Burn Off Those Wine Calories with a Marathon or Half-Marathon and Have the Ultimate Girls’ Weekend!  

Ah, the half-marathon. Perhaps once considered the full marathon’s (much) lesser cousin, the distance has grown tremendously in popularity over the past several years – particularly with women. According to Running USA, ladies laced up and accounted for over 60 percent ​​of half-marathon finishers in 2014.

For me, a runner who generally comes in somewhere toward the top of the middle of the pack, the half-marathon appeals because a) I don’t have to devote my life and my weekends to training (24 mile runs sure can put a crimp in one’s Sunday Funday), and b) I’m not completely shot after – in fact, I’m generally ready for a good time.

Both of these facts make the humble half-marathon the perfect marquee event for a girls’ getaway. I’ve done several running-related junkets in my day, most notably amazing girls’ weekends in Monterey and Nashville. Here are a few tips to make your destination race stress-free and memorable!

Pick the Right Companions
If you’re going all-out, bring a friend or two who is as serious about running their best as you are. But if you’re just going for fun, then go with friends of a similar mindset. That way, one of you won’t be feeling like the Eeyore of the group while the others are hitting Happy Hour the evening before the race.

Note: A seemingly random group — like friends of friends from work or a running club — can work well, especially if there aren’t a lot of people who already know each other well. You’ll all be friends by the end! I met a couple of super-great girls I count as friends at one destination event, and I didn’t know either at all when we left for the airport. In fact, I met one of my now-favorite running friends with the following Facebook message: “You look pretty normal; want to room together in Monterey?”

Think of How Much Time You’d Like to Take Exploring Your Surroundings – Then Add One Day
Even though a half-marathon is a very manageable distance, you or your cohorts may still want a nap after, especially if you’ve already endured TSA lines and a cramped flight. So add an extra day to your travel schedule – you’ll find a way to fill it!

In Bozeman, Montana, home of the Run to the Pub, you can ski the Bridger peaks at favorite resorts (Bridger Bowl or Big Sky), and enjoy a thriving downtown food and drink scene. A favorite indulgence: Ted’s Montana Grill, known for their amazing, creative bison burgers, and owned by media mogul Ted Turner.

Don’t Overspend on Lodging
My travel companion Roni and I affectionately (well, sort of affectionately) referred to our digs in Nashville as “The Roach Motel.” But, really, we weren’t spending a lot of time there, and the low price freed our wallets up to splurge on other food and fun (like hot chicken and the Grand Ol’ Opry).

Don’t Dismiss the Touristy Stuff
It can be easy to mock things like trolley tours as a “Seniors- Only” activity.  But in Nashville, Roni and I saw parts of the city we never would have known existed had we stuck to downtown, and the guides shared lots of interesting trivia. (Also, there was a distillery tour and samples involved, and hey, we didn’t need to worry about driving.) In Monterey, Carolyn, Tara and I had a ball people watching on Cannery Row and getting on into the ocean whale-watching.

Stay Hydrated
Balance your wine – because of course you’re going to have some with the ladies, right? – with plenty of water both before and after your run. Running the Bjorklund half in Duluth? Don’t bother with the bottled stuff – Lake Superior water is the best!

Pack Healthy Pre-Race Snacks
It’s always tempting to overindulge on any vacation, but unless you want to be sprinting for the porta-potty, keep things on the lighter side the day before your race.

Think Taylor Swift and Shake That Out
Walk. Stretch. Repeat. You can’t move too much in the hours and days following your half-marathon. In Nashville, I found a hot yoga studio nearby that really helped me work out the post-race kinks.

Races that Double as Great Getaways

Great scenery, cool nightlife, fun swag bags, post-race revelry and/or well-organized events make these half-marathons a memorable trip for you and your ladies! Know that a few of these popular jaunts will fill up, so make your travel plans early.

• Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay – Monterey, California
• Nashville Half Marathon – Nashville, Tennessee 
• Run to the Pub – Bozeman, Montana
• Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon – Duluth, Minnesota