Could’ve, Should’ve, Would’ve

I’m currently in Mexico enjoying the last few days of a wonderful trip with my fiancée.  We started our adventure by spending some time with good friends in Cuernavaca – a picturesque city known for the filming of many Latin-American soap operas – and then Mexico City before heading down to the beautiful coast of the Mayan Riviera. 

After checking into our resort, ditching our bags and swapping out shorts and shoes for bathing suits and flip-flops, we headed down to the pool to soak up the balance of that days’ sunshine. We hadn't been in the pool more than 5 minutes when we met some nice people from Michigan that asked how long we were there for.  It was to be the start of standard resort chit chat that was about to quickly remind me that not everyone thinks the same way.

I explained that we were staying at that particular resort of 8 nights, however, we were in Mexico for a total of 3 weeks.

“Three weeks!”  They exclaimed!  “Must be nice!  You guys are so lucky!”  I didn't dare tell them that we've been basically travelling non-stop for the past 3 years.

“I wouldn't call it luck.” I said.  “I work every day of the year regardless of where I am.  I simply choose to work while traveling rather than in a static location.”

That opened up the usual barrage of questions like, ‘what do you do for a living?’, ‘how did you get into that business?’, and the ever-so-popular, ‘where all have you traveled?’  Then, after a few more feeling around questions, the really weighted question: ‘how do you afford so much travel?’

I can’t tell you how many times I've had that exact conversation over the past 5 years.  I probably had that conversation, or some variation of it, at least a dozen times just in that pool alone over those 8 days.  People love to chat while on holidays and especially when they think someone has a magic key to traveling more or breaking free from the typical confines of work.

And, every single time I answer their questions and give them a glimpse at my view of that magic key, explaining that a life like ours isn't that difficult to achieve nor is it expensive and especially compared to “the typical North American lifestyle”, I see their eyes start to drift and then they eventually go back to telling me that I’m lucky.

Even those that dare to tell me that one day they would like to work for themselves, or retire early to travel, or, buy that boat they've been talking about for two decades to sail the world, it always comes back to the same:  One day…

I’m here to tell you that I don’t buy into this business of ‘One day’.  I never have and I assure you that it will never come for the over-whelming majority of people.   And if they aren't telling me about their One Day plans, then they are telling me about the opportunities that past them by.  Stories like, “I remember when I was younger and had an opportunity to go work overseas, but…” Or, “My husband and I had a chance to buy a foreign piece of land for dirt cheap, but…”  Or, “I was going to start my own business, but…”

I've heard those stories my entire life and well before I started traveling and living the way I am.  Those stories always come with a long, deep sigh and are usually laced with regret.   That said, I understand that this lifestyle is not for everyone.  I get that people have mortgages, families, careers, I really do.  However, there are always ways to achieve what is most important to you.  When I have the opportunity to share a handful of easy suggestions on how one can do what we do without giving up their lives and with taking little to no risk, I really seem to capture their attention.  But after a few more minutes of talking, negative thoughts start to invade them, their shoulders slump once more and they then tell me that ‘it’s just not that easy’.  Well, it can be that easy, however, fear is a common out.

I’m not just referring to how one can break free of the cubicle and travel the globe, I’m talking about dreams in general.  How many people truly set important personal dream goals and then follow through?  We set serious goals at work and in other areas of our lives, but for ourselves?

Words like ‘should’ve’, ‘could’ve’ or ‘would’ve’ are all words that indicate one has let something important pass them by, however, it’s never too late to start living exactly how you've always wanted!  Don’t get caught up in the “how”.  Instead, think of your dreams, seriously consider what life would be like to live out those dreams and then start working on the how.  Instead of saying “I can’t” ask yourself, “What if I could.”  Think outside of the box, ask around; find someone who’s already achieving what it is that you want and approach them. Ask them how easy it was once they truly decided to take that first step, you might be surprised!    

So, my friend, it's time to take that first step!

GETTING BACK IN THE GROOVE

For some runners, January can be a bit of a struggle to get back into our running routine.

Colder weather, icy roads, fewer hours of sunlight, a few extra pounds from the holiday season and of course, re-runs of our favorite 80’s television programs all make it difficult to return to the glory days of running the previous fall.  And I’m not pointing fingers here…I’m actually looking in the mirror.  And while I’m here, what’s that soft lump covering my belt?

Yes, we can all find a reason to stay in bed that extra thirty minutes, or, hit the sofa immediately after getting home from work.  Just thinking about going for a 5K or 6 mile run makes us shudder!  How did we ever run that Half or Full Marathon last fall?  I think the Friendship Run would do me in right now!

