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 disciplines, with half Ironman participation up 29%, aquathlon 25%, marathon and cross triathlon both 21%, and Ironman 19%.
Chris Trotman, Head of Underwriting and Sales at SportsCover Direct, said: “Our internal data reveals a clear shift in the type of trip people are booking, with more travellers building entire holidays around endurance sporting events, whether that’s a marathon, a triathlon or an ultra.
“It’s brilliant to see amateur athletes pushing themselves in this way, and it shows just how much endurance sport has moved from a niche pursuit to a mainstream travel motivation.”
Half-distance events grow in popularity
The figures also indicate that travellers are increasingly opting for more accessible endurance challenges.
Half-marathon travel grew faster than full marathons, at 34% compared with 21%, while half Ironman trips increased 29% against 19% for full Ironman events.
Ski racing was the second fastest-growing activity in the study, with events such as Sweden’s Vasaloppet attracting international competitors and helping extend the racecation trend into winter sports.
SportsCover Direct said wider indicators also point towards growing demand for active trips. Google searches for “ultra race” increased 234% year-on-year, while searches for “European marathons” rose 34%.
Strava has also reported a 9% increase in members completing marathons and ultramarathons, with 40% of users recording a run while travelling abroad.
Interest among younger runners is growing too. Entries from 18 to 29-year-olds for the 2026 TCS London Marathon ballot increased 105% year-on-year.
Autumn calendar fuels racecation travel
The research comes during a busy period for endurance sports tourism, with major running, triathlon and obstacle events taking place across Europe.
The Berlin Marathon took place on 27 September, while IRONMAN Barcelona-Calella and the Spartan Race European Championship in Estérel Saint-Raphaël follow in early October.
Marathons in Amsterdam on 18 October and Frankfurt on 25 October provide further opportunities for travelling runners, while Ultra X Madeira, held from 31 October to 1 November, offers a multi-stage ultramarathon for athletes looking for an even bigger challenge.
With participation growing across running, triathlon, swimming and winter sports, the data suggests sporting events are increasingly becoming the reason for the trip rather than simply an activity added to a traditional holiday.
Activities and year-on-year growth
- 1 Ultramarathon +77%
- 2 Ski racing +44%
- 3 Duathlon +34%
- 4 Half marathon +34%
- 5 Obstacle race training +33%
- 6 Half ironman +29%
- 7 Aquathlon +25%
- 8 Marathon +21%
- 9 Cross triathlon +21%
- 10 Ironman +19%
Image: Alessio Soggetti/Unsplash