ING New York City Marathon - A Runner Watching Runners Running

I had the incredible opportunity to return to the ING New York City Marathon for the 8th year this past Sunday.  The only problem was, I participating from the sidelines.

Any distance runner knows of this fantastic marathon, and those that have had the great fortune to run it will tell you that there are 5 boroughs to run through, 42.195KM between the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and the finish line in Central Park, 48,000+ runners standing shoulder to shoulder with you at the Start Area (and growing yearly), 100,000 rejection slips to those who entered the lottery, an estimated 2,500,000 live fans lining the streets and more than 300,000,000 international viewers enjoying from the comfort of a chair.  That's quite the event!

I should say that I have run this marathon 6 times, so to watch it a few times and support friends and clients is actually quite incredible in itself.  Plus, it is a little easier on the feet.  Not much, but a little, because to sit during such an event, especially for an avid marathoner, is quite difficult.

The sheer energy at the finish line, compounded by the determination as the runners pound their way through the final 400 meters while the huge crowd cheers them on, is in a word, exhilarating!  To be so close as to feel the heat coming off of the runners, to sense their grit and determination as they surge towards their victory, is a very special gift indeed!

The runners come from around the world representing more than 100 countries. They are running to beat their devils, their addictions, their fears.  They are running to show not the world nor the doubters they can do it, they are running to prove to themselves that they can!  

They are running because they put in the months upon months upon months of the arduous labor involved in training for a marathon.  They sacrificed sleep, nights out, and sweets and instead opted for ice baths, physical therapy and blisters.  They were devoted not only to the sport, but the betterment of their bodies.

The marathon is not just a physical journey - it is also a psychological adventure that reaches far beyond anything we thought we may be capable of, and shows us exactly what we are capable of.

To the 130 runners that accompanied me to the 2011 ING New York City Marathon, and, beat that devil, congratulations!  To those thinking that one day you will want to take on the adventure - there is no time like the present - register today!

Return to Africa – A Journey to Mt Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti

One never forgets the first time they visit the great Serengeti on the African plains of Tanzania!  It truly takes your breath away and is far beyond words or the plethora of photo’s available to us online.  Only one thing can truly do it justice – being there!

I remember reading that National Geographic listed seeing the Great Zebra and Wildebeest Migration as one of the “must do’s” on this planet.  I’d have to agree.  I’ve had the good fortune of spending many years traveling the globe with Dream Travel and without a doubt, the Mt Kilimanjaro Hike, Safari and Race is my favorite trip, period.

Imagine standing on the seats of a roofless 4x4 on the vast plain of the Serengeti.  Binoculars and camera in hand, you take in the incredible and mind-boggling view.  As far as the eye can see in all directions, zebras and wildebeest working and eating together and on the ever-constant hunt for water.   A mere forty feet away, a pride of lions lurk in the tall grass, waiting.

Imagine walking up to the rim of the great Ngorongoro Crater, looking out over the 260 square KM’s of crater floor – the most animal-dense populated area in all of Africa and where every species of animal in Eastern Africa calls home. 

Imagine visiting an actual Masai Tribe and being allowed to enter their homes, play with their children and be a part of a traditional dance.

Imagine.

Then, from the lowest point in Africa to the highest:  Mt Kilimanjaro.  

Mt Kilimanjaro has always been the center of attention in Africa.  The largest mountain on the continent and the largest free-standing mountain on the planet, Mt Kilimanjaro stands 5895 meters over the vast plains below. 

Although one only needs to hike it – no technical gear is necessary – it is not without its challenges.  At almost 6 vertical KM’s, the thinness of the air on the last day makes mere walking a chore.  But any trip to Tanzania is not complete without this 6 day hike, where one ascends through five distinct climate zones:  Tropical lower slopes, Rain Forest, Mooreland, High Desert and Arctic Zone/Summit.

The final piece of this amazing trip: running with the world’s fastest runners…on their soil!  Some of us have witnessed the Kenyan’s and Tanzanian’s running a race.  Their grace and speed is mesmerizing – almost as if they were floating effortlessly along rather than huffing out 42.2 KM’s.  It’s an incredible sight, but in East Africa, you have the opportunity to run alongside them…well, at least in my case, for the first half kilometer!

After we watch the worlds’ greatest runners disappear in a cloud of dust, all you need to do to witness an ever greater magic is look to the sidelines and smile.   Here you will see the future of running: children as young as 5 years old, ready to run alongside you for as many KM’s as you wish.   Yes, they can run a half or a full marathon – in sandals or even barefoot!  And, without as much as a single complaint!

To say this is merely a trip of a lifetime would be a terrible understatement.  To travel to this enchanted land, to visit an actual Masai Tribe, to safari upon the great Serengeti, to run with the children of Moshi, to see the Snows of Mt Kilimanjaro – is well beyond such a simple statement!

Steve Price

Join Steve this coming Feb as he escorts another Running Room / Dream Travel group to Kenya and Tanzania!  Details released here August 8thRunning Room Tours

Welcome to Our New Site!

Hello and thanks for checking out our new site!

I am extremely proud to say that Dream Travel is soon to enter our seventh year.  From humble beginnings with just a handful of clients, Dream Travel has grown to thousands of clients from across Canada and the US.

To mark this moment we have launched our new website - I hope you like it!  And, to give back to those who have supported us over the years, we are giving away a ING New York City Marathon guaranteed entry package - check out our homepage for more info. www.dreamtravelcanada.com

We strive to bring you the popular events within North America as well as some exotic ones that are a little harder to get to.  All of which have a few things in common:  Great times, dynamic groups, fantastic sights, delectable food and of course a race!  Running beautiful Stanley Park at the BMO Vancouver Marathon to the shadow of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania East Africa; from racing atop the Great Wall of China to the cobble-stoned streets of Prague, Czech Republic, Dream Travel is thrilled to be your authority on travel packages!

If you have traveled with us before, please help us mark this moment and send us feedback to post on our site.  If you haven't, it's time to sign up for your Dream Travel!

Happy Running!
Steve