One of the greatest hurdles that we face when returning to running or exercise in general is that we expect to be able to jump back in where we left off, regardless of how many months (or years) ago that was.  And if we can’t then we guilt ourselves.

That’s an unfair expectation of anyone, so, why do we challenge ourselves with it?

Getting back into the groove can be a very easy and rewarding experience if we tackle it from a slightly different angle.  Rather than guilting yourself into running 10K as punishment for all the eggnog you consumed at the in-laws place, lace up and head out for an easy 3K jog.  Yes, just 3K, like when you first started running.  Baby steps first, then build on that.  And when’s the best time to do that 3K jog?  Within the next 24 hours!  Putting it off any more means creating a larger mental obstacle to climb later.

The only way to re-create a positive habit is by getting out there and as soon as possible.

“We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”  Aristotle may or may not have been a runner, however, he brings up a fantastic point!  And how long does it take to create habit?  Well, that’s pretty individual to be honest, but for the vast majority, two weeks or less.  That’s it!   Just think, you start running again today and by the end of the first week of February you will already be racking up the mileage and wondering what took you so long to re lace up those shoes!

For those that need a firmer push out the door, register for a race that excites you and is outside of your comfort zone that’s scheduled in the next 4 to 6 months.  Knowing that you are committed to a race (and that you put your money on the line) is a great motivator to get out the door rather than waiting for re-runs of Alf to end.

A Special Kind of Victory

They say that everything can change in a moment: your plans, your priorities or your luck.   Normally it’s when you least expect it and therefore, for most, it’s unwanted change.  However, when we accept what is and go with the flow, sometimes that change brings us new opportunities.

In my last blog I mentioned a current health struggle.  I just spent this past July and August in Edmonton undergoing some tests and procedures to deal with a tumor.  And, this tumor is what led to a fast decline in my energy levels over the past months and hence inability to continue running.  If nothing else I now know why I felt the way I did, and, I can now properly adjust my future plans.

Part of those plans, I had thought, would be watching this year’s New York City Marathon from the sidelines rather than completing it myself.  However, following scopes, scalpels and um, diapers, I’m pleased to announce that the mass was successfully removed and all follow up tests thus far indicate that I am well on my way to a full recovery!  The NYC Marathon is back on!  It’ll just look a little different than the original plan, and that’s OK!

I've made the temporary move back to Barcelona, Spain, and training like I have never trained before:  by walking.

Today marks my second 22K walk around this beautiful city in less than a week.  Being a runner and an avid traveler I typically enjoy exploring foreign destinations by running them, not walking.  However, I’m going with the flow and so far loving it!  Besides, I find that walking takes way less out of a person than running which leaves energy enough to head over to La Rambla afterwards to sit on a patio, sip a sangria and watch the tourists saunter by!

So running is out for a while and walking is in.  It’ll be the same course, the same distance and the same medal at the end; it’ll just take me a few hours longer than the previous 7 times I completed it.  However, crossing that finish line will mark a new sort of victory for me and it will really have very little to do with the marathon at all.

Facing Fears

I've been told I need to blog more, and, it wasn't the first time.  The truth is, my running in the past year has been more of an embarrassment than anything else.  Why would I want to talk about that, and, how can I get motivated to reach out to others looking for their own motivation when I can’t seem to run more than 5K these days?

Well, I guess I could start by being honest with myself.

I quit playing squash not long after I fell in love with the sport.  That was a long time ago…back in the days when I still needed a comb!  I had quit because running was so important to me that I feared not being able to run.  I feared an injury that I didn't even have based on others falling victim to mixing the wrong sports together.  I felt that squash and running didn't mix so I dropped it and shortly thereafter my fear of not being able to run solidified further.

The fear became almost an obsession.  Go mountain biking for the weekend in the mountains?  No way, what if I hurt myself and can’t run my upcoming marathon?  Swimming? Are you kidding? I could pull something!  I had put all my eggs in the same basket as if I was some sort of front runner or future Olympian.  (I was not nor will be).

So I ran and I ran and I had this love hate relationship that I believe most long-distance runners have.  I completed many marathons and shorter races, some fast, most not.  As I crossed each finish line I swore that would be the last marathon and then I’d be signed up for another within a week or so, hating myself as if I just indulged in a fast food meal.  I had running issues, what can I say.

When I moved to Costa Rica for health and financial reasons my running changed drastically.  I was no longer teaching in-store clinics which meant I didn't ‘have to’ show up for a run that day.  So the frequency that I ran changed considerably as did my distances.  

