There is one question I get far too often is: How do you choose the places you want travel to?

For me, the answer is simple. I choose my locations based on elevation maps, wind speeds on tops of mountains, and how cold my legs will become as I’m trotting through winding paths. The dance of running is an escape from the stresses of every day life and traveling is a way to physically remove myself from the bustling streets that I call home. Normally when I travel, I break my vacation into two sections: running and resting. I pick the most breathtaking views and am always gratefully rewarded for the hours of hard work I put in on the trail. After I descend from the trailhead with dirt splattered on my legs and probably a cut or two from falling (I’m clumsy and a daydreamer which undoubtedly is the worst combination for a trail runner), I make my way back to my lodging either by foot or public transport. During this time, I’m able to catch glimpses of the city or town I’ve found myself and begin to plan my next few hours or even days I have to rest and relax.

Although trail running appears to be an isolated sport, it must not be forgotten that these beautiful peaks and dirt-filled paths are surrounded by someone else’s every day bustling life and their city with more to do than you can imagine. After your run, take a shower (you’ll need it), through on some comfortable clothes and shoes, and head out to explore the town without having the title as runner stamped on your forehead. These towns are filled with local shops, Mom&Pop restaurants, and even clubs if you find your legs still work well enough for dancing. In addition, the people of mountain towns are truly some of the most humble, kind, and interesting people you will meet. The lifelong friends I’ve made while strolling down a street after a day in the mountains will forever be ingrained into my memory. Trust me, these experiences are some you will not want to pass up.

Now, let’s say you have the time for an even longer excursion. To show you how to get days of running and relaxation in, let me tell you the best thing I have done for myself thus far.

In September of 2021, I was fortunate enough to be accepted into an Ultramarathon Festival held in the microscopic town of Piwniczna-Zdrój. It’s a small mountain escape located in the beautiful mountains of Poland. I met a couple of friends of mine who live in Zakopane, Poland and we spent roughly 5 days exploring the neighboring cities and running. After the grueling race, I was exhausted but a light inside of me glowed because I knew I had something waiting for me just a day later: beautiful beaches and heaping bowls of pasta in Catania, Italy. Yes, that is correct- Italy.

I took an inexpensive and quick flight to Italy for the sake of recovery, relaxation, and again, pasta. The festival in Poland brought me from my former home of Boston, USA to another continent, and I knew I wanted more than just “one vacation”. My love for running inspired my journey of over 3000 miles, but that was simply only a fraction of it. I strutted through the streets of Italy with my race medal in my bag, stopping into small thrift shops and sharing glasses of wine with strangers that I met along the way. After my two week adventure away from my busy life, I was fulfilled and excited to share the stories from not only my race, but from an entirely other location where I tucked away my “runner’s badge”.

My love for running has inspired almost every location that I’ve been to, but it doesn’t have to encapsulate the entirety of your trip. Run. Put in the hard work. But, remember to kick those sore feet up and relax afterwards. Maybe in an entirely new country. You’ve earned it.

With that, I implore you choose at least some of your destinations not based on Yelp reviews or the latest Tik Tok post summarizing the coolest clubs in Europe. Rather, find those once-in-a-lifetime glacier views or mountains filled with alpine meadows. You never know where it will lead you!