How To Travel, Explore & Compete At The Same Time
With a company mission of ‘move, connect, explore’, it’s no surprise that the More Life Adventures team is made up of individuals who embody these three principles throughout their life. From choosing training programmes that blend fitness with community, to opting for travel experiences that go beyond the beachfront hotel, it’s a lifestyle choice that reaps its rewards.
And whilst you can definitely move, connect and explore on home turf, as our events and workshops demonstrate, there’s also a big wide world teeming with opportunities.
So if this year you’re looking to branch out and take on a fitness challenge in a sunnier clime, we’ve got you covered. Here we list some of the world’s best and most beautiful outdoor races and challenges for your exploration in 2024.
Hyrox - Global, Various Dates
We mentioned Hyrox in our piece about UK competitions this year, because how could we not? The great thing about Hyrox is that it’s the same format anywhere you go in the world, so you know what you’re in for, regardless of location. Just be sure to get your space as soon as tickets go on sale as they’re known to sell out fast.
If you’re not yet familiar with Hyrox, it’s a 1km run followed by one functional workout station, repeated eight times. The functional workout stations are the ski erg, the sled (push AND pull), burpee broad jumps, the rower, farmers carry, sandbag lunges and wall balls.
Individuals and teams of all levels can take part, so you can choose to include it as some active fun whilst on your travels, or really get into the competition spirit and see how fast you can go when in another time zone.
There are races, quite literally, everywhere - check out the full list here and get planning.
Turf Games - Australia, April & September 2024
Like Hyrox, the Turf Games made the list of our UK comps to check out in 2024. Unlike Hyrox, they won’t be hosting a competition across the globe, but do have two key events coming up in April and September, in Sydney and the Gold Coast respectively. They also often host in Dubai around November time, but as yet there’s no date confirmed for this year.
The events see teams of five or six taking on strength, endurance and agility workouts. Yes there are teams of elite athletes but overall it’s a big, fun day out with a lot of sweaty workouts.
As it’s a team event, it’s a great thing to add to a trip itinerary if you’re travelling with friends.
The UTMB World Series derives its name from what started out as one event - the Ultra Trail de Mont Blanc. Seen as the peak of competitive fitness, it’s an ultramarathon that circles Mont Blanc and crosses through the French, Swiss and Italian Alps. The annual event sells out almost instantly, which is why they’ve introduced multiple events across Europe throughout the year.
The series kicks off with the Chianti Ultra Trail in March, which runs through the hills and vineyards of Tuscany. Twenty races later over the course of the year, the series ends in November in Mallorca with an Ultra Trail on a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Whilst each event is an endurance feat, there are shorter options to allow anyone and everyone to get involved. There’s even a Chianti 15 km wine run - yes, you read that correctly. The longest race of them all clocks in at 250 km and is located on the Eiger Trail in Switzerland. With 18,000 metres of altitude, mountains, valleys and the Alps’ largest connected glaciated area, it’s the ultimate endurance test for advanced adventurers.
You can find the full list of the 2024 races here.
Ibiza marathon - 13 April, 2024
Up until you’re a certain age, Ibiza is synonymous with parties, clubs, alcohol and very little sleep. And then one day, it’s suddenly a place where you can go to relax, unwind, and indulge in all kinds of wellness practices. Now firmly on the map as a health and fitness destination, Ibiza boasts a year-round calendar of events. From fitness camps to yoga and meditation retreats, and from spiritual healings to a countryside-to-coast marathon, it’s got a bit of everything.
The marathon takes place in mid-April before the weather gets too hot, and unlike UK marathons, kicks off later in the day at 3:30pm. Runners get to experience the island when it’s most alive, whilst taking in Ibiza’s magical sunset and vistas during the race.
The route itself starts and ends along the sea, with a circuit through the nature of the unknown inland which is rarely seen by tourists. It’s a marathon that’s close-ish to home yet will feel like you’re a world away.
Croatia Multisport Race - 25-30 April, 2024
Think of this as a triathlon with a twist. It’s a week-long adventure that weaves in cultural exploration via the activities themselves. Comprising four stages, there’s a 39-mile hike, 2-miles of stand up paddleboarding , a 22-mile kayak, and a 41-mile cycle.
The entire course is a one way journey from the beautiful Croatian island of Korcula to the ancient City of Dubrovnik. And quite simply, this race is an outdoor adventurer’s dream! The routes will take you along the Dalmation coast, through beautiful picturesque Croatian villages, and for Games of Thrones fans - a chance to storm King’s Landing as you charge along the Walls of Stone on the Peliješac Peninsula.
As it’s a 5-night adventure, accommodation is included in the entry price and will be a typical Croatian hotel or B&B for each of the nights, giving you a true Croatian experience from start to finish.
More Life Adventures Retreat - Madeira, 9-14 April 2024
Ok, this technically isn’t a race or a competition, but it does involve multiple challenges in a beautiful nature-filled destination. So it’s very worthy of being added to the list.
Madeira should be high on your list for travel this year if you’re a fan of nature, outdoor fitness and food. It’s dubbed the Hawaii of Europe for a reason, with its hiking trails, lush green landscapes and volcanic peaks.
This trip includes hiking to the island’s 1862m peak, a paddleboarding lesson, swimming in lava-rock tidal pools, and optional training at a local CrossFit box. All whilst being part of a group of fellow adventurers seeking a week of nature, fitness and connection.
If that wasn’t enough, the charming accommodation is an 18th-century farmhouse, with breakfast and dinner served by a private chef who places an emphasis on using fresh, local produce.
Find out more and read the full itinerary here.
Wodapalooza - California, September 2024
CrossFit fans the world over will be familiar with Wodapalooza, the annual competition in Miami that kickstarts the fitness calendar each year in January.
This year, for the first time, they’re adding a West Coast event to the schedule, with Wodapalooza SoCal taking place from 20-22 September at Huntington Beach, just outside Los Angeles.
During what is usually a perfect month weather-wise in Southern California, individuals from across the world will be able to take part in this CrossFit-inspired functional fitness festival. To ensure it’s accessible to all, there’s no less than 21 divisions (!) across individuals, teens, masters and teams.
As with the Miami event, there’ll be online qualifiers in the preceding months, which as yet haven’t been announced. You can sign up to their newsletter here to be in the know as soon as more details are released.
Fitness and competition aside, the festival environment really comes to life at Wodapalooza, with seminars, podcasts and brand activations taking place across the three days. So even if you’re not competing, a spectator ticket to this event would be a great addition to your trip.
Marbella Championships - Spain, 4-6 October 2024
The Marbella Champs is a CrossFit competition that, in short, is just a really great, fun event. It comes highly recommended by MLA team members, not least because it’s only a two hour flight away.
Whatever your level or age, there’s a category for you to enter, with a total of nine categories alone for individual athletes: Elite, RX, Intermediate, Intermediate Masters, Masters 35-40, Masters 41-47, Masters 48+, Scaled and Adaptive. There’s also a team division should you want to make this a weekend getaway in the sun with a group of friends.
The online qualifiers take place throughout the month of May, and the competition itself takes place on Spain’s south coast in October, just as the days are starting to get longer and darker in London. A very well-timed and well-planned event that can easily be combined with a long weekend away.
We have it on good authority from MLA team member Vicky that this race is not to be missed. Once 2024’s date is officially announced, you can expect a November or December trip to the alps featuring either a 10 km race or half marathon through the snow.
With unpredictable conditions and 1,200 metres of altitude, it’s a one-of-a-kind event running along ski slopes and through an altitude forest.
The Morzine Winter Trail is part of a larger series of trail events sitting under the Spartan Trail umbrella. With races ranging from 10 km to 200 miles, there are 19 events happening throughout 2024 across Europe, North America and South America. With all of them taking place amongst some breathtaking nature, you’d be hard pressed not to find one that you’d want to travel for.
Competitions in 2024 don’t always have to take place in a CrossFit box. Whilst they do offer an unparalleled environment, all of the above challenges and adventures have been selected because at their core, they bring together like-minded individuals from across the globe. So whether you’re staying in your lane or stepping out of your fitness comfort zone whilst on your travels, it’s well worth exploring what an overseas challenge could look like.