for runners by introducing attractive running routes and hotels that offer special services to runners.

Marathon destinations are no longer limited to the Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City and Tokyo. Now, different cities around the world, with unique and unique events, have entered into a serious competition to attract runners and create positive economic impacts in their areas.

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The growth of tourism for smaller events in the race days is also remarkable. For example, Médoc Marathon, among the Bordeaux vineyards, where runners are welcomed along the way, Midnight Sun Marathon in Norway, under the sun’s midnight sunlight It is held and Petra Marathon in Jordan, where runners cross the extraordinary path between Petra’s ancient monuments.

Dubai and Istanbul marathons are also important sports events that attract the attention of professional runners and sports and tourism enthusiasts, including many Iranians every year. Dubai Marathon is one of the fastest marathons in the world with its flat and fast route, and many runners from all over the world participate to record personal records and enjoy the modern atmosphere of the city. On the other hand, Istanbul’s marathon, as the only interdisciplinary marathon in the world, also provides a unique tourist experience in addition to sports aspects. The time of holding this event each year in It is November 8th and its route starts from the Asian continent and ends in the continent of Europe. The runners participate in the competition, both enjoying the sport and enjoying the sights of Istanbul.

According to polls, most runners go to the tournament in groups of two or three. Some also participate in small group tours through sports tourism companies to enhance their sense of friendship.

About 5 % of runners stay at the destination between three and five nights or expand their trip to cities and surrounding tourist areas. For example, in recent years, many runners who have completed the London Marathon have been on the way to Isle of Skye in the Scottish Heights to spend a few days in nature. These long residences show that marathons are no longer a one -day sports event, but they have a widespread economic impact on local hotels, restaurants and attractions.

Why is marathon tourism popular?

Marathon tourism has become one of the most popular types of sports tourism due to the excitement of competition, travel experience and health, and has become popular in recent years.

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Sports and Traveling Combination: Participants not only participate in a sports competition, but also have the opportunity to visit new cities, different cultures and tourist attractions.

Increased interest in healthy lifestyle: The growth of health and fitness has made more people interested in running and endurance exercises, and the marathon is recognized as a motivational goal to maintain fitness.

Holding in sightseeing cities: Famous marathons such as New York, Paris, Tokyo and Berlin are held in attractive places and provide a unique experience for runners and their companions.

A chance to compete and personal challenge: Many people see the marathon as a personal challenge, and traveling to different cities for these competitions is an incentive to improve and improve their performance.

Social and Charity Events: Some marathons are held for charity purposes that encourage people to participate in social activities in addition to exercise.

Economic and Advertising Impact: Host cities take advantage of marathon’s economic benefits,; Among the boom in hotels, restaurants and other tourism services that have increased investment in these events.

The best destinations for marathon tourism

Marathon tourism has been widely welcomed in recent years, and various cities around the world have become popular destinations for this type of tourism. These destinations provide a great experience for marathon tourism enthusiasts by combining stunning natural landscapes and appropriate infrastructure. Here are some examples of these destinations where the world’s most magnificent marathons are held.

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Valencia Marathon, Spain: The city is known as “City of Running” and provides comprehensive information about the best running routes and suitable hotels for runners. Valencia marathon is one of the prominent events in the city that attracts many runners every year.

Marathon Patagonia, Chile: The Patagonia International Marathon is held in a pristine and spectacular area, crossing the suburbs of the Torres Del Paine National Park. This event provides a unique experience for runners by providing different distances.

Marathon of New York, America: It is known as one of the world’s most famous and largest marathons that attracts thousands of runners from around the world every year. The marathon route passes through five New York neighborhoods and is one of the city’s prominent events.

Marathon Tokyo, Japan: Tokyo is one of the most important marathons in the Asian continent. In addition to running, participants have the opportunity to experience the rich Japanese culture and the spectacular scenery of the city.

Paris Marathon, France: The Paris Marathon has one of the most beautiful routes crossing the Eiffel Tower, Concord Square and other historical attractions in Paris. This event is an opportunity to discover the beauties of Paris in addition to sports competition.

Busan Marathon, South Korea: As an attractive destination for the marathon, Busan offers a combination of coastal and urban beauty to runners. This marathon is one of the major Asian events that has many participants every year.

Marathon Kleanjaro, Africa: One of Africa’s most fascinating marathons is held every year in Tanzania, on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. The competition is on routes with beautiful and challenging landscapes and passes runners through lush villages and mountain roads. The high altitude of the route and climate change make this competition a serious physical challenge. In addition to the competition, participants can enjoy the unique nature of the area, the National Wildlife Parks and the rich Tanzania culture.

Marathon tourism in Iran

Duy Marathon is one of the most fascinating sports events in Iran in different cities with unique features. These competitions are a great opportunity to combine the excitement of competition with the pleasure of traveling and discovering tourist attractions.

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Qeshm Geopark Trail Race: The competition is held every March in Qeshm Island every year, and runners will have to travel 2 kilometers in two rounds 2 kilometers. The prerequisite for participating in this competition is to have at least 5 years of age and a marathon completion.

Devie Marton Kish Contest: The competition is held every year in the fall, and runners have to travel the 2 -kilometer route at a maximum of 2 hours. This competition is a great opportunity to combine the excitement of running with the pleasure of traveling to Kish Island.

Husky Verang Rood Trail: The competition will be held in July in the mountainous area of ​​the Dizin River. Runners have to travel 2 kilometers and are a good opportunity to experience running in the mountainous nature.

Shiraz Marathon Marathon Contest: This competition is one of the largest Iran’s largest competitions annually. Participants compete on 1 and 2 kilometers.

Delijan Marathon: The competition is held in Delijan every December every year, and runners have to travel two rounds of 2 kilometers.

Why do people travel for marathons?