Living on the beach in Central America, although fantastic in many ways, meant having to get up at 4:30AM to run if I didn't want to experience the ugly side of sunstroke trying to accomplish 5K.  Running more than 5K meant having to do so along the side of the highway where the concept of shoulders hadn't be considered and the width of a vehicle was typically wider than that of the lane.  My running ability and consistency changed drastically. 

Eventually, when I was ready to get serious again, I moved to San Jose – the capital of Costa Rica - to train in a park where running 20+ KM was possible and at a more comfortable +22 each evening as the sun went down.  Flat, cooler and safe. Perfect!

Training went well and then I took off to Ireland to tackle my demons with a ridiculous personal challenge.  Well, you know what they say, better to try and fail then not try at all…

Post Ireland my life has been about floating from one country to the next.  Seeing and running the world without the typical limitations of lack of time or punching a clock.  Although I was no longer training for some big event or pumping out ridiculous mileage, I was literally running all over the world.  Life was fantastic!

There’s a saying that goes something like all great things must come to an end.  I don’t buy that, necessarily. I believe that all things need to reset themselves.  People as well.  And, I was about to have my reset.

I noticed that my running was becoming more and more difficult.  We had been on the go for some time, covering a large chunk of South East Asia and I figured it was taking its toll.  Eventually I told myself to focus on just 4 to 5K a day and that the heat of Asia was the problem.  I kept my grand plans to train for another ultra with a few marathons for “fun” in between, but some deep, dark doubt inside me was slowly taking over.  Had I let my training slide that much?  Just 9 short months ago I was scheduled to run 33K a day for a month across Ireland.  What happened? 

As it would turn out, the deep, dark doubt wasn't the only thing growing inside of me.

One early morning in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand I returned from a short, labored run bleeding from a place no one should ever bleed from.  That said and as a runner, I've bled from a few of those places before, but not like this.  Not after only 5K.  Something was definitely wrong.

I kept it from my girlfriend for a few weeks but as I bled more and more doing less and less, I knew it something I needed to get checked out.  Luckily, I was scheduled to return to Canada for a month in the upcoming weeks.  As my girlfriend wasn't able to obtain a Canadian Visa, I would have to make this journey on my own.

I continued to keep it from my girlfriend even after it was diagnosed as a ‘highly suspicious colon tumor’ that needed immediate attention.  What was I supposed to do?  Call her 10,000KM away and tell her I may have the dreaded C word?  Not likely.  Besides, maybe it wasn't and why scare her?  More importantly, I had finally come to my senses and had purchased an engagement ring for her just prior to finding out my diagnosis and had plans to meet her in Barcelona to propose.

I convinced my doctor to let me go to Barcelona for a month, propose, spend the time with her, ease her into what happened and then come back to whatever had to be done.  He agreed and off I went, staying positive and looking forward to the proposal and hopefully getting some shorter runs in Barcelona.  Hey, my doctor never said I couldn't keep running so really, whose to blame here?!

A few days later I proposed to Vanessa in a small park adjacent to la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.  She accepted.

We had rented a flat nicely centered between La Rambla and the cruise port which offered a wonderful place to run high above the coast as long as you didn't mind 302 steps to start and finish your journey.  I managed to get a few morning runs in before I shared the news with Vanessa.  She took it well, all things considered, and we then took off to Paris to apply for an emergency Canadian Visa. 

She was granted the Visa two days later and the following day I was admitted for emergency surgery while still in Paris.  My body was fighting me again, or perhaps, I was fighting it.

A few short weeks after engagement and already Vanessa is having to care for me in ways that would embarrass anyone.  The only times she steps out of our hotel in Paris is to bring back food, medicine or supplies for me.  There will be no Eiffel Tower pictures or shopping on Champs-Élysées, not this time.  She is an amazing woman and I am amazingly fortunate.

In less than two days she will be traveling with me to Canada for the first time; two and a half years after first meeting her.  She will be by my side during my amazingly fast come back that I have planned!  I couldn't be happier!

I find that my running and health has been like taking on a marathon.  It started out strong and probably a bit too quick, then I calmed and found my rhythm for a while.  There were some long, lonely stretches that seemed to go on forever and some nice downhill’s where it all seemed just a little too easy.  These particular days may be like hitting the Wall, but like every marathon I have ever run, I will find my way past this obstacle and sprint to the finish strong, arms raised and already thinking about taking on the next challenge!

Running Away

As a running instructor I've read many emails telling me how it is extremely difficult to get training runs in while on the road for work or for pleasure.  And even though I have been instructing for more than 8 years, I have yet to read one that asked me how to get runs in while traveling. 

