A run-cation is simple: pick a race, then build a trip around it. The race is your reason to go, and the city, the food, and the rest days are your reward. Runners are clearly on board. The 2027 London Marathon ballot drew a world-record 1,338,544 applications, and Agoda reports that accommodation searches around marathon weekends are climbing across Asia this year. Here are the races worth planning a trip around right now.

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Your Next Run-cation Race

This countdown updates itself and always shows the next big race on my list, so check back anytime.

The Top Run-cations Right Now

Start with the World Marathon Majors. Sydney joined the series in 2025, and Cape Town becomes the eighth Major with its 2027 race.

Race	Next date	Why runners travel for it
New York City	Nov 1, 2026	The 50th edition, from a Staten Island start to a Central Park finish through all five boroughs
Tokyo	Mar 7, 2027	Flat and fast, and the only Major in Asia
Boston	Apr 19, 2027	One of the world’s oldest marathons, with qualifying-time entry
London	Apr 24 to 25, 2027	Cutty Sark to Buckingham Palace, as a one-off two-day double edition
Cape Town	May 23, 2027	The first Major in Africa
Sydney	Aug 29, 2027	Over the Harbour Bridge to an Opera House finish
Berlin	Sep 26, 2027	Famously flat and fast
Chicago	Oct 10, 2027	Starts and finishes in Grant Park

Bucket-List Scenery

If the view matters more than the finish time, look beyond the Majors. The Jungfrau Marathon in the Swiss Alps is a dream for mountain runners, and the Great Wall Marathon near Beijing is held every May. Mount Fuji’s race circles two lakes with sweeping views of the mountain on December 12 to 13. For something truly remote, St. Helena in the South Atlantic is billed as the world’s most remote marathon, with its next race on February 28, 2027.

The Welcoming One: Honolulu

Honolulu on December 13 is one of the friendliest ways to try a run-cation. The race brings together more than 35,000 runners, has no time limit, and starts at 5 a.m. on Ala Moana Boulevard, so plan an early night. I have covered where to stay in Marathon Weekend Stays: Where to Sleep for Chicago and Honolulu and The Best Places to Stay in Hawaii for a Marathon Run-Cation.

What Is Trending in Asia

Agoda looked at accommodation searches from Thai travelers for three Asian race weekends and found jumps of 73% for the JTBC Seoul Marathon (November 1), 41% for the Mt. Fuji International Marathon (December 12 to 13), and 19% for the Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok (November 28 to 29), compared with last year. For a growing group of travelers, a race bib is now as strong a reason to go as a beach.

How I’d Pick Yours

• Sort out entry first. Many big races use ballots, lotteries, or qualifying times, and some offer charity or official travel-package routes. Check the race’s own website before you book anything else.
• Match the season to you. A March race in Tokyo and a December race in Honolulu feel very different.
• Sleep close to the start, or on an easy transit line, and ask about late check-out for the day after.
• Arrive early. At least two days ahead gives you time to settle in and rest.
• Plan the non-running days. Food, sights, and recovery are half the fun, and travel companions who are not running need a plan too.
• Book flexibly. Choose flexible cancellation where you can, in case plans change.

Want Someone to Plan It?

If you would rather skip the hours of research, that is what I am here for. Once you have your bib, I can plan the hotel, flights, and activities around race weekend so you can focus on training. Curious how it works? Read What a Travel Advisor Actually Does.

Prefer to browse on your own? Check Honolulu hotel rates on Booking.com.