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This week, 10 th – 16 th May 2021, is Mental Health Awareness Week here in the UK. A time to reflect. To check in on ourselves, our own wellbeing and that of those around us. The theme for this year’s mental health awareness week is nature. Throughout the last 12 months, especially during the periods of lockdown, escaping into nature has proved invaluable to people up and down the country. 45% of people reported that spending time in green spaces was vital for their mental health. Even interest in nature television programmes and websites showing photos and videos of nature flew through the roof, demonstrating our innate pull towards the natural world. Scientific research has shown time and time again that Nature is vital to our psychological and emotional health. It is only in recent generations that people have become more and more disconnected from the world around us. Now, we think, it is time to get active and get back outside! Reconnecting regularly with nature has been foun

Brexit has made some profound changes to the rights of UK citizens when it comes to travelling to and within the European Union. As we await important travel updates from the UK government, we will have a look at what you can do right now to ensure that you are ready to travel when the time comes. Passports There are new rules for UK passport holders which now apply. You have to check right now if you need to apply for a new passport. We expect that turn around times to get a new passport will significantly increase once travel begins to open up again. You’ll need to have at least six months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland).  If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Use the passport checker on GOV.UK to learn if you can still use your passport to travel. Check a passport here ->  https://www.gov.uk/check-a-passport-travel-europe  Borde

As someone who works on logistics on a daily basis, when it comes to selecting what Marathon I want to do next, the location of the start and finish is important for me. I like the idea of being able to stay in my room or at the hotel until very late before entering the start pen. I also feel better knowing that I can give my all during the Marathon in the knowledge that I don’t have to go far after finishing. From the Marathon rule book, Did you know? “The start and finish points of a course, measured along a theoretical straight line between them, shall not be further apart than 50% of the race distance.” [i.e., 13.1 miles (21.1 km) for the ~26.2 mile (~42.2 km) marathon distance]. If the above is not the case then the course is not official and won’t count for records etc. So let’s have a look at those Marathons where the start and finish are in the same place. Of course we’ve selected a hotel in a prime location to make race day logistics as easy as possible. You just need to t

You’d have a job trying to explain the attraction of Paris – Roubaix to someone who is not a cycling fan. Why would anyone choose the roads around Roubaix to ride a bike. You’d not be alone in thinking this. The badger, Bernard Hinault famously said after winning the race that, ”Paris Roubaix est une connerie!”. Not unlike cities in the North of England, the North of France was an industrial heartland with coal mines and it enjoyed a boom in textile production in the 19th century. Nearby Cambrai is famous for its lace. The same economic decay that followed the decline in the cotton industry and mining in the North of England also took place in this area of France. There is that same post-industrial vibe that used to be there in the UK before lots was regenerated. There are lots of disused concrete buildings and mining installations. I haven’t heard of the French version of New Order yet but maybe that’s still to come. Point is that you’re not really there for the views either. The r

Iceland is an island of unique and breath-taking landscapes, rich in culture and history, and phenomenal volcanic geology. Home to the world’s oldest parliament (the Alþingi), stunning National Parks and a unique music and art scene (celebrated the same weekend  as the Reykjavik Marathon ) there is something to entertain anyone in Iceland. What better way to discover any destination is there than running the streets of the city in a marathon? In summer 2021, the Icelandic capital can offer you the Reykjavik Marathon , Half Marathon, or 10 km. Held the same weekend as Reykjavik Culture Night, and with optional extras such as the incredible  Golden Circle Tour (4 night package only), experience the Icelandic Capital in all its glory, with the Reykjavik Marathon and Sports Tours International. Our friend, and founder of our sister company Sports Travel International, Martin Joyce, discovered Reykjavik for himself in 2019. He had no idea what to expect when he travelled to the Icelandic

You should always be fit enough to take part in any sports events and all of the events and trips that we at Sports Tours International offer. For some events you have to provide a medical certificate. The certificate needs to state that you are physically fit to participate safely. Event organisers in the following countries will usually ask you to provide a sporting medical certificate: France Italy Currently there is no requirement for medical certification in Belgium, Netherlands, Japan, UK, USA, South Africa, Germany, Spain or Switzerland. You may be asked to self-certificate for certain events (such as the BMW Berlin Marathon) Events that require a valid medical certificate in order to compete: France – Click on the link to view Paris Marathon Paris Half Marathon Mont Blanc Marathon Medoc Marathon Disneyland Paris Half Marathon Etape du Tour Marmotte Alps Gran Fondo Haute Route Pyrenees Haute Route Alps Haute Route Ventoux The Paris – Roubaix Challenge an