Happy 2020!

Happy 2020 from Runcation Travel! We rang in the New Year on our Patagonia Runcation where we enjoyed summer in the Southern Hemisphere, ran some of Argentinian Patagonia's most spectacular trails, drank a Malbec or two, and even spent a few nights off-the-grid at a remote refugio at the foot of a glacier (pictured above).

Our newsletter is back from a holiday break with more run, travel, and adventure tips and opportunities for 2020. To say thanks for being a subscriber, we're offering $100 off any of our 2020 Runcations now through March 1st. Email RuncationTravel@gmail.com and mention our newsletter to receive your discount code. 

2020 Runcations

Running 110 miles in the Alps, Minimalism, and Paying Attention in 2020

How many times in life have you thought to yourself, 'There's nowhere else I'd rather be right now'? When I first ran the Tour du Mont Blanc with some friends a few summers ago, it's something that ran through my mind each day on the trail. 

Running 110 miles with almost 33,000 feet of combined elevation gain and loss, the legendary Tour du Mont Blanc route wraps around the famous Mont Blanc massif crossing through France, Italy, and Switzerland. Along with featuring some of the best trail running in the Alps, Instagram-worthy views every mile, superb food and wine, and French, Swiss, and Italian culture throughout the trip, it also provides an opportunity to really experience your surroundings. 
 
I read an opinion piece in the New York Times last week about what we get wrong about minimalism (covering its origins from Wollheim to The Tale of Genji--highly recommended!), and the following quote spoke to my Tour du Mont Blanc experience: "Minimalism, to me, is more about attention than anything else. It advocates seeing the world not as a series of products to consume, but sensory experiences to have on your own terms."

Minimalism seems to be less about what we own and how we organize and present what we own, and more about how we pay attention to and experience the world around us. Often easier said than done, but I do think that stripping away some of the comforts we're used to, as well as the series of tasks and obligations that make up our day-to-day lives, makes it easier to pay attention to the present moment. On the Tour du Mont Blanc, the daily routine went something like this: wake up, eat a prepared breakfast, pack your small hydration pack, go run/hike in beautiful places until you reach your next home for the evening, repeat.  It was a pretty simple itinerary, and for me, the result was a daily feeling of satisfaction. I've thought about that trip and that feeling a lot, and it's something I'm seeking and hope to continue to create in 2020. 

-Liz

Run the Tour du Mont Blanc

The Runner's Rec: Columbus, Ohio

Q: Name/social media handle:
Aaron, @aaronrowe2924, Powell, Ohio

Q: Where's your favorite local running spot?
High Banks Metro Park. Amidst the suburban sprawl of one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, High Banks has two features that make it a unique place to run. First, it sits in a valley and therefore offers some great hill running that is otherwise hard to find in the greater Columbus area. It also offers 1,200 acres of parkland with grass and dirt trails, a rare commodity, as asphalt is the predominant surface everywhere. I really enjoy running the Dripping Rock Trail (2.5 miles) to the Overlook Trail (2.3 miles). The route offers a significant climb (for Central Ohio) and a bit of history, as the run is in the vicinity of an Adena burial mound and a 200-year-old settler grave yard. The overlook point offers a great view of the Olentangy River valley and the occasional sighting of an Eagle. Fall and summer are the best times of the year to run in this park. 

Q: Favorite nearby post-run snack/beverage
Cocktails or Dinner: Whitney House
Beer: Nocterra or Ill Mannered Brewing Companies 
Coffee: Expresso 22
 

Thank you Aaron for sharing! The photo below is of Aaron cruising the trails of Patagonia Argentina on our recent New Year's Runcation.

Have a recommended hometown run and a favorite spot to grab a coffee or beer? We want to hear from you! Send us an email at RuncationTravel@gmail.com, or message us on social. 

Run Patagonia!