Wednesday, November 4Sports. Travel. Events. Play.

Running & Athletics

World Athletics launches new department to grow global running and mass participation
31Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Running & Athletics, Sports Business

World Athletics launches new department to grow global running and mass participation

World Athletics has launched a new Running & Mass Participation department as it looks to strengthen its role in the global running industry and support the continued growth of mass participation events. The international governing body for athletics says the standalone department will bring greater focus to its work across the running ecosystem, including road races, marathons, cross country, mountain and trail running. The department will be led by Jakob Larsen, who has 25 years of experience in international sports administration and event development. His previous work includes the World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen in 2014, the World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus in 2019 and the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest in September 202...
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Why the Cardiff Half Marathon is the perfect excuse for a Welsh weekend away
4Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Bucket List, Europe, Running & Athletics

Why the Cardiff Half Marathon is the perfect excuse for a Welsh weekend away

With a route through the Welsh capital, more than 29,000 runners and a place on the prestigious SuperHalfs circuit, the Cardiff Half Marathon is becoming a major draw for travelling runners. And from 2027, it should become easier for participants to turn the race into a full sporting city break after Marathon Tours & Travel was announced as the event’s new Official Travel Partner. The event in 2027 will be held on Sunday 3 October. The partnership will provide dedicated accommodation and travel options for runners heading to Cardiff, including packages offering race entries for those unable to secure a place through the standard entry process. It provides another reason for runners to put Cardiff on their sports travel bucket list and combine one of the UK’s biggest road races...
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Why more runners are turning ultramarathons into holidays as travel surges 77%
27Sep By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Outdoor & Adventure, Running & Athletics, Trends, Wellness & Fitness

Why more runners are turning ultramarathons into holidays as travel surges 77%

Travelling overseas to take part in endurance sports is booming, with new data revealing a 77% year-on-year increase in travellers taking out specialist cover for ultramarathons abroad. The figures from sports travel insurance provider SportsCover Direct highlight the continued growth of the “racecation” – a trip combining a holiday with participation in a sporting event or physical challenge. According to the company’s policy data, travellers taking out specialist cover for endurance and challenge-based sporting events increased by 55% year-on-year. Ultramarathons recorded the biggest increase at 77%, followed by ski racing at 44%. Duathlon and half-marathon travel both rose by 34%, while obstacle race training increased by 33%. The trend extends across a range of endurance di...
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2026 Kangaroo Island Run Festival attracts hundreds of international visitors 
6Sep By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Asia & Oceania, Running & Athletics, Sports Business

2026 Kangaroo Island Run Festival attracts hundreds of international visitors 

Held on Sunday 23 August, the 2026 Kangaroo Island Marathon, Half Marathon and Sealink 10K attracted runners from around the world to Flinders Chase National Park for one of Australia’s most remote and unique marathon events. A total of 279 runners took part in the Kangaroo Island Run Festival, out of 299 registered, and together they brought more than 500 additional guests to the island – more than 800 visitors in all, a strong boost for the local economy. Runners represented 20 different nationalities, reflecting the event's growing international appeal, up significantly from 221 registered runners and 187 participants in 2025.  Alongside a strong Australian contingent, the USA (39), Great Britain (11) and Canada (five) made up some of the largest overseas cohorts, with run...
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Inaugural Greek Odyssey Running Festival to be held in Costa Navarino
20Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Editor's Pick, Europe, Running & Athletics, Trends

Inaugural Greek Odyssey Running Festival to be held in Costa Navarino

Marathon Tours & Travel has announced the launch of a brand-new event, the Greek Odyssey Running Festival, taking place in Costa Navarino, Greece on Saturday 14 November 2026, which includes a half-marathon and 10K distance. Hosted the weekend after the Athens Marathon, the Greek Odyssey offers runners the chance to extend their time in Greece, combining two race distances with the country's rich mythology, dramatic coastline and warm late-autumn climate. Costa Navarino, on the south-west coast of the Peloponnese, sits amid landscapes steeped in ancient legend – the same rugged coastline and storied ruins, including nearby Methoni Castle and Voidokilia Beach, that have captured global imaginations again this year following the release of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, filmed ex...
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Sports travel bucket list: ‘Run for the Rainforest’ 2026 Odzala Marathon
19Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Africa, Bucket List, Editor's Pick, Events, Running & Athletics

