One Runner Sold Her Car And Funded Trips To 23 Half Marathons
This runner sold what most consider a lifeline to travel the country with the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series.
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Last December, Leah Reid did something most of us can’t even imagine doing: she sold her car.
The accountant who hails from Vancouver made $14,000 on her 2006 Honda CRV and though her original plan wasn’t to use the money to globetrot across the United States. Thanks to a purchase of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Global TourPass, however, that is what she did.
Reid will be among the thousands partying down The Strip this Sunday at the Geico Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon, her 22nd Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathon this year.
The decision to sell her car provided a nice nest egg in her quest to see the nation. “I wanted to have some experiences rather than have a car,” she says. “I’ve always been an all-or-nothing girl.”
Reid began running in 2007 and started running races in the Rock ‘n’ Roll series in 2012. After running 10 events, she decided to buy the TourPass to enter as many events as she could for just one fee.
“Every race you do it makes every one you ran before that cheaper. C’mon, I’m an accountant,” shares Reid. “I wanted to see some new cities.”
In order, here is her itinerary of races this year: Arizona, New Orleans, Washington D.C., Mexico City, San Francisco, Dallas, Raleigh, Nashville, Portland, San Diego, Seattle, Chicago, Dublin, Virginia Beach, Montreal, San Jose, Brooklyn, Denver, Vancouver, Philadelphia, Savannah, Vegas and then San Antonio.
Reid has made many friends along the way, rooming with them and splitting rental cars to cut costs. She estimates the weekends have set her back about $500-$600 per race.
She doubts she will do a 23-race repeat next year because it has taken up most of her free time.
Also? She misses her car.
Read More Amazing Stories From Rock ‘n’ Roll Races:
Julie Monahan Finishes Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago—2 Days After Chemotherapy
Beautiful Act Of Southern Charm At Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah