The Running Traveler: Miles, Meals, and Memories
Amsterdam Travel Guide: Amstelveen Marathon, Stroopwafel-Making, & A Day in Brussels | Spring 2026
Back on the Road — Literally
🏃 The Run & The Experience
A year off from training has a way of recalibrating your expectations. I spent most of 2025 sidelined with an injury, which meant the Amstelveen Marathon arrived without the usual buildup — no long run progression, no tempo work, no confidence-building races in the months before. Just a plane ticket and a hope that muscle memory would carry the day.
I ran the whole thing. That may sound like a low bar to anyone who hasn't been through an injury year, but finishing a marathon without walking — for the first time in longer than I'd like to admit — felt genuinely earned. Not a PR, not a negative split, but a complete race on two functioning legs. I'll take it. The course through Amstelveen was scenic and well-organized, and the crowd support through the Amsterdam neighborhoods kept me honest in the back half when the temptation to walk was loudest.
There's a particular kind of joy in finishing a race when your only goal was the finish line. I remembered that on this trip.
📍 The Sights
Amsterdam rewards slow travel. We didn't try to see everything, and that turned out to be the right call.
The Anne Frank House was the emotional center of the trip. No amount of prior reading fully prepares you for the experience of standing in those rooms — the cramped quarters, the bookcase door, the pencil marks on the wall tracking the children's heights over two years of hiding. It is a humbling and necessary place. Give it the time it deserves and book well in advance.
The Van Gogh Museum was a revelation in a completely different way. I came in knowing the paintings and left knowing the man. The exhibit traces his life chronologically, and the arc of his output — from the dark Dutch peasant scenes to the blazing color of his southern France period — is genuinely affecting when you see it laid out in sequence. The letters to Theo add another layer entirely. It's one of the better museum experiences I've had anywhere.
The city itself is endlessly walkable. The canal rings, the narrow façades, the XXX symbol of Amsterdam's city coat of arms showing up everywhere once you start looking — it's a place that reveals itself gradually. We also made the day trip to Brussels, which turned out to be one of the highlights of the whole week. The Grand-Place is legitimately stunning, and the pace of the city felt noticeably different from Amsterdam — a little slower, a little more sure of itself.
For the final day, we made the trip out to Keukenhof. I wasn't fully prepared for the scale of it. Acres of tulips in full bloom, organized by variety and color in sweeping patterns, with pavilion after pavilion showcasing international food alongside the horticulture. It's the kind of place that photographs can't quite capture — the color saturation in person is just different. Worth the trip out of the city without question.
🍽️ The Food
This trip ate well.
The Pantry is where we had hutspot — a Dutch winter stew of mashed carrots, potatoes, and onions that has been on Dutch tables since the 16th century. It's hearty, unpretentious, and exactly what you want after a long day on foot. The restaurant itself has an old Amsterdam warmth to it and is an easy recommendation for anyone wanting a proper Dutch meal rather than tourist-strip fare.
One morning, we wandered through the Albert Cuyp Market and found Dutch pancakes — thinner than American, larger than French crêpes, eaten with powdered sugar or stroop. It was a perfect street food moment on a cool morning.
The stroopwafel-making class was a standout. Watching the thin waffle layers get pressed and then sandwiched around warm caramel syrup — and eating the result while it was still warm — permanently changed how I'll think about the packaged version on an airplane. There is no comparison.
Brussels added its own chapter. We made Belgian waffles from scratch, which turned out to be more technique-dependent than I expected, and paired the effort with a Belgian tripel that was absolutely the right choice for a midday cooking class. We also made Belgian chocolate, which was a similarly hands-on experience — tempering chocolate properly is genuinely harder than it looks, and genuinely more rewarding when it works. Brussels earns its food reputation.
Berlin Marathon 2025 Race Report: Battling the Heat, Hertha BSC Match Day, & WMM Star #5 | September 2025
WMM Star #5: The Heatwave Edition
🏃 The Run & The Experience
This wasn’t the PR race I had hoped for. Berlin is famous for being fast, but this year it was a brutal battle against the elements. The day started warm and humid, and the radiant heat from the sun just kept intensifying. By the second half, I had to make the tough call to walk most of the way. It ended up being my slowest marathon time, but honestly? I felt a deeper sense of pride crossing that finish line than I usually do. I didn't quit. And that finish line meant securing Star #5. Just Tokyo left to go.
