'Jetset Run' When Running Becomes a Global Traveler's Lifestyle

Dawn has just broken on the banks of the Seine River, Paris. The sound of footsteps clashing with old cobblestones blends with the spring breeze. Among the runners piercing through the light mist are many foreign faces of tourists from various countries who choose to start their day not from the hotel breakfast table, but from the marathon starting line.

This phenomenon is not merely a temporary lifestyle. Amid the booming wellness travel trend, running has now transformed into a new expression for world-class travelers. They are not just runners, but also explorers. They are not only chasing the fastest time, but also memories from the cities they conquer step by step.

According to the National Geographic report in 2025, the trend “running vacation” or “race-cation” is on the list of the world's fastest-growing travel activities. Online searches related to “workout holidays” surged nearly 50 percent in just the past year. This data is reinforced by the annual Strava Year in Sport 2024 report, which recorded an increase of up to 59 percent in participation in global running clubs.

“For many modern runners, joining a marathon abroad is not just exercise, it's a statement of identity,” the report wrote.

From New York to Tokyo, from Cape Town to Bali, running has become a new medium to know the world and oneself at the same time.

In Europe, similar enthusiasm is clearly depicted. Traveldailynews.com noted that searches by UK residents to participate in the Cape Town Marathon rose 353 percent in one year, while the Paris Marathon surged nearly 80 percent. Figures that reflect one thing, runners are now willing to travel thousands of kilometers just to set foot on their dream route.

A similar phenomenon is also felt in Asia. China is now one of the world's marathon epicenters. The China Road Running Events Blue Book 2023 report recorded 699 road running events throughout that year, with the participation of millions of runners. No longer only in big cities like Beijing or Shanghai, but also in medium-sized cities like Chengdu and Xiamen that have made marathons a new tourism magnet.

On the other hand, legendary events like the London Marathon continue to break records. For the 2026 edition, the committee received over 1.1 million registrants from various countries, the highest number in the history of the race. In Barcelona, one-third of the participants in the 2023 Half Marathon were international runners from over 100 countries.

This lifestyle then gave birth to a new generation often called “jetset joggers” those who make running shoes and passport two essential items in their travel suitcase. Running is no longer an activity separated from vacation, but rather the main reason to travel.

The combination of health, exploration, and cultural experience has made this trend grow exponentially among young professionals and upper-middle-class travelers. Many hotels and travel agencies now offer special packages for runners, complete with training routes, recovery facilities, to pre-race nutrition menus.

Running, in this context, is not just a physical activity. It transforms into a symbol of balance between body and soul, between speed and calmness. A way to explore the world with a more personal rhythm with every step becoming a story.

In Indonesia itself, a similar vibrancy is starting to be felt. Marathons in Bali, Borobudur, and Mandalika have become destinations for international runners seeking tropical sensations. Running among temples, rice fields, or coastlines is not just exercise, but a unique spiritual experience.

And just like a journey, every run leaves a mark not only on the route, but in the hearts of those who do it. Jetset joggers know that the world is too vast to be conquered just through a map. Because sometimes, the best way to know a new place is by running through it.