Before starting Dream Travel back in 2004 I felt that I was spending large portions of the year on the road.  As a regional manager I slept in my own bed between 0 and 2 nights a week for the majority of my final year with the company.   At the time I was training for marathons and like some of my clinic members, I felt it extremely difficult to get in the necessary runs.

Now, however, I don’t even own a bed.  I live on the road, never in one location for more than a month or two at most, and yet, I train considerably more now than before.  If I have a marathon or an ultra coming up, I find that I really have all the time I need to properly train, and, always have.  The only thing that changed was how I approached the situation.

The Away Game

If you are a dedicated runner who routinely gets in a minimum of 90% of your training runs, and, you are off to the tropics for a week or two, I say leave the shoes at home.  Giving your body a much needed rest is never a bad thing.  Have you ever noticed how you seem stronger and faster after recovering from an injury that forced you to take a week or so off?  This is because as runners, we rarely take breaks.


So, leave the gear at home, enjoy the sunshine and piña coladas, give the legs a vacation as well and when you come back, dust off the shoes and get back at it!

If, however, you are fortunate enough to have a job that routinely gets you out of town, you need to find a way to incorporate your training.  Proper training, that is.

There is nothing better than going for a run after sitting in a car or airplane for an extended period of time.  You may be jet-lagged or beat up from sitting so long at the wheel, but a 30 minute run will cure that faster than a nap or digging through brain-numbing spreadsheets.  You’ll return to work energized and refreshed and hence be more productive.

Don’t feel like hauling the “extra gear” to go for just one or two runs?  Does the water bottle and gel holder, powered drink, watch and charger, headlamp, anti-chaffing cream, etc take up too much suitcase room?  Leave it all at home and bring what you really need:  Shoes, socks, shorts, shirt.  Done.  I assure you that you have space to bring these items.  Everything I own fits in my two carry-on bags, and no, I’m not a hippy living on the beach.  I don’t have the hair to be a hippy…otherwise, maybe I would be.

Are you stuck in your cubicle Monday to Friday?  Go for a lunch time workout!  Ask the boss.  Better yet, show him a study that shows that active employees take less sick days, are less stressed, are happier and live longer…that sounds like an All Star employee to me! 

No place to shower afterwards?  Talk to a nearby gym about paying to use just the shower facilities.  Take some nice chocolates when you go and ask!

So, what was the difference for me between the old days of haphazard training and now?  Simply put: my attitude.  Before I felt that I couldn't fit my running necessities into my already over-stuffed luggage, felt concerned about getting lost running in a new place and told myself I was too tired to run after a hard day of work.  I had more excuses than I can remember. 

Now, I bring only what I truly need, I look forward to running in new cities and countries and know that I will feel fantastic afterwards.  And really, when was the last time you ran and wished you hadn't?

For me, I now fit my runs in regardless.  Just like brushing my teeth or putting on fresh undies each day.  No matter how busy or stressful your day is, you always do those two things, right?  No excuses!

***************

2013 BMO Vancouver Marathon Weekend
We were very excited to be part of the BMO Vancouver Marathon this year!  Did you see our new flyers in your race packages! 

We want to extend congratulations to all of the runners at this wonderful event, and, thank the hard working organizers and the Running Room for putting on such a great yearly event!

This year the Vancouver marathon put on four separate runs (Marathon, Half Marathon, 8K and a 1 mile kids run) as well as the Healthy Life Style Expo.  All of the races ran very smoothly and experienced very beautiful and sunny weather!

John Stanton was at the start line again kicking off the Race with Bro Jake from the local rock radio station! And, there were a ton of elite athletes signing autographs for people at the expos and 1 Mile event on Saturday.

The Vancouver marathon was named top 10 destination marathons and incredibly almost 50% of the 17000 people running were from out of town!  

Dream Travel loves to take you to Vancouver and other amazing places to run!  We have groups to run the Great Wall of China marathon in May which is another one of Forbes' top 10 marathons as well as Istanbul, the ING New York City Marathon in November and many more!

Come join us!  www.dreamtravelcanada.com

Holiday Running

It’s hard to believe but it is already December again!  You know what that means don’t you?  Well, yes, if you believe in it, that means Christmas, of course, but it also means flu season.  And regardless of whether or not you believe in the flu, or the flu shot, I assure you that they do exist!

 

Starting around the time of Thanksgiving and lasting until around the middle of January we have a handful of variables that throw our bodies out of alignment.  Then, we then spend a few days in bed (or wishing we were) and then moping around with a box of Kleenex, doped up and complaining to whoever will listen.  Sound familiar?  If so, I have great news!  We, as in you and I, are going to put an end to that.  No more holiday seasons spent coughing on your friends and relatives when you should be enjoying eggnog and cheer!

