Take the time to discover your own backyard.

Traveling to Florida in January for many usually just means sun, sand and mojitos in South Beach. In 2005, though, I went with simply the goal of the Disney Marathon and built a vacation around the 26.2 course. I’ve also journeyed to Columbus, Ohio, for a half marathon and trekked to Wisconsin for the Badgerland Striders South Shore Half Marathon.

Instead of looking for a hotel that has a nice gym in it, more and more vacationers are looking for a race course that has a nice hotel by it. And in addition getting the family photo around a state capital or landmark, the start line, finish line and post-race medal are the centerpieces for vacation photos.

For those who are looking for a change from the shores of Lake Michigan, Illinois and neighboring states have many accessible weekend getaways to enjoy while keeping in competitive condition.

Wisconsin

For non-endurance athletes, Wisconsin is a mecca for beer, cheese and the Packers. But Wisconsin is nearly the Midwest Capital for triathlons and some of the most exciting races throughout the season.

Love or hate the Packers, Chicagoans are bound to Wisconsinites by Lake Michigan, which winds through Milwaukee and many other cities. Although the Lake Michigan shore in Milwaukee doesn’t have the steady foot and bike traffic as in Chicago, it has some of the best views of the city and the breathtaking Milwaukee Art Museum, which shapes its skyline. Marquette alumni like myself also have a fondness for running from Marquette’s campus to the lake and back round-trip.

Lake Geneva is easily one of the most popular tourist destinations for Chicagoans and my favorite go-to spa, The Abbey Resort (www.theabbeyresort.com) offers some of the best post-race massages.

Also near Lake Geneva you’ll find Kettle Moraine State Park, known regionally for its camping, hiking, running, mountain biking and cross-country ski trails. Once out of the parking lot, you’ll be hard-pressed to remember this is in fact the Midwest. With lots of elevation changes and varying terrain, the trails can test your skills as a biker and your lungs as a runner. Not to be missed on your trip to Kettle, check out LeDuc’s Frozen Custard and Sandwiches, an old-fashioned drive-thru that’s a must-have.

Endurance athletes also clamor towards Milwaukee County for its Oak Leaf Trail. The trail winds through Milwaukee County for more than 100 miles with multiple loops through all of the major parks of the city of Milwaukee. The loops are made up of off-road paved trails, park drives and municipal streets to ensure continuity. The trail is uniquely Milwaukee’s own as it has many different types of terrain as well as easy access, but is shrouded well enough by trees to easily forget your still in the city. The trail also offers mountain biking on the Alpha Trail and Hoyt Mountain Bike Trail, which offer miles of single-track.

Wisconsin particularly is on the map for its popular WORS (Wisconsin Offroad Racing Series), a group of 12 races from May through October (www.wors.org). Like the Oak Leaf Trail for all of its glorious miles, and WORS for its racing action? Why not get a taste of both with the 24 Hours of 9 Mile Race (www.24-9.com)? Held late every summer, this 24-hour mountain bike race is also the location of the 24 Hour Solo National Championships, team races and a 12-hour race. Even if you’re not up to the task of participating, this is a great event to attend as the campsite turns into a big party! Come out and support the racers or throw your leg over a bike for the team event.

If you enjoy biking, but would rather stay on the road, Superweek is held mid-summer through Wisconsin and Illinois and plays host to some of the best amateur road racing the country has to offer. July 11-27 will be the 40th anniversary of the event and is the world’s largest multi-category cycling event. This year will feature races in 12 different city centers in Wisconsin and Illinois, many of them in and around Milwaukee. In no other part of the country, can someone view 17 consecutive days of America’s best racing. www.internationalcycling.com

If you’re looking for one of the ultimate tests of endurance, Ironman Wisconsin is held every year, testing athletes in their swim, bike, and run prowess and endurance. A 2.4 mile swim in Lake Monona is followed by a 112 mile bike ride heading west of the lake and finished with a 26.2 mile run around Madison. As if these distances weren’t enough, this course is known for its elevation changes, strong winds, and varying weather. Another great aspect of Ironman Wisconsin is the stay accompanied with your trip. Madison offers all of the stereotypical garb you’d expect in a college town, but also many very nice restaurants to pad your stay.

Wisconsin also is home to Class III and IV Whitewater Adventures, which can be found as close as the Menominee and Peshtigo Rivers. Discovery Center Chicago (www.discoverycenter.cc) even has group trips that can bus you and your friends or family from Chicago to Wisconsin to go rafting throughout the summer.

And for that true taste of Wisconsin with just a hint of exercise? Don’t miss Brat Days (www.bratdays.org) in Sheboygan in August with the accompanying Brat Trot.

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