At 5 a.m. outside Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the sky was the color of ink, the 96-degree air heavy, like an extra layer of clothing. Runners shifted in place like ghosts — headlamps bobbing, race bibs damp — ahead of the Angkor Wat International Half Marathon. Somewhere in the darkness were the ancient temples I’d come to see.
I still remember how my shoes sounded on the packed red dirt as dawn lifted shadows off the stones to reveal intricate carvings. But I also remember the exhaustion and the heat. I’d crammed too much into the day before, motorcycling past rural rice paddies and eating fried bananas on Pub Street.
Since 2014, the first time I’d centered travel around a race, I’ve learned a lot. With the New York City Marathon this weekend, start thinking about your next race-cation. Here are some tips on how best to plan a trip around a race.
There are advantages to running close to home: You know how to get to the start, where to find friends along the course and how to make a quick exit afterward. But there’s also a thrill in running through a place you’re just discovering. Pick a destination you’d love to visit.
Websites like RunSignup, World’s Marathons and Half Marathon Guide have detailed race descriptions with search filters for various distances, including 5K and 10K. Look for routes passing through different neighborhoods, not endless loops in a park or on a highway. Read reviews on sites like RaceRaves or Racecheck for notes on scenery, crowd support and terrain — which can all change how a race feels.
Once you’ve registered, lock in the practical: your transportation, hotel and pre-race dinner reservation. If you can, aim for guaranteed overhead bin space on your flight to keep close your trusty shoes, socks, fuel and other essentials. After all, the adage is “nothing new on race day.” Pack a backup outfit and hat, and consider compression socks for the flight.
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