>Renato is a (slow) runner and a freelance writer. With the help of a Weissbier in Munich, a cappuccino in Milan and a camembert sandwich in Paris, he is planning on running a half-marathon in every European country. He posts today about some advantages of home exchange for runners.

I entered a New Year race in Vienna. I run in the Wiener Prater on a frozen morning last December. I run around Christiania on a Sunday morning and I had my daily jog in Copenhagen around Islands Brygge. Even if I did not complete a full marathon, I run 31.5K at Hundige, thanks to the Cannonball series. And an amazing group of Danish runners introduced me to the concept of a “weekly marathon” idea with sweets, chocolate and cola at the water station. All thanks to home swaps that I organized on HomeForExchange.com, one of the sites that offers home exchange. I could have not expected anything better, nice hosts even suggested me the best runs in the area.

Why should I keep running every year the same (beautiful) races in Milan or London when I can join fellow runners in other countries and let someone else have their first running experience in Italy? Home exchange is a cheaper and more relaxing option for a sightseeing running experience and a better option for the serious runner too: it’s easier to have a good night sleep and a pre-race breakfast at home, not in a crowded hotel. So if you fancy to race the Stramilano, the Lago Maggiore Half Marathon or the Milan marathon and want to do home swap drop me a message. I have already planned an half marathon in Luxembourg and joined the Munich marathon in October, and I am looking forward to some more amazing autumn runs in Europe and beyond.