OK, so how do we prevent what everyone seems to get, right?  Easy:  First, by understanding that not everyone gets the flu and therefore that must mean that there is a way to prevent it…and not through prescriptions or your great grandmothers homemade, not-quite-drinkable, brew.

To prevent the flu you first need to understand why it strikes.  Yes, it is one of the coldest months of the year, but you can’t blame the weather.  Have you ever noticed how the flu season is based around the most stressful months in North America?  And for those of you who travel over the holidays, have you also noticed that it doesn’t exist in other parts of the world?  Strange, yes?

As North Americans we typically spend the holiday months working longer hours, sleeping fewer hours, eating poorly, drinking excessively, stressed out and gaining weight.  We also drop our exercise routine or minimize it to make time for all the things that contribute to becoming ill.  Then, January 1^st, we wake up from our sugar and alcohol-fueled  coma, create resolutions and decide to get back in line.  Then, twelve months later we do it all over again.

Other than the New Year’s Resolution, this sounds very much like a trip to an all-inclusive Caribbean resort, yes?  And what happens there?  We get ill and blame it on Montezuma’s Revenge.   

Well, it’s time to stop pointing the finger! We need to learn to slow down and focus on what’s most important:  sleep, diet and exercise, especially during these more stressful months of the year.  

Here are some ways you can fit in that extra workout or avoid the extra calories:

- Skip the slippery drive and congested traffic to work and run there.  Works too far away?  Find a parking lot that’s less expensive and part way and run from there.

- Kids glued to the video games? Gear them up and put them in a sled and see how far you can run while pulling them.  You’ll burn some fast calories while having a blast with the kids. 

 - Does your work spend the Twelve Days of Christmas by filling the office with every type of sweets imaginable?  Pack a lunch full of fruit and ask your co-workers to not parade all the sweets past your desk

- Need a gift at the mall and don’t want to spend $20 in gas looking for a parking space? Run there – you know it will be faster anyways!

- Can’t say no to the sweets?  Take a water bottle to work – staying hydrated will help prevent you from grazing on cookies! 

- Still can’t say no to the sweets? Every time someone offers you something, take just one and then hit your office for 10 pushups.  When you can no longer do pushups you have to say no to the sweets!

- Before hitting the candy buffet at the office, drink a bottle of water and then eat an apple.  That will drastically reduce your desire to over-consume the sweets.

- Avoid excess drinking at the office party by sitting at your boss’s table.  Enough said!

What’s your favorite way to keep fit and healthy during the holidays?  Let me know!

A Foreign Affair

I’ve always enjoyed running races close to home; the ease of registration, race day logistics and thank goodness, no reaction from the water.  If I’m lost finding my way to the Start Line, I simply need to ask directions.  If I need to know where the closest port-o-potty is, I can get my point across easily.  And when the eight year old kid mocks me while passing me on course, unfortunately, I understand him as well. To sum it all up, it’s all very easy. 

Maybe too easy.

I’m currently riding on a Trenitalia regional train between La Spezia and Milan, ocean on one side and mountains on the other, enjoying this stunning scenery. This isn’t close to home, and this isn’t necessarily easy.  And although I’m proud to have picked up a second language, it wasn’t Italian.  This means that getting around and registering for a simple foot race now takes on a whole new and somewhat complicated life of its own.  Trying to read a race website that doesn’t offer English adds a complexity that previously wasn’t a concern.  Dealing with forms that require acknowledgement and signature that I can not read becomes frustrating.  And then when I’m questioned why I signed under the spot for a Child’s Entry, fortunately, I don’t understand the mocking.

No, this isn’t easy, but you know what?  I’m in Italy, and somehow that makes everything OK.  And besides, ultimately, come Race Day, everything is basically the same:  I arrive late, I question my training, I realize that I’ve forgotten to go the washroom, I discover that I’m standing in the Elite Men’s corral and now need to suck in my stomach.  

And then, something magical happens: the horn blares and everything falls neatly into place.  I remember why I put myself through a little extra grief, struggled with the language and getting to my destination.  I remembered why I registered to run in a foreign country and I look around as I start off on another race.  Everyone is here to do the same thing.  Everyone here has the same passion and we can express that passion with a simple nod of the head, a smile, or a grunt as we pass the 35KM marker.  Just like home!

I’ll always enjoy running races close to home, but once we get past the initial concerns and hurdles of a registering for a foreign race, there truly is an unparalleled magic that starts to unfold.  And no matter what country you choose, there is always that runner’s camaraderie that can be shared regardless of language or destination!

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