Finish Line Travel | Finish Line Travel

The World is Reopening – Let’s Get Ready to Go!

May 19, 2021 May 19, 2021
Dan Bergan
Destinations, Finish Line Travel, Safety, Travel Tips, Trip Planning
France, Passport, travel hacks, Travel Tips, trip planning

We are so happy to see in-person racing is starting back up around the U.S. And, now we are starting to get the details on Europe opening back up to U.S. tourists. Here’s what we know, and some tips for you to get ready to join in the fun.

In-Person Racing

We are already seeing in-person races being rolled out around the U.S. Europe is a little behind the U.S. in this regard, but in-person events have started up there as well.

What changes can we expect in the post-Covid world? Limited number of participants has been the most common change so far. So, make sure you register for your race early — or, join a tour with us and get guaranteed entry!

Other common race features for Covid-19 safety:

Mask requirements at the start and finish
Limited pre- and post-race gatherings
Staggered start times
Pre-packaged food, or no food offered
Single-use water bottles, or “bring-your-own water” requirement

While the events may look a little different, we are excited to finally be gathering together and racing again!

Europe Opening

Yipee!

The European Union “will accept, unconditionally, all those who are vaccinated with vaccines that are approved by EMA [the European Medicines Agency],” Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, told the New York Times. The three vaccines that have been approved for use in the United States—Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson—have all been approved for use in Europe.

It’s great to hear that all of Europe will be opening soon, but von der Leyen didn’t give much information on when or exactly how that would be happening.

Luckily, France was more concrete with their plans. French President Emmanuel Macron released a detailed road map for how the country plans to emerge from its current lockdown and begin relaxing restrictions. The plan includes allowing foreign tourists with a “health pass” to visit France again starting June 9. Greece is already starting a phased opening, and Italy and Spain are not far behind.

What’s a Vaccine Passport?

The truth is, we don’t yet know. France’s plan seemed to indicate that either proof of a vaccine or a negative Covid-19 test would suffice to gain entry. But, there is talk about a more strict requirement of proof of vaccine only.

A digital “vaccine passport” has been speculated by many in the travel and tourism industry, but actual details are not yet known. The E.U. is working on “Digital Green Certificates,” to prove vaccination status, recent negative tests, or recovery from the disease. We U.S. travelers may need to submit a proof of vaccine document to the country we plan to visit. That country would then issue us a digital certificate to meet the E.U. requirements. But, at this point it’s too early to know exactly what the process will entail.

We do know that Europe is eager for tourists, so I wouldn’t expect the process to be a difficult one.

Make Your Reservations

A travel boom is coming, so be ready to make your plans!

A Travel Technology Association survey found that over 80% of Americans plan to travel this year. And, AirBnB CEO Brian Chesky said, “we think there’s going to be a travel rebound coming that’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen.” We at Finish Line Travel agree – everyone wants to get out and run a race and TRAVEL!

What can you do to be ready to travel once the borders open?

Keep an eye on flights – there have been some good deals popping up, so be ready to snatch that flight when the price is right.
Pay attention to cancelation policies – most airlines are offering free changes and free cancelations. But, don’t expect those terms to last past the New Year.
Book early to guarantee your spot. Our Finish Line Travel tours are small – so, they will fill up! Book early to guarantee your spot, but also know that your tour can be canceled or changed without hassle.
Go run, travel & enjoy!

Last-Minute Christmas Gifts for Runners

It’s almost Christmas, but if you are like me, you still have some shopping to do. We’re sharing our favorite gifts for runners below, so you can find a great running gift and then get back to enjoying the holiday season!

Goodr Sunglasses

Goodr sunglasses are amazing! Made by runners, for runners – they don’t slip and don’t bounce, and only $25. Plus they have so many fun colors and styles (if you aren’t that adventurous, they have some “tame” ones, too.) Be sure to check out the names of each style – hilarious! 🤣

Running Socks – Wrightsock

Everyone has their favorite running sock, but mine is Wrightsock. It has two layers so the sock rubs against the sock, and not your toes. So, no more blisters! They are also great in the winter – the double layers hold in the warmth. They offer tons of styles and colors, so, check them out!