Sports travel bucket list: ‘Run for the Rainforest’ 2026 Odzala Marathon

On 3 October 2026, Kamba Africa will offer a bucket list challenge for endurance runners and adventure seekers: the annual “Run for the Rainforest”.  Situated in the Republic of the Congo (ROC), the Run for the Rainforest event raises vital funds for African Parks to continue their protection of the world’s second largest rainforest, by allowing participants to fundraise among their network, while experiencing one of the planet’s most pristine ecosystems in Odzala-Kokoua National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kamba Africa is the only private operator granted concessions in the ROC's Odzala-Kokoua National Park, offering guests intimate luxury lodges and adventurous rainforest expeditions.  The races and packages The day features three distinct race categories to...
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Cape Town Marathon to become Africa’s first Abbott World Marathon Major in 2027
12Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Africa, Events, Running & Athletics, Sports Business

Cape Town Marathon to become Africa’s first Abbott World Marathon Major in 2027

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has officially been confirmed as the eighth member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) from 2027. The announcement marks a landmark moment not only for the race itself but for African sport and tourism, with Cape Town becoming the first city on the continent to host an Abbott World Marathon Major. The 2027 edition, scheduled for 23 May, will join an elite calendar that includes the Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, TCS London Marathon, TCS Sydney Marathon, BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, Bank of America Chicago Marathon and TCS New York City Marathon. The decision follows Cape Town’s successful completion of the AbbottWMM candidacy process, including a second evaluation at the 2026 race. The assessment examined every aspect of the event, from athlete ...
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Tywi Valley Path: new hiking and biking pathway opens in west Wales
9Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Cycling & Biking, Europe, Outdoor & Adventure, Running & Athletics, Trends

Tywi Valley Path: new hiking and biking pathway opens in west Wales

The county of Carmarthenshire in south-west Wales has a new accessible and scenic trail for cyclists, walkers and families – the 13-mile Tywi Valley Path. The fully tarmacked pathway is designed for relaxed explorations and provides a traffic-free route for both the community and visitors alike through a swathe of Carmarthenshire's spectacular scenery. Expect panoramic views across the Tywi Valley peppered with historic buildings such as Paxton's Tower and Dinefwr Castle, each set within the dramatic West Wales countryside.  The path's opening will be marked by a series of guided and themed Sunday Strolls from 17 May running for four weeks. Tipped as West Wales's answer to the Camel Trail in Cornwall and following the river and the former railway line which closed in the 1...
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Sports travel bucket list: running the inaugural Amazon Marathon
28Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Bucket List, Events, Running & Athletics, The Americas

Sports travel bucket list: running the inaugural Amazon Marathon

Marathon Tours & Travel has announced the launch of the inaugural Amazon Marathon, a new endurance event taking runners deep into the heart of the Peruvian Amazon in September 2026. Taking place on Wednesday 9 September, in Puerto Maldonado on the edge of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest, the Amazon Marathon offers runners a rare opportunity to race in one of the most biodiverse and remarkable regions in the world. The event blends trail running with cultural immersion and adventure, providing access to a part of the world that few people would ever be fortunate enough to experience in their lifetime. There will be distances to suit all runners; with marathon, half marathon, and 10.5km, all taking place on a looped jungle trail course. With race capacity intentionally limited, esti...
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Marathon Tours & Travel unveils Shanghai Marathon partnership and packages
26Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Running & Athletics, Sports Business, Trips & Experiences

Marathon Tours & Travel unveils Shanghai Marathon partnership and packages

Marathon Tours & Travel has been confirmed as the official international tour operator for the 2025 Shanghai Marathon, taking place on Sunday 30 November 2025. The partnership will see Marathon Tours & Travel work in tandem with international travel companies to offer a range of travel options for international runners who have already secured their entry in this year’s Shanghai Marathon.  The partnership comes as the Shanghai Marathon embarks on its debut year as an Abbott World Marathon Major candidacy race. Marathon Tours & Travel will market travel packages directly to participants as well as help them, along with their friends, family and supporters, source seamless travel options to Shanghai from around the world ahead of marathon day, along with accommodation opt...
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