📍 The Sights
We kicked things off with electric energy at a Hertha BSC match the day before the race. The Olympiastadion is massive, and the crowd noise was unlike anything else—highly recommended even if you aren't a die-hard fan.
🍽️ The Food
I mostly played it safe at the headquarters hotel to avoid any pre-race stomach issues (essential in that heat!), but I did venture out for two highlights. First, the stadium bratwurst at the Hertha game was excellent—a risky pre-race move that paid off. Second, Restaurant Persepolis served an incredible Kubideh that hit the spot perfectly after the race.
London & Paris Family Travel Guide: Arsenal Soccer Camps, Premier League Matches, & Baking Classes | May – June 2025
From the Pitch to the Palace
🏃 The Run & The Experience
This trip started with a travel nightmare—cancelled flights and a grueling arrival day—but we shook it off quickly. The focus was firmly on football. While our daughter was training at the Arsenal Football Development camp, I logged my miles in the royal parks. Hyde Park was our daily staple, but the highlight was venturing to Regent’s Park to spin some laps on the historic track there. In Paris, running along the Seine was pure joy; there is nothing quite like stumbling upon the replica Statue of Liberty near the Pont de Grenelle in the middle of a morning run.
📍 The Sights
We fully immersed ourselves in the Premier League, touring the Emirates and then heading to Craven Cottage for Match Day 38 (Fulham v Man City). The stadium is beautiful, sitting right on the river, though I have to say the British fans were a bit more subdued compared to the Italian ultras we saw in Rome! In Paris, we balanced the "must-sees" with local experiences. We booked a guided tour of the Louvre (the smartest way to see the Mona Lisa without the headache) and took a bike tour to see the city center. We even happened to be in Paris the night PSG won the Champions League—the city was chaotic with fireworks and car horns all night!
🍽️ The Food
In London, it was all about the classics: excellent fish and chips at Hobsons, a return pilgrimage to Ye Olde Watling, and a lifesaving meal at BrewDog on our chaotic arrival day. In Paris, we got hands-on with a croissant and pain au chocolat baking class. There is simply no comparison to eating a pastry that you just pulled out of the oven yourself.
Berlin Marathon Spectator Guide: The 50th Anniversary, Bike Tours, & Finding the Best Currywurst | September 2024
The 50th Anniversary: A Spectator’s View
🏃 The Run & The Experience
The city was buzzing for the historic 50th Anniversary of the marathon, but this time, the pressure was off me. I was there to support my wife. Spectating a World Major is its own kind of marathon—navigating the U-Bahn to catch her at multiple points was a rush! We had the perfect setup: the course passed right in front of our hotel at the 10k mark. I was able to enjoy a marvelous European hotel breakfast (I have become a huge fan of cold cuts for breakfast) and simply walk out the door to cheer her on. Seeing her cross the finish line at the Brandenburg Gate was a moment I’ll never forget.
📍 The Sights
Since I wasn't saving my legs, we did a guided bicycle tour of the city. It was a fun family activity and a great way to learn the history without walking 20,000 steps.
🍽️ The Food
We dove into the local staples with a food tour that introduced us to delicious Currywurst and Döner Kebab. For the post-race celebration, Das Lemke was the perfect spot for beers, and we were pleasantly surprised by the BrewDog Berlin outpost, which adapted its menu with some excellent local wursts.
Barcelona Marathon Review: Paella Cooking Classes, FC Barcelona at Olympic Stadium, & Montjuïc Views | March 2024
Marathons, Markets, and Montjuïc
🏃 The Run & The Experience
Barcelona in March is a runner’s dream—cool air, warm sun, and a vibrant energy. The marathon itself felt like a sightseeing tour; passing the Sagrada Família and the Camp Nou before finishing near the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc made the 42km fly by.
📍 The Sights
The Sagrada Família was the absolute highlight—the scale is just breathtaking. We also explored the Gothic Quarter and found a hidden gem in the Picasso Museum. For a different view, we took the cable car up to Montjuïc castle. We also caught an FC Barcelona match, played at the Olympic Stadium since Camp Nou was under renovation. It was a thrill to see them play in such a historic, temporary home.