Finish Line Travel Running Tour

Obviously, the best running gift ever! 😉 It’s almost the new year and we will be racing and traveling again soon – so, reserve a spot and make 2021 something special with an unforgettable running tour to Europe.

Road ID

We love Road ID – especially on our running tours. Stay safe by having your contact information easily accessible on your wrist in case of an accident while you run.

Run Fast, Eat Slow

Tasty and healthy recipes by 4-time Olympian Shalane Flanagan and chef Elyse Kopecky. My wife’s favorite are the “Superhero Muffins” and I love the hearty (and spicy) Minestrone Soup.

And, also check out their new cookbook – Run Fast, Cook Fast, Eat Slow – Quick Fix Recipes for Hangry Athletes.

Honey Stinger

Honey Stinger is our favorite brand of running fuel. I love that they are all organic – healthy fuel! My favorite chews are the Cherry Blossom flavor, and for those really long runs, I love the caffeinated strawberry kiwi energy gels.

Quitters’ Day? No Way!

According to Strava, January 19th is when most people give up their New Year’s Resolution, and quit running. You don’t have to be one of those people! Here are a couple of ideas to keep that running goal in your sights.

Sign Up for a Race

The best way to motivate yourself to keep going is signing up for a race. It’s on the calendar, and it’s not moving – so, you better get moving! And, what better goal race than a race in Europe. Check out our tour calendar and message us for details.

If you like beer, then the Great Breweries 25km & Marathon is for you. Love history? Then check out the D-Day Half Marathon & Marathon in Normandy, France. Looking for beautiful scenery? How about the Swiss City Marathon & Half Marathon?

Find a Running Partner

Have a friend to run with makes sticking to your goal much easier. So, ask a buddy to head out with you this weekend. Or, if you don’t have a regular running buddy, ask around at the gym, or head to your local running store and check out their weekly group runs. If all else fails, message us and maybe we can hook you up with a running partner.

Cut Yourself Some Slack

January can be cold, icy, snowy and just plain unpleasant for a lot of us in the U.S. And, the treadmill alternative can be boring and depressing, so just cut yourself some slack for the next couple of weeks. If you don’t run a lot this week, that’s ok! Just make sure that it’s just a temporary “pause” of your running goal, and don’t completely give up!

We know you can do it, so just keep putting one foot in front of the other and run!

Running Etiquette – Addressing (or not!) fellow runners

June 17, 2019 June 18, 2019
Jessica Bergan
Destinations, Finish Line Travel, Running Tips
Running Tips

As we run over here in Europe, we have come to notice some distinct trends, patterns or general etiquette of greeting your fellow runners when you’re out there getting your sweat on. First of all, wherever I am back home in the U.S., big city or not, I find that runners tend to acknowledge each other with a nod, a quick wave or a brief “hi.” Of course, this is a generalization, but you know what I mean. Of course, in big cities in any country there is always an element of anonymity, so you don’t always acknowledge each other. Living in the mountains of Colorado, I don’t have a lot of extra oxygen to expel when coming across a fellow runner, so what I do is give a quick little hand raise.

Enter our travels…I read recently that the French do not smile at strangers (running or strolling) and that they find it odd when we Americans do so. They find it almost indicative of some sort of senility – that we think we know these people at whom we are smiling. I don’t know if the French would agree with this. But, yes, the French culture is different than ours in the U.S. They are more to themselves, they’re not going to mow you down with a big bear hug. So, when in Paris I’ve gotten used to not addressing anyone which was very weird at first, but then I got in the zone and thought nothing of it. Until I got to Belgium, where I forgot my manners and wasn’t quick enough to respond when I got the nod. Yep, it’s the nod. It took me a few more runners to get into the nod…their predecessors probably thought I was rude, nope, just slow on the draw!

