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What if running was the focus of your next vacation?

April 25, 2022 by Aude Hofleitner Leave a Comment

With borders starting to open, the opportunities for travel are coming back. And why not combine it with running? I love running as a way to discover a new city, checking out some of the sights before they get crowded. More and more, my vacations have taken me to places that feature beautiful trails and I typically use the Strava heat map to get a sense for good running routes, then a combination of All Trails or the Trail Runner Project to see if people have left reviews. This has limited me to day trips, or short runs during a backpacking trip, after setting up camp, and I have been intrigued to learn more about running vacations that facilitate the logistics. So I was excited to chat with Liz Gill (@lizcgill) at Runcation Travel (@runcationtravel).

Aude: What was your first running vacation? What did you particularly like about it?
Liz: My first real running vacation dedicated to running was actually a hut to hut trail running trip in the Dolomites in June of 2016. I had spent the few previous summers working with runners in Kenya and Peru, but our runs were always fit in either at 6am in the morning, or in the evening after activities in the day. I thought it would be really cool to see what it was like to have nothing else but running to do during the day, and to use it as a way to travel and experience a new place, culture, and style of running. I planned my trip way too early in the season in a high snow year, so my original route plans were totally shattered, but I ended up running a ton and seeing other towns, rifugios, via ferratas, and places I did not expect. I came away with that trip with a pretty good sense of the area and met a few local runners that actually helped me with baggage transport the year after on a guided trip! I loved the point to point aspect of running and getting to explore insanely beautiful trails and mountains, while also having a comfortable bed to sleep each night with espresso machines, beer on tap, etc. Most of the huts there have awesome decks to relax and take in the views of the surrounding mountains. It felt like the perfect mixture of running in the mountains, experiencing a different culture, and also relaxing on vacation which I really enjoyed.

Running Hut to Hut in the Dolomites and enjoying some flat terrains in high meadows before the next mountain pass; Photo: Liz Gill

Aude: What are other things that people enjoy with running vacations?
Liz: I think they enjoy the same thing! I think as runners we usually try and squeeze in a run during our vacations, but I think it’s a real treat to have running be more of a focus of a trip and use it to experience travel and a place in a really unique way. When you cut out time in buses or cars you can really experience a place mile by mile, which I think brings a different perspective of an area. I also think people enjoy getting to meet other runners and athletes from different areas, either in a guided group or in the huts/towns. And the mixture of doing some big runs in the mountains and getting to relax and enjoy your surroundings the rest of the day.

Enjoying lunch from outside one of the oldest rifugios in the Dolomites; Photo: Liz Gill

Aude: What are the different ways people can do a running vacation, either on their own or as part of a group?
Liz: That’s a good question. I think it depends on what they’re looking to get out of it and the location they’re visiting. Some places lend themselves to through running routes, or hut-to-hut types of trips that I tend to like to create. Others are logistically better as day trips, or taking transport to different towns between runs. There’s also fastpacking, which is basically carrying all your supplies you need through mountains without any sort of organized shelters. People can also do training trips. I would suggest maybe looking up what’s out there in terms of guided running vacations to get some ideas and maybe see what it would look like to do a running vacation in an area you’ve always wanted to visit.

Aude: What other variables would you advise people to think about during their planning? (distance, location, group style, …)
Liz: I think having an idea of mileage per day as well as elevation gain/descent is important as well as style of trails. I usually have people reach out about their running background and if a trip is right for them, the typical age of the group, how much of the day is structured vs unstructured, if solo travelers are welcome, etc. I think questions like these give a good sense of the type of group you’re joining and what you can expect from the running portion as well as the group factor. For location, I’ve always gone to places I’ve heard about from someone I know, or it’s a place I’ve seen inspiring photos or videos of. If there’s a country you’ve always wanted to visit, chances are you can make a running trip happen there!

Aude: You recently came back from a trip to Patagonia, which looked incredible! Can you share a bit about some of the exciting moments?
Liz: Yes! We just had our first guided group trip back since COVID and we went to Patagonia. I think the weather on this trip was very…exciting. It was definitely the true Patagonia experience. A few of our runs were in the mountains surrounding the town of El Chaltén, which is notorious for rapidly changing weather. We definitely had runs where we were in shorts and a t-shirt one minute and frantically putting all our layers on in a mini blizzard the next. The views and skyline finally opened up the final days we were there, which felt like a great end to the trip.   

