document: But a unique subset has formed : people who like to do both at the same time . And to help these folks along , companies arrange tours for marathon vacations . The result ? Bangkok in November , London in April and Stockholm in May. ; `` Skiers have mountain ranges , tennis players have resorts , why ca n't a runner take a marathon vacation ? '' said Thorn Gilligan , president of Marathon Tours in Boston . `` A runner should be able to enjoy a closed city for a day . It 's a celebration for the sport as much as a competition . '' ; Gilligan took 5,500 people last year on 20 tours to countries from Bermuda to Moscow . In addition to air fare and hotel , runners are guaranteed spots in restricted entry races such as the London Marathon . Qualifying times are not required. ; London , the most popular European city to visit , holds the world 's largest marathon -LRB- April 12 next year -RRB- . Berlin 's race -LRB- Sept. 27 , 1992 -RRB- has grown with the demise of the wall. ; `` Most marathons take you through cities , so you get a chance to see things you 'd never see on a sightseeing bus , '' said Fred Lebow , president of the New York Roadrunner 's Club and director of the New York Marathon . Lebow has run in 32 marathons , including London , Paris , Rome , Stockholm , Iceland , Seoul and Vienna. ; `` The most exciting thing is the start of the race , '' he said . `` Each city has something unique . '' ; The cities are different , but most marathons include a carbo-loading pasta party the night before , medical exams , a post-race celebration , commemorative T-shirts and awards to finishers . Entry fees vary ; Brussels is $ 16 , Venice $ 40. ; Marathon Tours includes the entry price in the package . Going to Bermuda , for example , costs approximately $ 900 from San Francisco . The price includes round-trip air fare , four days and three nights at the Grotto Bay Beach hotel -LRB- per person , based on double occupancy -RRB- , full breakfasts and dinners , a welcome cocktail party and post-race parties and discounts. ; England has similar organizations : Sports Tours International and Keith Prowse , a company that specializes in British theater , sports and concert tours. ; But it is n't necessary to run 26.2 miles to go on a running vacation , especially if it 's a family trip . Some marathons , like Portland 's , include additional races : a five-mile run , a five-mile walk and a kids run . Tel Aviv has a half-marathon and a fun run . Budapest offers a half-marathon and a mini-marathon along the Danube. ; There are also trips that incorporate running into the sightseeing schedule . Running coach Pat Savage and Hal Higdon , a senior writer for Runner 's World , are taking a group to Ireland in June . The eight-day trip will leave from Chicago and will include sightseeing , guided runs and a fun run from Malahide Castle to Swords. ; `` On a running vacation you plan something around running everyday , '' Higdon said . `` We know the unique scenic routes and put together special runs . '' ; Some runs are intriguing because of current events . The Tel Aviv Marathon course went past houses hit by Scud missiles during the Gulf War . The Belgrade Marathon was held despite Yugoslavia 's turmoil . The Munich course is the same as the 1972 Olympic route and finishes in the same stadium. ; Running 26 miles just to see a city definitely is n't for everyone , but at the very least , it 's a way to kill two birds with one stone . In the recent Chicago Marathon , a German man ran with a camera , snapping photos every few miles. ; IF YOU 'RE INTERESTED ; If you 're interested in combining a vacation and marathon , here are some firms to contact : ; -LRB- box -RRB- Marathon Tours , 108 Main St. , Charlestown , Mass. 02129 . -LRB-617-RRB- 242-7845 . ; -LRB- box -RRB- Roadrunner Tours , 2815 Lake Shore Dr. , Michigan City , Ind. 46360 . -LRB- 219 -RRB- 879-0133. ; -LRB- box -RRB- Keith Prowse , based in England . -LRB- 8OO -RRB- 6MY-TOUR. ; -LRB- box -RRB- Sports Tours International , 91 Walkdon Rd. , Walkdon , Worslay , Manchester M28 5DQ , United Kingdom . -LRB-061-RRB- 703-8161 .
extractive_keyphrases: marathon vacations marathon tours running vacation restricted entry races