Fast forward to Switzerland…I got a mixed bag, but one super enthusiastic and terribly cute older gentleman who I came upon on a woodsy trail stands out in my mind. He was really chatting me up…in German. When I said I spoke English he just pointed at my KT tape and at various parts of his body (which I took to be achy maybe??) and then he put his hands in a forward motion down the trail. My interpretation of this message was that while we might have some aches and pains, we carry on! (Regardless of age or country!)

And circling back to France, when in Brittany running on a lovely gravel path along the Rance river where I would soon come upon a quaint little town complete with a cathedral (seriously, it could not have been more idyllic), I received an onslaught of “bonjours” complete with smiling faces – who’s senile now? Well, so much for all of that business about the French. (You can read my rant on why the French aren’t rude here.) Perhaps, like in most places, it’s just a big city thing there in Paris. Enjoying all of the beauty of Paris while running though is certainly “bonjour” enough.

*We would like to make the disclaimer that generalizations are abundant in this post as we certainly did not cross paths with every runner of each country mentioned and hopefully no offense was taken by any smiley, wavey, chatty international runners (wink, wink).

Why the French Don’t Suck

Back in 2005, Anthony Bourdain’s first episode of “No Reservations” was entitled “Why the French Don’t Suck.” (You can watch the late, great chef & TV personality here.) Anthony’s first episode was a little strange at times, but we connected with his love of travel, his passion for food & drink, and his dark sense of humor. And, we 100% agree that the French don’t suck!

The French Aren’t Rude

This is the first thing we hear from Americans who have traveled to France, or who are contemplating it. But, it is a myth!

First, we need to pause and realize that the American culture & French culture are very different. Things that we accept as the norm (like free public toilets, a waiter checking on our table every five minutes, smiling at strangers) are strange to the French. So, the #1 thing to do when you think someone is being rude to you in France (or, any foreign country for that matter), is to pause and ask yourself if you are expecting something to be exactly the same as home.

A couple quick tips:

It would be rude for a waiter or waitress to interrupt your meal every five minutes asking you if everything is ok.
You can sit at that dinner table all night nursing a coffee or a glass of wine. The wait-person will not bring your bill to get you to move along. Just give him or her a wave when you want your bill.
If you are at a very busy restaurant in a touristy area, your server will be busy – curt service is expected. (And, in these touristy areas you may actually find some rude people – that’s why we frequent establishments with a more “local” vibe.)
Politeness begets politeness. The French always greet each other – when entering a shop or café, say “Bonjour” and when you leave, pause for a second and say, “Merci” – even if you are saying it into the void of a busy establishment – someone will respond back and appreciate your politeness, as it is expected in French culture.
Not everyone speaks English. And, even if they do, they may not speak English to you. Our French friends have told us that this is another part of French culture – self-consciousness. If they don’t feel that they can present perfect English to you, they will stick with speaking French. They are NOT being rude! They are just as nervous to try and speak English as you are to try to say something in French! (By the way, all of our guides, drivers, hotel personnel & recommended restaurants speak English! And we speak a little French ourselves.) However, the French are extremely tolerant of your attempts to speak French and extremely appreciative as well. We’ve been able to get a smile from strangers just from our attempts to go beyond what is expected and to actually speak French!

We have had some great experiences that completely dispel the myth of rude French – random people stopping in Paris and asking if we need help finding our way… Waiters speaking very slowly to us so we can practice our French… and, so many more.

The French Food & Wine is the Best

That first episode of “No Reservations” is a great introduction to French food & wine. The French take their food and wine very seriously. Can you say “non-pasteurized cheese?” Can’t get that in the US! How many cheeses are there in France? There’s an old saying that there are as many cheeses as there are days in the year, but, truth be told, there are so many more. We like cheese in this house, so we want to be anywhere that loves cheese that much!

Wine…need we say more? French wine is amazing and our favorite. Whether it’s a First Growth red or a house glass of rosé at a café, enjoying French wine is always delightful and a voyage for your senses.