Runners run underneath the Fitz Roy Skyline in Patgonia, Argentina; Photo: Mark Remick

Aude: What other trips are you looking forward to this year? 
Liz: I’m actually headed to Flagstaff this weekend for some running and climbing, which is a running town that I’ve always been curious about visiting and running in. We have our first trip in Peru the week after, which will be a really cool experience running camp-to-camp from Cusco to Machu Picchu through less traveled Incan trails in the Sacred Valley. We have a few trips in Europe this summer (on the Tour du Mont Blanc, in the Dolomites, and Slovenia) and I’m super excited to be doing those after a 2-year COVID break and getting to do some running and climbing over there in between a few of the guided trips. I’m also very much looking forward to more Tahoe trails opening up and some Eastside weekends and getting to run those in between!

Runners on a Dolomites Hut to Hut Runcation make their way through the Dolomites, also known as the “pale mountains.”; Photo: Liz Gill

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DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout... @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
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DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout @ Alibi Public House, Truckee @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
We are excited to create even more opportunity for connections for Tahoe/Truckee mountain runners by kicking off a weekly social run on Tuesday evenings starting on May 17th to go through our 2022 running season until[...]
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The Donner Party Mountain Runner... @ West End Beach Pavilion, Truckee CA
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The Donner Party Mountain Runners Summer Picnic, presented by Tahoe Mountain Sports @ West End Beach Pavilion, Truckee CA
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5:45 pm DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout... @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout... @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
Jun 7 @ 5:45 pm – 7:00 pm
DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout @ Alibi Public House, Truckee @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
We are excited to create even more opportunity for connections for Tahoe/Truckee mountain runners by kicking off a weekly social run on Tuesday evenings starting on May 17th to go through our 2022 running season until[...]
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April Newsletter is out! Listen to board members R April Newsletter is out!
Listen to board members Renee, @ycamjack and @aude_hofleitner talk about the club and the great plans for 2022 thanks to the awesome folks from @themile99interview !

Talking about plans for 2022, join us for the Summer Picnic on June 5 and the Newbies on Tuesday, lead by @_buelna_ and co-hosted by @tahoemountainsports 
(also don't forget track on Wednesday mornings!)
And as we're all getting excited about race seasons and the upcoming party at @canyonsenduranceruns , meet our member @armstrong81.denver who will be running the 100k.

We also have the #bookofthemonth featuring A Beautiful Work in Progress from @themirnavator and opportunities to give back to the community by signing up for the @brokenarrowskyrace Elite Housing program.

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #raceseason #trailrace #canyons100k
The Donner Party Mountain Runners is excited to pr The Donner Party Mountain Runners is excited to present the inaugural Pt Mariah Trail Marathon.

Join us on Saturday, August 6th in Truckee / Soda Springs, CA for the Point Mariah Trail Marathon! There is a full marathon option as well as a 2-person "partner" marathon option.

With immense gratitude to @truckeedonnerlandtrust, the course will primarily run through the protected Royal Gorge land near Soda Springs, CA. Special thanks to our other land use partners at @skisodasprings and @tahoenationalforest.

Point Mariah offers expansive views of the Granite Chief Wilderness, the Pacific Crest Trail between Sugar Bowl and Squaw Valley, and the breathtaking Royal Gorge of the North Fork of the American River (one of the deepest canyons in the western US).

All the details for this fun, unique, and challenging trail race can be found on our website: https://donnerpartymountainrunners.com/point-mariah-trail-marathon/

Sign up on UltraSignup: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=93003

We hope to see you in August -- as a racer or volunteer!

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #trailrace #trailmarathon #sodasprings #royalgorge
The March Newsletter is out with the most amazing The March Newsletter is out with the most amazing content. You don't want to miss it! https://tinyurl.com/dpmrmarch

The New Point Mariah Trail Marathon organized by DPMR. 
Newbies runs and Track workouts returning in the spring. 
Volunteer Opportunities. 
Tips for backpacking with kids. 
The Book of The Month presenting Mental Training for Ultrarunning by Addie Bracy.
A highlight of Angela Stark who recently joined the board. 
Discussion about the best traction devices. 
A race report of Racing Gnome '22

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #bookofthemonth #racereport #pointmariah #trailrace #trailmarathon
Racing Gnome was back this weekend. Congrats to al Racing Gnome was back this weekend. Congrats to all the runners and thanks to the volunteers who made this possible. And who knows, maybe a snow race also called for a short break in the dry streak...?

📸: @travelwoo @ispyfred 

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #snowshoe #racing #flurries
The DPMR February newsletter is out (link in bio)! The DPMR February newsletter is out (link in bio)! Dive into some great info on our snowshoe race, ultra crewing advice, 2022 goals talk, weather musings, the book of the month, a COVID 2022 Q&A with Dr. Andy Pasternak @tubadrew, and get to know @kimyamauchi!
Add your name to our email newsletter list on the website to make sure you receive it. Enjoy!

