SINGAPORE, 25 September 2026: New travel insurance data reveals a 77% year-on-year surge in travellers taking out cover for ultramarathons abroad, as more holidaymakers ditch sunbeds in favour of ‘racecations’.
Sightseeing and sunbathing are being swapped for start lines, according to new data from sports travel insurance provider SportsCover Direct, which reveals a 55% year-on-year rise in travellers taking out specialist cover for endurance and challenge-based sporting events.
Analysing its own policy data, SportsCover Direct found that ultramarathon travel has seen the biggest jump, up 77% year-on-year, as more amateur athletes travel abroad to compete rather than simply spectate.
Challenge-based sporting trips are also being recognised on a wider scale, with TripAdvisor naming ‘sweat jetting’ one of its top travel trends of the year, noting that major marathons are now driving significant visitor surges in host cities, with Chicago Marathon bringing a 300% rise in visitors, followed by Boston (+228%) and Berlin (+222%).
Endurance sports events driving demand for racecations
SportsCover Direct’s internal data has revealed the 10 fastest-growing endurance events sports enthusiasts are travelling abroad to compete in, with the list published as tens of thousands of amateur runners prepare to line up at the Berlin Marathon start line later this month (27 September).
The data also points to a more ‘accessible’ approach to endurance sports, with half marathons (+34%) outgrowing full marathons (+21%), and half ironmans (+29%) growing faster than full Ironmans (+19%), suggesting that athletes want the challenge of racing abroad without committing to the full distance.
Elsewhere, ski racing has emerged as a surprise entry in second place, up 44% year-on-year, with events like Sweden’s Vasaloppet drawing a growing number of global entrants, showing there’s also an appetite for winter endurance travel.
SportsCover Direct’s data is backed by the wider industry, with Google searches for ‘ultra race’ up 234% year-on-year, while searches for ‘European marathons’ are up 34% over the same period. Strava also recorded a 9% rise in members completing marathons and ultramarathons, with 40% of its users logging a run while abroad, and entries to this year’s TCS London Marathon ballot from 18-29 year-olds rose 105% year-on-year, evidence that the appetite for endurance travel spans generations as well as distances.
SportsCover Direct Head of Underwriting and Sales Chris Trotman comments: “Our internal data reveals a clear shift in the type of trip people are booking, with more travellers building entire holidays around endurance sporting events, whether that’s a marathon, a triathlon or an ultra. It’s brilliant to see amateur athletes pushing themselves in this way, and it shows just how much endurance sport has moved from a niche pursuit to a mainstream travel motivation.
“It’s important to remember that competing abroad brings a different set of risks to a normal holiday, from the physical demands of the event itself to travelling with specialist equipment and kit. Standard travel insurance often excludes race and competition cover. So travellers must check that their holiday insurance covers their specific event and sport, understand what is and isn’t included as standard, and build in enough time on either side of racing to manage the unexpected. Taking time to ensure the right preparation in advance will mean that the only thing you need to focus on is the finish line.”
For more information on securing the right sports travel insurance for your trip, visit https://www.sportscoverdirect.com/sports-travel-insurance/