Pastries, that’s what Jess goes for. She always brings money with her on her morning runs, so she can head straight to her favorite patisserie. The options are astounding and range from basic and delicious to elegant and mind blowing. And the baguette…any place that has reverence for something as simple as the baguette, we want to be there. Did you know that French law states that traditional baguettes have to be made on the premises they’re sold and can only be made with four ingredients: wheat flour, water, salt and yeast. They can’t be frozen at any stage or contain additives or preservatives, which also means they go stale within 24 hours. As if they’d last 24 hours in our hands!

There is so much more to French food: steak frites, boeuf bourguignon, croque monsieur, the list goes on, but you get the idea. You’re going to want to eat when you’re in France!

The French Have Life Figured Out

We Americans are always “go! go! go!” And, when we only have a limited amount of time for a European vacation, we definitely want to see all the sights. But, don’t miss out on the relaxation. Be like the French and sit for hours at a sidewalk café with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and watch the world pass by. Or, stroll leisurely along the Seine (and, maybe stop for a glass of rosé at a riverside bar.) Linger for a few of hours over a four-course dinner — and, finish it off with an espresso, like the French always do. Then follow up dinner by window shopping and taking in the Eiffel Tower twinkling on your way back to your hotel. Take your time & see the real France.

Experience all the amazing experiences that France has to offer – check out our running tours in France here!

You’re Not Alone

July 10, 2018 December 12, 2018
Jessica Bergan
Finish Line Travel, Half Marathon, Marathon
France, Normandy

I speak French. Not nearly as well as I would like, however. Duolingo tells me that I’m 48% fluent. My conversations with Parisians tell me otherwise. (My tutor is helping me with this!)

It’s a foggy morning, a Normandy foggy morning. You need a knife and fork to cut the air (un couteau et une forchette). Dan and I walk to the Caen Parc des Expositions where I catch the bus to Pegasus Bridge, the start of Les Courants de la Liberte half marathon (it also happens to be the first bridge liberated by the Allies in Normandy.) It also happens to be just a few days after D-Day. It’s always fun to see and feel the excitement of race day. Even in another country, it’s the same. Some are dressed in goofy outfits, some are stretching, some look really serious, some are cool and joking around. I say goodbye to Dan and get on the bus. I’m surrounded by people, but can’t follow any conversation. So, I kinda feel alone, on a bus, in France to go run 13.1 miles in a foggy abyss. I’m refusing to text Dan as my battery is running down and I need it for my running tunes! Thanks to those of you who chimed in on Facebook and gave me suggestions for good running songs.

Here We Go…

We arrive at the start about an hour before the race. Great, I’ve got loads of time. There’s a lot of chatter, again, too fast for me to understand anything. But, there are loads of lines at the porta potties. There’s a universal language! One woman walks out of the porta potty and is mortified as she only then sees the line and realizes that she just budged in front of all of us. I wonder what the word for “budge” is en francais? She gets a lot of chuckles. It’s all good lady.

10 minutes to the start and as I’m in line, the announcer is trying to jack everybody up with clapping and high fives. I can barely see much of Pegasus Bridge. Did I mention the fog?? The gun goes off and away we go. It’s a bit of an incline at the start, so I can see everyone in front of me. Yeah, I’m slow, so there’s plenty of people in front of me. I’m taking it all in. Spectators cheering us on. Check. Little kids with posters with messages to Daddy, “Papa, tu es très vite!” This I understand! (In English, “Daddy, you are very fast!) Check. Quintessential stone buildings that tell you, “Hey, you’re running a half marathon in France.” Check. Feeling like you are part of something really cool. Definitely, Check. At that moment, there’s a shift and I have this moment of clarity…runner’s high already?! My thought, “we’re all the same.” (Relatively speaking, of course.) We’ve all trained for this day on some level, no matter how easy or hard this may be for any of us. Spectators flock to support those cruising through their little village. Yep, we have this at home. Oh, look, cute kids wanting high fives, yep, done this before. Love it! I ran all over the course to make sure I slapped every hand of every little kid and that one adult looking for a high five.

Bravo!

