Navigation
Traveling Runner
Traveling Runner: Scenic, Long Runs on My Israel Vacation
Exploring Israel by Foot on My Family Vacation
By Eve Mills
January/February 2012
I love running, so a family vacation would not be complete without scheduling time for a race. In fact, it’s a perfect opportunity for a long run---to explore new areas, meet interesting people, and enjoy different climates---so long as you plan properly. That was my goal last summer when I planned our family trip to Israel.
When traveling I usually contact local running groups to inquire about scenic and safe running routes. I learned that the Park HaYarkon Half Marathon in Tel Aviv would be held on August 26, the last day of our trip. It seemed to fit perfectly in our schedule, at least until I hit a snag: the race application was in Hebrew! No problem. Last fall I was at a race expo in Amsterdam and met Ronen Krumholtz, the travel agent for the Jerusalem Marathon. I sent Ronen an e-mail and he offered to complete my race registration. This is where I learned that the cost of the half marathon was just $8.
I had a couple fall marathons scheduled (Freedom’s Run and Philadelphia) and as any experienced runner knows, training takes commitment. And commitment does not take a vacation. My challenge while traveling was finding the time and running routes to maintain my marathon training. In the Galilee region, this took the form of running along highways with heavily laden semi-trucks screaming past, often finding that my footing was awkward on loose gravel. But the views were fantastic. At one point I found myself running in barren brown mountains high above the Sea of Galilee, a patch of blue far below in the distance.
Training runs in Jerusalem took me along the walls of the Old City, and on longer runs I followed the new trolley tracks so I could retrace my route to the hotel. In Eilat, on the Red Sea, I ran along the coast where the end of the 580-mile Israel National Trail extends along the length of Israel from the Lebanese border in the north to the Red Sea in the south.
Race day has a universal feeling wherever you are and I certainly felt it in Tel Aviv the morning of the Park HaYarkon Half Marathon. As you might imagine, Tel Aviv was very hot, especially at the end of August. This means another early (and dark) start, this time at 6:00 a.m. I set out from my hotel at 4:00 a.m. to purchase pre-race water and food, and then took a cab to the race start at Hadar Yousef Stadium.
The half marathon attracts approximately 800 runners; many local runners use it as a warm-up for the fall marathon season, to try to hit their marathon race paces in a shorter event. The pre-race energy felt familiar as runners secured their bibs, met friends, and stretched. The race was very well organized. I even found my bib number on the alphabetical listing, one of the only English names on the list. I also found Ronen, and we chatted and wished each other good luck in the race.
As the sun began to rise, we took our places behind the starting arch and sang “Hatikvah,” the Israeli national anthem. Then the race started, and we began our 13.1-mile trek. Park HaYarkon has been likened to Central Park in New York City, a green oasis in a large and bustling city. The park is home to numerous ball fields, gardens, and even a waterpark. The out-and-back course wound its way on paved and dirt trails through the park and along the Yarkon River to the Mediterranean Ocean. Aid stations were plentiful, serving water and Gatorade, and while there weren’t porta-johns like races here, I was pleased to find many public restrooms along the course. Something to note, there were no finisher medals but with an $8 entry fee that was fine with me. If you have the opportunity to travel in Israel near the end of summer, I highly recommend the Park HaYarkon Half Marathon. It is a wonderful way to explore a truly international city, along a beautiful route.
Eve Mills is an RRCA Certified Running Coach and the Founding Director of Girls on the Run of Montgomery County. Currently, she is the Executive Director of Hopecam, a nonprofit organization connecting homebound children with illnesses to normal life.