Runners can spend at least a full year planning for a race. That means that when it comes time to plan marathon travel, they may not be up for it. Instead, they might turn to you, a travel agent who can provide recommendations and make reservations when all their energy is focused on race day.
Planning marathon travel requires a keen understanding of your clients’ predetermined schedule and even their training plan. Your role is to support their training and race-day performance while ensuring a memorable travel experience. To help you out, we have collected some of our top tips for ensuring your racers are best positioned to win.
Know the Non-Negotiables
Accounting for all the details of marathon travel itineraries and runner requirements is essential. Make sure your clients arrive well in advance of race day, so they can attend any pre-race events (training or recreational). You’ll also want to give them time to acclimate, especially if they’re crossing time zones or changing elevations to participate in their event.
There are likely to be predetermined times when racers must be in specific locations like the starting line. You can set your runner up for success by verifying itinerary elements like race packet pickup details. You should also see if transportation to the starting line is reliable and schedule a ride for your client if necessary. One more way to minimize stress for clients when they’re traveling for a marathon is to secure accommodations close to the race venue. They won’t have to hurry as much on the day, and they’ll thank you for your attentive planning later.
Accommodate Their Training
Another necessary top-of-mind consideration when supporting clients who are traveling for a marathon is to remember that they often follow rigorous training schedules. With that in mind, make sure you incorporate their training needs like warmups, practice runs, or meals into the itinerary you create for them. Book lodging with nearby running routes or in-house fitness centers. When building plans for clients, include notes on nearby parks or public running tracks where they can maintain their regimen. For runners expending lots of energy, search for restaurants with healthy, high-protein offerings they can use to replenish their strength.
Race Day and Post-Race Considerations
While you’re focusing on the buildup to the race, don’t forget that there’s a post-race period to consider too. This is all about celebration. Try asking your clients their favorite meals that they can’t indulge in while training, then find them a restaurant where they can eat to their hearts’ content after they cross the finish line. If they’re more worried about being tired after the race, you could focus on booking them a relaxing experience instead. A spa treatment, for instance, might be just the thing they need.
Make Sure They Go the Distance When Prepping Their Trip: Suggest Travel Insurance
When your clients are traveling for a marathon, they should be focused on the goal, the thrill, and the challenge of the monumental event they’ve been training for. The last thing that should be on their minds is what could go wrong on their trip. That’s why you should help them prepare to the best of their ability by suggesting they look into travel insurance for marathon runners.
This type of coverage, or more general travel insurance for athletes, may be able to protect them financially should they experience flight delays or cancellations, lost or damaged luggage, or even need medical attention while on their trip.
They will most likely think it’s a great idea, but they may not know where to start. You can help by letting them know they can discover travel insurance for marathon runners, build quotes, and compare their options using InsureMyTrip.com.
As the world’s first travel insurance comparison website, we are an unbiased source of information that runners can use to find travel insurance for athletes from top providers. With our Customer Care team comprised of licensed professionals, we can also offer expert assistance should they need help navigating the nuances of different plans, as well as answering their travel insurance-related questions.
To get started, tell them all they need to do is start a quote on our site. Then, they’re off to the races.
