The Traveling Marathoner: A Complete Guide to Top U.S. Races and Sightseeing on the Run (Special-Interest Titles) [Paperback]

Elise Allen (Author)

Book Description

Series: Special-Interest Titles | Publication Date: April 4, 2006

Whether you've finally qualified for Boston, you're debuting in Chicago, or you can't resist the urge to run 26.2 miles through balmy Honolulu breezes, this book will help you and your cheering section plan an unforgettable marathon vacation—at any time of the year, to any part of the country.

All the race basics
• Contacts and registration info
• Course descriptions, route maps, and race-day insights
• Where to carbo-load
• Strategies for spectators—the best viewing spaces and breakfast places

All the travel basics
• Orientation info and maps
• Hotels with great race-weekend rates and amenities
• Top sights to see, regardless of how your legs feel
• Great places for a well-earned foot rub

Races include:
Walt Disney World®; New Orleans; Los Angeles; Boston; Cincinnati; Newport, OR; Salt Lake City; Choteau, MT; Stowe, VT; Chicago; New York City; and Honolulu.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

As a traveling marathoner myself, this is the guidebook I've always wanted. Like most marathoners, I'm in no danger of actually winning one of these absurdly long races. For me and upwards of a half million others each year, the marathon is simply about the challenge: pushing ourselves to do something seemingly impossible. And to celebrate that amazing accomplishment, we often bring our family and friends to out of town races, making the whole weekend a mini-vacation, with a 26.2 mile trek as its centerpiece.

Of course, that's not a typical vacation. And typical guidebooks can't tell you everything you need to really enjoy that kind of trip.

That's where The Traveling Marathoner comes in. For each race in the book, I've researched everything you need to know in order to have a fantastic marathon trip: where to stay, where to eat... even the best places for your friends and family to grab breakfast before or after they cheer you on. I also cover all the race information, from registration to celebration, so you'll be completely prepared. And with the marathon-a-month format, you can find an excellent race for any time of year.

From the Back Cover

Twelve races take you from January to December:

Walt Disney World
New Orleans
Los Angeles
Boston
Cincinnati
Newport, OR
Salt Lake City
Choteau, MT
Stowe, VT
Chicago
New York City
Honolulu

Written for traveling marathoners by fellow traveling marathoner, Elise Allen, this unique guide provides both race and destination information for 12 top U.S. marathons. Whether you’ve finally qualified for Boston, you’re debuting in Chicago, or you simply can’t resist the urge to run 26.2 miles through balmy Honolulu breezes, this book will help you and your cheering section plan an unforgettable marathon vacation—at any time of the year.

All the Race Basics
Contacts and registration info
Course descriptions, route maps, and race-day insights
Where to carbo-load before your run and where to replace 2,620 calories afterward
Strategies for spectators---the best viewing spaces and breakfast places
"Anyone Can Run a Marathon" -- motivational racer profiles

All the Travel Basics
Tourism contacts and transportation pointers
Orientation info and maps
Hotels with the best race weekend rates and racer amenities
Best places for a well-earned foot rub, pedicure, or back massage
Best ways to sightsee, whether your legs feel great or you can barely walk
Top spots to celebrate

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Fodor's (April 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140001459X
• ISBN-13: 978-1400014590
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,827,869 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Though Elise Allen hails from Philadelphia (home of Tastykakes, the best soft pretzels ever, and her beloved Philadelphia Eagles), she resides in Los Angeles, where it never has the audacity to snow. Elise has a wildly eclectic writing career, including sitcoms, kids' TV shows, Barbie movies, and internet shows starring her heroes, The Muppets. She is Hilary Duff's co-author for the book ELIXIR, and looks forward to the release of her first solo YA novel, POPULAZZI.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! Now I want to run a marathon :), April 21, 2006

By 

Barb Cohen - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Traveling Marathoner: A Complete Guide to Top U.S. Races and Sightseeing on the Run (Special-Interest Titles) (Paperback)

I didn't know what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised at the readability of this travel guide. There are inspirational stories in each chapter that make lies out of every excuse I've ever given for not running a marathon. As a cheering section member, this guide helps me show support while having a good time. I especially love the section 'Forget Sightseeing, Get me to a Spa'. Next time you want to run - I'll be at the spa waiting to hear your stories.

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read, April 25, 2011

By 

Knight Writer - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Traveling Marathoner: A Complete Guide to Top U.S. Races and Sightseeing on the Run (Special-Interest Titles) (Paperback)

This is a great book for any budding marathoner who is looking for special places to run acrosss the country. There are 12 locations listed -- one for each month of the year -- some on the the East Coast, some on the West, and others in between. Each chapter tells about the race course and offers helpful tips about where to stay, wherer to eat, and things to do after the race depending on your energy level after you finish. The book was written several years ago, so some information has no doubt changed, but accessing the Internet will give the reader the most up-to-date facts. Enjoy!!!

2.0 out of 5 stars This is really a lodging/dining guide to 12 semi-random cities, November 27, 2008

By 

Paul Vyriotes "pkvyrio" (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Traveling Marathoner: A Complete Guide to Top U.S. Races and Sightseeing on the Run (Special-Interest Titles) (Paperback)

As an avid endurance athlete myself I was hoping this book would capture the "soul" of the 12 marathons presented in this book. For the Boston marathon, for example, the author captures none of the excitement when seeing the Citgo sign for the first time, the deafening cheers as you pass Wellesly College, and being treated like a celebrity all weekend.

The author shares little to none of her personal account with the 12 marathons covered in this book. Indeed the author herself claims she has only run 7 marathons and doesn't mention which of the 12 she's personally experienced.

This book is more of a sterile dining/lodging guide to 12 semi-random cities rather than a book about 12 marathon experiences.