Race to see the world!

Traveling to participate in races, whether they are triathlons, marathons, cross country ski races or something else, is a fantastic way to see the world. What makes it even better is that many of the best races are staged in areas or cities that are not the most usual destinations for “normal” tourists.

Every few years I try to travel somewhere to participate in a race. Most of them, so far, have been on cross country skis. There are numerous great long-distance ski races held around the world, where the amateurs share the tracks with the world stars. Those races are often referred to as “ski marathons” although the distance is usually not the actual marathon distance of 26,2 miles / 42,2 km.  The most common distance is probably around 50 km, but you should be able to find both longer and shorter distances. Obviously there are also great marathons and triathlons held around the globe, and I’m hoping to explore more of them in the not-too-distant future.

If you are spending your time and money on traveling long distances – even to other countries – to participate in a race, you want to make sure that it is worth it. If the race is a part of recognized series such as Worldloppet or Euroloppet, you will know that it is good, as these series demand that their races fulfill certain requirements regarding organization, tracks, service to participants and just quality in general.  There are also many great races that are not a part of such series, so make sure you do your research on the internet on simply ask those who have the experience. Websites such as http://www.worldloppetskier.com/ are also very helpful when organizing such a trip.

Participating in races has given me the opportunity to visit places such as Hayward (Wisconsin, USA), Otepää (Estonia), Mora (Sweden), Berlin (Germany), Bathurst (NB, Canada) and more. Most of them I would never have visited if it hadn’t been for racing.  I know that such trips to other countries cost money and they take time from family and work, but if you make a plan to squeeze them in every four years or so, it just might work.

Should you be fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go on such a trip, my main advise would be to find an accommodation close to the centre of the race, somewhere where you know many other participants will be staying. Research shows that one of the things that people value the most on such trips is to meet other people – from all over the world – who share the same “sub-culture, i.e. the passion for the sport. In this regard, I have found that races held in small communities, such as Mora or Hayward, usually somehow generate greater atmosphere and better overall experience than those held in big cities. It looks like the big city races are in more danger of fading a little bit amongst all the other things that the big cities have to offer. The participants are also more spread around the whole city, so the “intimate” atmosphere and the sharing of the sub-culture is less likely to happen.