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #runninggoals #snowshoe #newsletter #bookofthemonth #runningbook #covid_19 #weather #racecrew #racinggnome
The Racing Gnome Snowshoe Race is Back! Always a The Racing Gnome Snowshoe Race is Back! 

Always a fun and challenging event– join us for the return of the Racing Gnome Snowshoe on February 13th! There will be two events- a 5K and a 10K distance race. All experience levels are encouraged to race!

As a benefit of membership- this event is FREE for DPMR members and just $10 for non-members.

Thanks to a generous donation by Alpenglow Sports, as another benefit of membership we have a limited number of snowshoes that are available for use. These will be available on a first-come-first-served basis and we cannot guarantee they will be available for your race. Several local Truckee-Tahoe shops also rent snowshoes if you don’t already own a pair.

Check out details 
https://donnerpartymountainrunners.com/snowshoe-races/

📸: Helen Pelster

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #snowshoe #snowshoerunning #snoeshoeracing #racing #racinggnome
The snow is here... Time to get out the snowshoes The snow is here... Time to get out the snowshoes and enjoy winter Wonderland! Perfect day on the Donner lake rim trail and humans and our furry friend had a blast! Join us for our next snowshoe group run (or hike depending on conditions !). And thanks to @alpenglowsports members can borrow a pair of @atlassnowshoes for free!!

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #snowshoe #winterwonderland
Our member appréciation picnic was a blast : beau Our member appréciation picnic was a blast : beautiful trails, great company and tasty tacos from Golden Rotisserie... What else should we ask for? Even the dogs enjoyed the party!!

Thanks to board member Kathy @justimaginemktg for putting the event together and everyone who volunteered and helped. 
Thanks to Helen Pelster for capturing the moment 📸. 
We also got to celebrate one special member : our president and #unafraid leader Diane @ispyfred 
Thanks @keeptruckeegreen for the reusable plates. 

#trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #picnic #runningparty #memberappreciation #legacytrail #truckeeriver
**End of Year Member Picnic & Run This Sunday!** **End of Year Member Picnic & Run This Sunday!**

Yeah, it's last minute but that's how we roll (and run) these days! The weather forecast looks great and we'd love to see you this Sunday for some good old-fashioned DPMR socializing.

We'll meet for a group run of up to 10 miles: out and back from Truckee Regional Park - along the Legacy Trail and onto the dirt road along South River Street or maybe the Sawtooth Trail.

Catered picnic starts at noon. Look for us along the river at the Lower River BBQ site. Special thanks to Keep Truckee Green for providing the reusable dishware for this event!

**Date: Sunday, Nov 21st
Time: Group run at 10am, Picnic 12pm-3pm
Location: Lower River BBQ/Picnic Area, Truckee River Regional Park**

This event is FREE for members and their families! No one goes hungry ... so please RSVP to help us get a count for food and drink.

RSVP Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dpmr-end-of-season-picnic-extravaganza-tickets-34187454597

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #picnic #party
October News Letter is out. Check out the new arti October News Letter is out. Check out the new articles on the website. 
Hear from DPMR Board Member Steve about the Strategic Planning session he lead to determine our strategy and goals for the next 2-3 years, and to identify the underlying values and principles that will guide us in our decisions and activities
Meet Mike Turner (@ canyonbagger) through his Member highlight
If you are looking for treats, the Cowboy Cookies recipe is here for your, courtesy of Renee.
We also have an inspiring race report of the Castle Peak 100K showing that Meggie is #unafraid
And for our book of the month, see the notes from @aude_hofleitner about Chasing Twilight @bestrunningjournal with a special interview of one of the author, who you likely already know… our own @adamkimble818 

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #bookofthemonth #castlepeak100k #cookies #fueling #trailrace #racereport
Happy snow day... Hilloween is upon us!! Join DPMR Happy snow day... Hilloween is upon us!! Join DPMR for its Halloween hill climb Sunday October 31st!! 

See website and Facebook event for details. 

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #hilloween #halloween #hillrunning #vert
Run, friends, 🍁🍂 and 🍻! It's time for the Run, friends, 🍁🍂 and 🍻! It's time for the 2021 DPMR Pub to pub run. See you at the brewery and barrel house of @alibialeworks in incline Sunday October 17th at 8am. 
Check out the post on Facebook or on the website. 

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #runandbrunch #runandbeer #alibialeworks #inclinevillage #pubrun
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