🍽️ The Food
We took a paella cooking class that started with a tour of the famous Boqueria Market. The highlight (or perhaps "lowlight" for her!) was our 9-year-old daughter having to clean the fresh squid—definitely a core memory! For the professionally prepared product, we headed to Restaurant El Nou Ramonet in Barceloneta, where we had an outstanding seafood paella by the beach.
Zurich to Milan by Train: Swiss National Day, The FIFA Museum, & Visiting The Last Supper | August 2023
Holidays, Hikes, and Border Crossings
🏃 The Run & The Experience
We arrived in Zurich to a ghost town—every shop was closed! We hadn't realized it was Swiss National Day. But the silence quickly turned to celebration as we found a local festival with fireworks lighting up the lake. My runs along the Sihl River were peaceful and scenic, and I even found a public 400m track for some speed work. The train ride to Milan, however, provided the drama: the couple seated right next to us was apprehended by Italian agents at the border for transporting marijuana!
📍 The Sights
In Zurich, we kept things family-friendly with a trip to the FIFA Museum (a must for soccer fans) and an easy hike from Uetliberg to Felsenegg for panoramic views. We also took a water taxi to the Lindt factory for a chocolate-making class—making chocolate bears was a huge hit. In Milan, the highlight was unquestionably The Last Supper. You have to book months in advance, but standing in front of Da Vinci’s masterpiece is a spiritual experience.
🍽️ The Food
In Zurich, Ristorante Cucina (at Sihlpost) served us one of the best pizzas we've had outside of Italy. In Milan, we found a gem in Corner.Nolo Ristorante, a neighborhood spot with terrific pizza and tiramisu.
Rome Running & Food Guide: The Hunt for the Best Carbonara, AS Roma Ultras, & An Assisi Day Trip | March 2023
The Eternal City & The Perfect Carbonara
🏃 The Run & The Experience
Rome is chaos in the best way possible. Running on the "sampietrini" (cobblestones) past the Colosseum was a bucket-list moment. The energy of the city was matched only by the AS Roma game we attended. The atmosphere was electric—the crowd was singing in unison 30 minutes before kickoff! The only downside was the nightmare of getting home; the stadium is a transit desert, and we waited 45 minutes just to snag a ride.
📍 The Sights
We based ourselves near Piazza Venezia, right in the heart of it all. The trip to St. Peter's was remarkable, made even more special because we happened to witness a display of the Holy Spear. We balanced the history of the Colosseum and the Pantheon with a relaxing few days in Castel Gandolfo, hiking the volcanic crater around Lake Albano, and taking a humbling day trip to Assisi.
🍽️ The Food
This trip was defined by the hunt for perfection. At Ristorante Abruzzi, near the Trevi Fountain, I found it. The Carbonara there was quite simply the best I have ever had. I am still searching for a sauce that flavorful, topped with guanciale that shatters with such perfect crispness. We also found what we believe to be the "best pizza ever" at Brillo in Rome, though Sor Capanna in Castel Gandolfo gave it a serious run for its money.
London Marathon Age Group World Championships: A Post-COVID Return to Racing & History on Watling Street | October 2021
The Return to Racing
🏃 The Run & The Experience
This trip was on the tail end of the COVID restrictions, and I won't lie—the anxiety of waiting for those negative test results just to board the plane was intense. But it was worth it. I was there for the Age Group World Championships, my lucky ticket into the London Marathon. The race itself is iconic; finishing on The Mall is the only thing that rivals the run down Boylston Street in Boston.
📍 The Sights
We saved my legs by taking a Big Bus tour to see the city. We visited the Tower of London and St. Paul's, but a personal highlight was visiting Watling Street. It’s an ancient Roman road, and given my surname, we had to stop for a beer at Ye Olde Watling, the historic pub built by Sir Christopher Wren.
🍽️ The Food
We kept it properly British with classic fish and chips at Poppies and a sausage pasty on the go from Greggs. After the marathon, we celebrated at the London Beer Factory—the perfect pint to make all those miles worth it.