For the active tourist and those seeking an authentic travel experience while on foot

I would not call myself a “runner.” Until the age of 30 I had never run more than a mile without being completely winded. I am active and full of energy, mainly because I enjoy food so much. But more than anything I am an adventurer and an explorer who loves having authentic experiences when I travel. I am not your typical “tourist,” in that I very rarely visit the tourist spots when traveling. (Once in Pisa, Italy my friend and travel companion almost abandoned our friendship for good because I would not leave the trattoria, where I was heavily immersed in a lively conversation with a group of local Pisanos, to go with her to tour the tower.)

Running came into my life when a friend sent me an e-mail out of the blue suggesting that we sign up for the Paris Marathon that April. (mind you I had never run even a 5 K before) I thought about it for all of 30 seconds before I replied with a resounding “YES! Let’s!” I figured if ever in my life I was going to run 26.2 miles it would be through the streets of Paris, where I could reward myself completely guilt free by gorging on all the cheese, chocolate, bread (and whatever else Paris threw at me) that my heart desired….and I DID! 

C’est vrai que la vie est tres belle.

It was September, so I had seven months to train from scratch. I downloaded a training plan for the beginner runner that would have me up to 10 miles by December and on track to run a full marathon by April. I did not stray from that plan a single day; not during the brutal ‘snow-pocalyps” that hit Baltimore and Washington D.C. that winter, not while traveling for work, not when my friend moved to Swaziland and I lost my running buddy…and with every training run I accomplished I rewarded myself with food…glorious food.

I began to love running for that reason, but also because it gave me a completely new experience in observing and taking in my surroundings. I loved discovering new streets and paths and seeing the seasons change daily. Even in my own city of Baltimore, where I was living at the time, it was as if every day brought a new adventure. It became a game while on travel to find a route that would get me my mileage but also take me to new places, neighborhoods, sights and sounds, and of course the restaurants after my run as my reward. I thought to myself, ‘now this is truly the way to travel.’

Click here to receive some inspiration for your next “Eat and Run” in Paris adventures!