Aussies race to marathon glory this autumn / winter
Whether travelling interstate or to the other side of the world, a race can be a great opportunity to explore a new city. With the cooling weather, now is the most popular time for training to begin and for registrations to be made.1
Claudio Saita, Deputy CEO and Executive Director in Australia for Tokio Marine, underwriters for World2Cover travel insurance, said distance running entries have spiked over the past 15 to 20 years2 with such force that the sport has also spurred the growth of a new industry sector for running travel.
“Research shows it’s a niche market that has developed as many people now look for holidays that include both cultural and physical adventure. While more men enter domestic races, women often utilise a marathon as an excuse to travel.3
“This trend is positive but it also means more individuals are at risk of a running‐related injury. While most of the casualties that occur in relation to races are minor injuries like sprains and strains,4 this also highlights the importance of solid planning and adequate travel insurance to ensure peace of mind during your holiday.”
Whether running abroad or interstate, the team at World2Cover has some insider tips to help keep travelling Aussies healthy from start to finish line:
1. Plan your footwear according to the terrain you will be running on. Trail surfaces can vary, from the unsealed ‘Red Earth’ roads at the Australian Outback Marathon, to the challenging rocky terrain of the Chuckanut Mountain Marathon. Around 42 per cent of all running injuries are to the knee, followed by 17 per cent to the foot or ankle, 13 per cent to the lower leg and 11 per cent to the hip or pelvis,5 so it’s important to invest in the right trainers.
2. Check the weather forecast and pack appropriate clothing for both pre and post race. If travelling to a colder climate, such as the UK for the Virgin Money London Marathon, Aussies in particular may need to increase their usual warmup time to help prevent injury.
3. Dehydration is one of the biggest challenges runners have to overcome. This can be compounded if sitting in an air-conditioned plane for a long time prior. High humidity rates, like those often experiences at the Laguna Phuket International Marathon, can also drastically affect your fluid levels. Make sure you drink plenty of water while travelling and of course both during and after the race.
4. When researching accommodation, find out if special meals are provided (e.g. low fat, vegetarian, sports) that will help support your nutrition needs. If flying, do the same with your airline and remember that you may need to adapt your diet at your destination due to a change in climate or altitude.
5. Gastrointestinal problemsare common when travelling to foreign destinations. If you are visiting a country with unsafe tap water, such as India for the Mumbai Ultra 12 Hour Run, stick to bottled water and avoid raw or undercooked food.
6. The stress of travel and your increased training program in the lead up to race day may reduce your resistance to illness. Ask your doctor or healthcare professional for any recommended vitamins or probiotic supplements to help stave off bugs.
7. Adjust your body clock to that of your destination as soon as possible. If you start while travelling, it helps ensure you won’t be over-tired and can still perform at your best on the day.
Upcoming runs include:
- 18 April 2016 – Boston Marathon, USA
- 24 April 2016 – Virgin Money London Marathon, UK
- 1 May 2016 – Chuckanut Mountain Marathon and Half Marathon, USA
- 15 May 2016 – Great Ocean Road Marathon and Half Marathon, Victoria, Australia
- 4‐5 June 2016 – Laguna Phuket International Marathon and Half Marathon, Thailand
- 4 June 2016 – ASICS Stockholm Marathon, Sweden
- 2 July 2016 – Jolster Marathon and Half Marathon, Norway
- 30 July 2016 – Australian Outback Marathon and Half Marathon, Australia
- 15 August 2016 – Mumbai Ultra 12 Hour Run, India.
Provided they are not entered by professional athletes in a competitive capacity, timed runs on foot are covered within all of World2Cover’s policies, and are available to Australian travellers to deliver choice and peace of mind for various types of getaways. Products include:
- Basics Cover* – includes full medical and hospital cover plus other basics, and is designed for cost-conscious travellers including under 30s, backpackers and budget holiday makers.
- Essentials Cover* – delivers cover for rental car excess, full medical and hospital cover along with all the essentials. There are also ski and zero excess options.
- Top Cover* – provides unlimited overseas medical and hospital cover plus market leading levelsof cover for children and grandchildren under 25 when they are travelling with a family member who is a policy holder.
- Domestic Cover* – includes full medical and hospital cover for travel within Australia.
All policies are underwritten by the Australian arm of global insurer, Tokyo Marine, one of the top ranking insurance companies worldwide.
*Limits,conditions and exclusions apply so for more information on the coverage options fromWorld2Cover, visit www.world2cover.com.au
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