About

26.tour was conceived in Paris in 2016.

I (Alex, on the left) love to walk. While exploring Paris in 2016, I set off on what would ALMOST be the first 26.tour. I set off at 7am in the morning to do a full day criss-crossing the city taking in its sites, from the Eiffel Tower to Sacre Couer. That evening, exhausted laying in bed I checked my distance. 25.6 miles. I felt both happy that I’d seen so much but! I was a little bummed that I was so close, yet missed, completing a marathon. And with that the idea for 26.tour was born.

It stuck in my mind that I should intentionally try to hit the 26.2 mile mark while exploring new cities. Then in 2023, 26.tour take shape when Jon Kinsey (on the right), a friend and top notch marathon runner (2:46 PR), liked the idea and said they would join me on this mission.

We made a tour for our home town of Chicago. At 8am on November 12, 2023, we met at Navy Pier to begin. 13 hours later and after picking up a few friends along the way (<3 Tanya and Kevin), we completed the loop, fell down on the grass, legs a little weary, having finished the tour.

We’ve done a few more 26.tours since then and each one is special. I’ll never get tired spending a day seeing a city from different angles, pushing my and my friends bodies to accomplish something hard, and building memories with old and new friends in the way only a long, really long, walk can.

I hope you feel the same sense of joy, accomplishment, and connection on your journey.

With love,

Alex