People are splitting off into twosomes, lots of singles. Some are walking already. Some listening to music, some chatting, giggling. I’m running this alone, but with each step, I don’t feel that way at all. This race prints the name of your country on your bib if you aren’t from France. I’m the only one from the USA as far as I can tell. Still don’t feel alone though. We run through more villages with more spectators, more kids, more inspiring posters… there are even bands at a few villages. Amid the constant sprinkling of spectators whether it be in villages or on a dirt path in what seemed like the middle of nowhere, I experienced my favorite memory…picture this, a driveway that appears out of the woods, hosting a cute little old Frenchman with his wool cardigan and cap, calmly yet continuously clapping his hands and saying, “Bravo! Bravo!” I’ve never received an authentic, “Bravo!” before…you know, doing something actually “Bravo!” worthy while I was in France. Definitely did not feel alone. And then I see an older gentleman go out of his way to make a fellow runner not feel alone. He takes a quick zig to the right, pats a guy on the back who is walking and just zags back to his spot. Heart melts.

Almost There

And now I’m 10 miles in and I think, “oh, I got this”, now it gets fun because I’m feeling good. The long downhill stretch didn’t hurt either. We’re back in town, leaving the poppy fields and cute Frenchman behind. Hello, cobblestone. You are super fun to run on. Ha! But the energy is awesome. In Europe, they often print your name on your bib, so people are yelling your name. Your name! “Allez, Jessica!” So cool. I slap some more 5-year-old hands. I make eye contact with a few people as I have a huge grin on my face and I see the same spread across their face. I come around the corner and it’s almost over…”What? No! This has been so fun!” I’m trying to look at all of the spectators lining the very packed last third mile of the race. Everyone is so into it…and so am I.

We Are One

The thought never left me that how ironic it is to do something that is just you, it’s all you. This isn’t a team sport, running (at least not always). Yet, here we are, people from the US, France, Poland, the UK. We are all here for the same thing, our love of putting one foot in front of the other. The love of where those feet will lead us. The love of how they got us here in the first place. And all the fun along the way. We might be from different places, with different political views, different colors, but we are all there to do the same thing. Despite my need to work on my French, I never felt alone. If you don’t want to feel alone, try a race in another country.

Highlights of Lucerne, Switzerland

Lucerne, Switzerland is stunningly beautiful! It’s a fairy tale setting in the old town and surrounded by breathtaking mountains full of all sorts of activities.

We have so many amazing adventures in store for you during our upcoming tours (including the Swiss City Marathon & Half Marathon this fall). On our own “runcation” to Switzerland, we started with a leisurely afternoon to get over our jet lag. We always try to stay awake upon our arrival to Europe and push through until bedtime. (Check out our “Jet Lag” posts here.) We got outside and walked a bit to perk us up, and then had a glass of wine in the hotel bar before walking to dinner. Staying active really helps to push through the “fog” that comes with a long day of travel to Europe.

On the first day, we try to find a casual place for dinner. First, a casual option is usually open for dinner at an earlier hour — some places in Europe don’t open for dinner until 7:30 pm. We know we won’t last too long after dark, so an earlier dinner is very helpful. Second, a casual spot makes for a quicker dinner. More formal restaurants have a slower pace, possibly with multiple courses.

We held out until about 9:00 pm before crashing into bed. That gave us about ten uninterrupted hours of sleep and that’s exactly how you get over your jet lag quickly.

Day two was a bit rainy, but our private guide knew of many options that could keep us relatively dry, but still give us a taste of the awe-inspiring natural beauty of Switzerland. So, we set off on a short train ride to the Aare Gorge. The hundreds of feet deep gorge is cut through the mountains by a fast-moving river. There are waterfalls, rapids, and sights galore! The tunnels and rock over-hangs kept us mostly dry before the sky cleared up a bit for the remainder of the day which included lunch (we’ll tell you about the yummy flammkuchen in a future post) and a bit of hiking.

Asparagus is fresh and local in early May, and it was on all the menus. So, we dined on asparagus at a restaurant recommended by a friend. We love getting recommendations of spots away from most of the tourists so we can feel how the locals live, and this cafe was perfect.