Spiring has found that severe physical challenges, especially when combined with the excitement of new places, have many psychological benefits.

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Running is a powerful tool for self -knowledge; But when this experience takes place in an unfamiliar environment such as mountainous lands or desert heat, personal changes and developments are deeper.

One of the most memorable Spiring experiences was Ultramaraton Africa; A five -day four -kilometer race at five Kenya National Park, where he was able to run alongside wildlife and gain experience beyond a regular race.

Adventure in the heart of the two matches

Spiring describes one of his most memorable matches as follows:

Running alongside wildlife is a completely self -sufficient competition.

Alongside this experience, there are other prominent events, such as the Eiger 2-KM (EIGER 2-km). In this event, runners must pass through UNESCO’s breathtaking and protected landscapes in Switzerland.

According to Spiring, when the difficulty is combined with the beauty of the environment, you find a strong motivation to continue. The adventure is what makes you challenged, and in fact these competitions are not limited to sports challenges.

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Participating in these competitions beyond a simple race; Because it brings you a unique experience of traveling to different parts of the world.

Jiaram says:

Some events, such as the Chinese wall marathon or the Mont-Blanc competition, are designed to show the splendor and beauty of the destination.

He adds:

These competitions provide you with a rare opportunity to experience specific places, for example, in normal circumstances, there was no running between monuments or crossing a symbolic bridge such as the famous Lisbon bridge.

How to balance the trip and competition?

Traveling for the marathon has its own challenges, from local clock differences to climate change that can affect runners’ performance.

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Spiring recommends that you arrive a few days earlier so that your body has the opportunity to adapt to the new time zone and climate. Also, devote the day before the race to prepare the equipment and avoid any sudden changes in the diet. Adequate sleep and proper nutrition also play an important role in the performance of the race day. His most important recommendation, to address such challenges, is to drink a glass of cool water and not be too obsessed with details!

Keep in mind that last -minute changes usually do not have much effect on your work process, and these are the challenges of travel that make the sense of success after the race.

Spirings says:

The competitions held in other countries must be difficult. It is these difficulties that make the experience valuable, especially when you can share it with others.

Tips to participate in international marathons

Participating in international marathons requires careful planning and preparedness. Here are some important points for having a successful experience.

Early Planning and Registration: Many reputable marathons such as New York and Berlin have a limited capacity, so early registration is essential. Also, check out some of these competitions.

Suitable physical fitness: Start your workout program at least three to six months before the race. Endurance training, increased distances, running in similar conditions of the race and strength training can improve your performance.

Investigating the Climate Conditions of Destination: Consider air temperature, humidity and destination height and have the right clothing and equipment. Running in different situations from the workout can be challenging.

Nutrition and Hydrity Program: Proper diet, consumption of sufficient liquids and familiarity with racing nutrition stations are essential. Try to use drinks and foods that your body is accustomed to before the race.

Providing Travel Insurance and Required Documents: Some countries need a visa to enter, so take action in advance. Also, having travel insurance in the event of injury or medical problems gives you more relaxation.

Adaptation to local time: If you are traveling to an area with a lot of time difference, go to the destination a few days earlier to coordinate your body with the local clock and not get tired.

Familiar with the Race: Before the race, check the route map, nutrition points and high sloping areas. If possible, see part of the path closely or use running apps to simulate it.

Keep calm and stress management: International competitions may be stressful, so practice relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing and mental visualization to run the race day more relaxed.

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How to prepare for a marathon trip?

Preparation for a marathon trip requires careful planning for training, equipment, nutrition and travel issues. The following are the most important tips for preparing this type of travel:

Proper training planning

Preparation for an international marathon requires careful training planning. It is recommended to start training several months before the race. Weekly exercises should include long two, gradual increase in distance and speed exercises. If the race is held under certain conditions such as hot, cold or high altitude, adapt your body to practice in the same conditions so that you do not have trouble on the day of the race.

Fitness

In addition to running, strength and stretching exercises are essential to increase muscle endurance and reduce the risk of injury. Also, adequate rest and regular sleep have a great impact on improving your performance. Mentally, marathon is a great challenge; Therefore, relaxing techniques such as deep breathing, meditation and mental visualization of the race path can reduce your stress and increase your focus.

Travel logistics

Planning for travel, including booking a plane ticket, staying and reviewing the necessary documents earlier. It is best to have your hotel close to the competition site to prevent the stresses of commuting. Also, if your destination is in an area of ​​high time difference, travel a few days earlier to adapt to the local clock.

Nutrition and hydration

Your diet is very important before the race and should include proper carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats. Increase carbohydrate intake in the days leading up to the race to fill the muscle glycogen stores. In addition, getting acquainted with nutrition stations along the way will help you know where you should consume water and energy supplements.

Familiarity with the path and rules of the race

Before traveling, check the race route map and find out about the site of water stations, slopes and sensitive points. Some competitions have specific rules on equipment, time limitations, and nutritional areas that you need to study in advance so that you do not have trouble on the day of the race. If possible, see the route a day before the race or use routing apps.

Select and test appropriate equipment

Running shoes are your most important equipment, so use a shoe that you have tried in training before. Wearing new shoes or clothes on the day of the race may cause discomfort, blistering or other problems. Choose your clothes based on climate conditions and wear proper ventilation. Also, if you use energy gels or special drinks, test them in training sessions.

Maintain energy on the day of race

Don’t get excited about the race day and run at the right speed. Many runners drop energy in the middle of the route due to a rapid start. Regular consumption of water and electrolytes is essential along the way; But avoid drinking too much. Focus on your strategy and, most importantly, enjoy the experience of the competition and keep your motivation.

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If you also have the experience of participating in the marathon or gaining information about it, we will be happy to share your memories and knowledge with the audience.

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