With longer work days than ever, stuck in an office chair for several hours at a time and staring into a computer screen all day, more and more people are looking to fitness activities when planning their holidays.

As a result, the demand for active escapes has skyrocketed, whereby holiday-goers seek out runcations. Runcations, or running vacations, are often centred around an official event such as a marathon or run, allowing travellers to include their fitness routine in the trip schedule and tick off more than one goal ? holidaying, exploring a new landscape and keeping fit. You could race the Great Wall Marathon in China, the San Francisco Marathon in the USA, or even Marathon Bahamas in the Caribbean – the list of destinations is endless ? all you need is a race start number, your running shoes and a desire to get fit and have fun

In Australia, Melbourne has emerged as one of the nation's most popular runcation destinations. Widely regarded as one of the best sporting cities in the world, Melbourne has also been voted the world?s most liveable city, making it the perfect place to plan this year?s runcation. With a busy events calendar year-round, Melbourne hosts several fitness-focused activities including the Roller Coaster Run where runners experience the sunrise illuminating Victoria?s capital from an elevated viewpoint; the Electric Run in which participants run through the night and are transformed into a moving, breathing light show; and the Wings for Life World Run, which will be held in Melbourne this May for the very first time.

Perhaps the most unique running event ever hosted in Australia's most liveable city, the official Wings for Life World Run is a global run with a difference. On 3rd May 2015, participants in six continents and 35 locations around the world will start the race at exactly the same time (11AM UTC), with more than 40,000 runners already registered globally. Australian runners will kick off in Melbourne at 9pm AEST, running through the night and into the early morning.

The run is designed to raise funds for the Wings for Life Foundation – an international not-for-profit spinal cord research foundation that seeks to make spinal cord injury curable. The run itself invites runners of all abilities, ages and nationalities around the globe to join together and run for those who can?t, raising awareness and funds for continued cutting-edge research.

Open to all people willing to take part in one of the most distinctive races in the world, the run brings a set of extraordinary challenges to its competitors. Besides the hurdle of starting with thousands of participants at exactly the same time, i the only race where the finish line catches you. Your race is over once you're overtaken by the ?Catcher Car? that sets off 30 minutes after the start.

The Wings for Life World Run is all about the last man and woman standing to take out first place, fuelled by pure adrenalin. The very last woman of the inaugural 2014 race, Elise Selvikvag Molvik completed a staggering 54.78km to finish in the top thirty in the world, while the overall global winner, Lemawork Ketema ran for an unbelievable 78.58km. Both feats added a significant amount to the 530,928 kilometres that were run in total, which is the equivalent of one runner completing more than 13 laps around the world.

Even celebrities are taking part to do their bit for spinal cord injury. This year?s race will see Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo join the race, along with former F1 driver Mark Webber, Australian surfing pro Mick Fanning and All Blacks rugby union star Dan Carter who will run for those can?t on 3^rd May in locations all over the world.

The race features a series of breathtaking routes, some passing through deserts while others traverse some of the world?s most beautiful country-sides and others follow scenic coastlines. This year, five new tracks have been added in Japan, Russia, Dubai, Denmark, and a second track in Germany. Australia is one of the most popular running destinations this year, with more than eight of last year?s global winner?s electing to race in Melbourne

To get involved and help find a cure for spinal cord injury, all while enjoying a fun and relaxing runcation, visit www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com and start planning now.