Day three was sunny, so we hit Mount Pilatus for the spectacular views. The trip to and from the mountain is almost as fun as hanging out on the peak! We started with a boat trip on Lake Lucerne. You can grab a glass of bubbly and enjoy the lake and surrounding views of the Swiss Alps. Then, we climbed Mount Pilatus on the steepest cog train in the world. After a lunch enjoying the breathtaking views, we hopped on a tram down the other side of the mountain, followed by a relaxing gondola ride to the base of the mountain. With our guide, we also have the option of hiking part way down the mountain. We will get away from all the tourists and see how the Swiss do Mount Pilatus.

Day four was a day to explore Lucerne in running shoes! We set off on our early-morning run along the lake, and in addition to the spectacular mountain views (I know, I just can’t stop talking about the views), we passed a castle, vineyards, Swiss cows (with their famous cowbells ringing), inviting park benches, and more.

We finished off the evening at our hotel’s partner restaurant. We didn’t even look at the menu, as the chef created for us a custom four-course tasting menu with local wine paired. It was out of this world!

Our final day was, again, with our private guide. We visited an outdoor museum showing the history of Switzerland. It was educational, but not like a “sterile” museum. You can buy fresh made bread and cheese (made by hand, using the traditional methods). With you as our guest, we can also bring our own brats, sides and beer & wine and grill out over an open fire. Plus, it was a nice way to work out some of the soreness of our long run. We followed that up with a tour of some of the highlights and history of the town of Lucerne. We had the perfect ending to the tour at the local brewery.

Lucerne & Switzerland have so much to offer, but here’s just a sampling of things to do:

Private chocolate tasting and chocolate-making class
Private cheese tasting of local, artisanal cheeses
Hiking the Swiss Alps (with a traditional Swiss “wurst” and beer/wine as our reward!)
Boat tour on Lake Lucerne
Visiting the amazing mountain vistas on one of the nearby peaks. (Plus, an option to hike part of the way back down the mountain, if the weather and leg muscles allow.)
A drive through the “Valley of 72 Waterfalls”
A leisurely afternoon on a paddle boat
A run along the lake with some of the most gorgeous views imaginable.

Check out the Swiss City Marathon & Half Marathon this fall or contact us for a trail running week in the Swiss Alps.

About our tours

We take small groups of runners on tours to participate in a race and experience all that Europe has to offer! Whether you are looking for a bucket-list marathon, or just want to travel in a more healthy way, there’s an option for you.

Our travel philosophy “Slow Travel” — we don’t rush from one tourist attraction to another and we don’t hop to a new city or country every night. We slow down and experience each city in depth and offer our guests unique, private experiences.

Come run with us!

What do you mean by “Travel Slow?”

When we first began traveling the world we quickly became weary of the “normal” tourist schedule. We were rushing from one tourist attraction to the next, or one country to the next without even stopping to take a breath! We returned home more exhausted than when we left, and we felt like we didn’t even really see the foreign country we spent our hard-earned money visiting.

We discovered that we needed to slow down. We didn’t try to fit 4 countries into a one week vacation. We didn’t visit a museum or major sight just because the guidebook said it was a “must-see.” Instead, we immersed ourselves into the local culture. We spent more time with private guides so that we could have an in-depth experience of a sight or find a “hidden gem” that is barely mentioned in the guidebooks. We still see major tourist sights, but we do it in a more calculated way and we balance tourist sights with relaxing in our new city: such as sitting with a glass of rosé wine and watching Paris pass by!

Slow travel does not mean that you will miss seeing major sights. Some of our privately guided tours will include major sights. And, you will have ample free time see that bucket list attraction if it isn’t on our agenda.

But, remember that some of those major destinations take a long time (those lines!) and may not always live up to the hype. I have always said that I don’t want the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower, I want a view of the Eiffel Tower (preferably with wine in hand!) Slow travel is all about finding that balance.

Finish Line Travel is coming soon!

Category: Finish Line Travel