Friday, January 25, 2013

Friday Favorites: Race-Cations!!!!!

What exactly is a “race-cation”? Healthy Diva’s definition:

A vacation that involves a race!

I know, I am not very creative with my definition, but really race-cations are the best. I haven’t had a lot of race-cations, but the ones that I have had have been awesome.

Boston Marathon 2010: My only complaint was that my Red Sox loving hubby wanted to spend our entire trip at Fenway. Next time we go to Boston we get to do what I want to do and he only gets 1 Red sox game, not THREE!

Us at Fenway

Mr. Healthy Diva takes his Red Sox very seriously!

Trying to grasp what I have gotten myself into....

Thankful to be done!

Eating some fresh lobster 


Houston ½ Marathon/2012 Olympic Trials: This trip was amazing. I totally fell in love with Houston! We visited Galveston and also drove to NOLA and stayed there for a couple of days. I don’t recommend the drive from Houston to NOLA because it is boring, but NOLA is a really fun city to visit. I want to go back to NOLA and run the Rock & Roll someday.


Expo #ILoveBrooks #RunHappy

Obviously I am winning....

Star stuck! Meeting Desi (I am 5ft5...she is itty bitty!)

Top 3 men

Top 4 women

Houston 1/2 marathon- PR!

Visiting Galveston

NOLA!!!!!

I am embarrassed to admit that it took us forever to find Bourbon St! We walked by it a dozen times before we finally figured it out. Doh!

We were in Nola right at the beginning of Mardi Gras season



I went to cooking school & it was a lot of fun!

I looked for Sookie everywhere, but couldn't find her :/

My next race-cation is coming up in April when I get to go to San Francisco to run the Rock & Roll ½ marathon for Brooks. I have never been to SF so I am really excited! What should I do while I am in town? Any good restaurant recommendations?

In August I am going to Vancouver, BC to run the Lululemon SeaWheeze 1/2 marathon. I am really excited about this race because my co worker is still raving about her experience last year. Plus, I have never been to Vancouver before. Any recommendations for me????

Mr. Healthy Diva and I were already planning on a trip to Vegas in November so I am hoping to squeeze in the Las Vegas Rock & Roll 1/2 marathon. I know that a lot of people that I am dying to meet IRL will be there.  

Questions for you:
What is your favorite race-cation???
What is your DREAM race-cation?

--Tasha

36 comments:

  1. I purchased that Bon Temps U shirt when we were in NOLA last year for the RNR race. New Orleans may be my favorite race destination so far...

    I love SF!!! Don't forget to visit Ghiradelli Square and Athleta and the Ferry Building....

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    1. I wanted that shirt, but I didn't get it. Now I wished that I would have. Looks like I need to go back to NOLA now.

      Ghiradelli Square is definitely on my list of places to visit while in SF. :-)

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  2. I completely agree...racecations are the BEST! I'm headed to Sedona next weekend for a 1/2 mary and vaca! I've also raced/vacationed in Vegas, Chicago, and Monterrey! I would LOVE to do a racecaction somewhere in Europe at some point :)

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    1. A racecation in Europe is on my bucket list. I would love to run the London Marathon someday.

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  3. I am jealous of your racecations! I would love to head back to California sometime so going there would be pretty sweet to race :)

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    1. Racecations are so much fun! It is the only time I ever get to go anywhere so I like to make the most out of my vacation days.

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  4. You will have so much fun in both places. We are headed up to Vancouver in Sept. Let me know what is fun up there!

    As far as SF; there is too much to see do to write. You will have a great time. Very excited for you.

    I have not yet had a race-cation but my dream race-cation would be a warm destination with an Oly triathlon in the mix. We were thinking of doing that with the REV3 and hit Costa Rica but timing this year makes it a no-go...boo

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    1. Costa Rica would be so much fun!!! I hope that you get to next year. :-)

      I am really excited about SF. I have been doing some online research and making a list of things I want do while we are there.

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  5. Love this post because I totally relate! In fact, most of our travel is a racecation these days!
    Chicago last year was AMAZING. Luckily, Dave was easy to convince. This year we are going on a road trip through Montana, where we will happen to stop on Missoula around the time of the marathon. Coincedentally. hehehe

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    1. Chicago is going to be a future racecation...probably next year if I can talk the husband into it.

      You are going to LOVE Missoula! It is a really neat town and they do a great job organizing the race. I might think about running the 1/2, but I need to see what weekend it falls on first.

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    2. Oh keep me in the loop if you do!!!

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  6. Can't believe your husband made you sit through 3 Red Sox games! Next time you're in town, let me know, so many better things to do!

    My favorite runcation has been DC! I just had such a great time during the race and that whole weekend.

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    1. Three games was brutal! We had 2 games on the first day because the game the night before got rained out. Of course it pretty much rained the whole time we were there and our seats weren't covered. It made for a miserable day. I think we we were up for over 32 hours too because we took the red eye from Seattle. I was cranky. Next time we go to Boston we will be doing EVERYTHING that I want to do. :-)

      DC is really fun! I would love to go back and run a race there someday.

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  7. I would like a race-cation in Hawaii. I don't care which race. I just want to be warm and on a beach!

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  8. Aww, so fun!! I think a race cation is a great concept but will admit to being quite pathetic about race preparation; good sleep, food I know, etc. The idea of being away for a race scares me a little, but the half marathon I'm doing in April is about a 3.5 hour drive from where I love so we're going to stay overnight the night before. Perhaps it will get me in the swing of this approach!

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    1. I think that it is harder to do a marathon racecation. I am looking forward to being able to sleep in my own bed the night before my next marathon. I am sure I will feel more at ease. I am sure that you will do fine with an overnight stay before a half. :-)

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  9. I LOVE race-cations!! I am so excited to go run Big Sur in April, we are staying a few extra days to see San Francisco. My dream race-cation?! I would love to run the marathon in Reyjkavik... we've already been but it would be awesome to do the hot springs after a race. Other ones include Berlin, London and I would love to run Tokyo... there are too many amazing places around the world with awesome races!!

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    1. I am so jealous you are running Big Sur! That is a race on my bucket list. Berlin and London would be fun racecations too.

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  10. I LOVE RACE-CATIONS!!!! My OC marathon (5/12) was a race-cation, in addition to the Rehoboth Marathon (12/12). BEST idea ever.

    SeaWheeze looks like sooo much fun. I may have to sign up...

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    1. Let me know if you sign up for SeaWheeze!!! It is the one race I am really looking forward to. My coworker has had me excited about it since last summer. :-)

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  11. Oh man. I have soooo many SF restaurant recommendations for you. Just tell me what you like / what you're looking for / how spendy you want to be. :)

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    1. I am a pretty adventurous eater, but my husband is not. Boo. We love mexican and asian food though. If you have any good recommendations that would be great!

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  12. Loved seeing your photos! Too funny about Mr. Healthydiva and the fenway games :)) The only race-cation I've ever done was Boston 2011. I didn't stay in Boston (I stayed an hour away), so I feel like I missed out on the total experience- and Fenway.
    I almost wish I had put in for RnR SanDiego! That would be a fun vacation spot. I just know you'll have a great time in SF- and race well too :)

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    1. Next time you go to Boston you will have to stay in the town and hit up at least 1 game at Fenway. On Sunday pretty much everyone at the game is running the marathon the next day. Tons of finisher's jackets in the crowd.

      I thought about RnR SD, but my husband and I have both been there a couple of times. I had just told him a couple of days prior to the email about the races that I wanted to go to either SF or Chicago this year. I didn't want to run the Chicago RnR because I figured I would die of heat in July, but the SF race worked out perfectly in my training schedule. YAY!

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  13. I'm sure you saw my crazy calendar for this year, and I'm so excited to do trips like you guys! I'm excited about Disneyland but also about RnR since I've never been to Vegas and MCM in October!

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    1. Yes, you have tons of fun racecations planned too. Got to love being a DINK, huh? I am planning on RnR Vegas so we will have to meet up! My hubby and I are going to Vegas to celebrate our "dirty thirty" birthdays that weekend. :-)

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  14. I love race-cations! My 2013 list includes the Disney Princess Half, Cherry Blossom 10Miler, and Santa Barbara Wine Country Half [wine stops included on race trail]! My dream racecation-BMW Berlin Marathon!

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    1. Those are awesome races! I would love to run the Santa Barbara Wine Country Half. I love wine and to combine it with running would be heaven!

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  15. a race-cation is seriously the only way i like to do it (and they pretty much all are when you race the states). i don't know if i could pick just one-but NOLA and Big Sur are big on my list. Dream race(s): Boston, montana (don't know which yet), wyoming. anything international! i will work on stuff for your trips :) i've been to both but need to go back through pictures!

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    1. Race-cations really are the only way to do it. I wish that I could get my husband to understand that. :-)

      If you go to Montana you should run Missoula! Missoula is a super fun town and the race is very well organized. I might try and run it this year, but I need to check and see what weekend in July it falls on. Missoula is about a 4 hour drive from where I live in eastern WA.

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  16. Your race-cations look so fun! I've done a few now as well and I really enjoy them. In fact, I like finding a race whenever I am traveling just because it's such an interesting way to see the city. Haha, people always question why I do it on a vacation but I think it's great!

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  17. I think racecations are the best! Whenever we think about going somewhere I always look for a race and then we try and plan for that weekend. SeaWheeze is just a race I really wanted to run, but SF was a city we were planning on visiting this year anyways. April just turned out to be the best month for SF. :-)

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  18. I LOVE racecations! I will be following your post here as well as I cannot wait for my trip to SF this June for the SF Marathon!! :D

    Seawheeze is also on my list........one year! :D

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