By Ambassador Lindsay McClelland

In many cases, summertime is synonymous with travel. For runners this means kinks in training and the possibility of losing critical miles. I’m a true believer in the importance of travel and seeing the world. In my opinion, running in new places is one of the most enjoyable ways to run.

I signed up for my first marathon in the summer of 2010 while living and traveling in Europe. I started out in Switzerland, where I found that running in the fresh mountain air, along the lakes and through the quaint towns, invigorated me. I was nannying for an Italian family and living at their mountain home in Pontresina, Switzerland at the time, and my daily runs were my “me” time.

Running along the lakes in Pontresina, Switzerland.

View from one of my runs in Panarea, Italy--a tiny island without any cars!

I continued to run throughout the summer and fall as I backpacked through Europe, training for the Honolulu Marathon that upcoming December. I came to appreciate the different landscapes and sights each country had to offer. While my “training” was fairly unorthodox, I was able to find an hour here and there to hit the road and explore a new city (no treadmills…yay!). Running shoes are easy to pack and the perspective you get from running is totally different than from a car, train or bus. I have such great memories from those runs. One of my highlights was in Rome, meandering through the bustling city streets to the Spanish Steps where I watched the sunset.

Beach Running in Hilton Head, South Carolina

Every time I visit a new city, I try to run and explore as much as possible. I love seeing other runners and getting a feel for the running culture. I recently visited Hilton Head, S.C. and loved how friendly the resort town is to runners and bikers! In a few weeks I’m headed out to California…just as my milage is peaking. I can’t wait to take on the hills of San Francisco and vineyards of Sonoma. Stay tuned for more adventures!

Where are your favorite places to run? Tweet me at @Lindsaylm!

About the Author: Lindsay McClelland

Lindsay is a 26-year-old PR & social media professional at MMI Agency in downtown Houston. About a year ago, she moved to Houston from Honolulu, HI to be closer to her fiance. While she does miss living in paradise, she’s fallen in love with her new city and it’s countless opportunities. She loves everything active, outdoorsy and fitness related. Her hobbies include running, crossfit, hiking, yoga, reading, dining out, writing, and traveling. She is a former collegiate swimmer and still loves to coach!  Lindsay has run seven marathons and more half marathons than she can count…she’s even dabbled in a few triathlons. Here in Houston, she trains with Kenyan Way. She comes from a very active family. Her father is also a runner and the Houston Half Marathon was his first half marathon ever, she had a blast sharing the experience with him last year. Her mom is a former professional ice dancer and is obsessed with tennis.
Twitter – @Lindsaylm
Instagram – @lindsaylm