Train -- and Travel -- For a Cause

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but trust me when I say you can score a free trip -- and in the process, get fit and make a difference. How? Sign up for a charity training program that melds fitness and fund-raising and then whisks you away to a fun location to participate in the event. It's the perfect solution if you're lacking motivation to exercise or just want to change things up.

I can vouch from experience. When I participated in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training over a decade ago, I was bored with my workouts. I also wanted to get into cycling, but didn't know how. And then a brochure arrived in my mail, challenging me to cycle a century (a 100-mile ride). In exchange for training with a qualified coach, airfare to the event, race entry fee and hotel accommodations (plus a few extra perks), I was asked to raise a certain amount of money. I knew my friends and family would ante up, so I signed up, and it's been one of the best experiences of my life.

Not only did it get me into cycling, but it was also an incredibly empowering experienced as I "adopted" a little boy who became my inspiration. Every time i trained, I thought of him and the thousands of other individuals who are struggling with leukemia. And when I crossed the finish line at the Seacoast Century, having pedaled through Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, I honestly felt like I'd made a difference.

Not a cyclist? No worries. You can also walk, run, hike, even cross country ski. Check out these three charity training programs and sweat for a cause while getting that free trip.

What: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training
What you do: Train for a marathon, half marathon, triathlon, hiking event, 100-mile bike ride or cross country skiing event
What events you might go to: The Kauai Marathon in Hawaii; Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco, Calif.; Moab Century Tour in Moab, Utah; Honolulu Century in Hawaii; and the Big Kahuna Triathlon in Santa Cruz, Calif.

What: The American Stroke Association's Train to End Stroke
What you do: Run or walk a half marathon or marathon
What events you might go to: The Maui Marathon and Half Marathon in Hawaii; the Walt Disney World Wine and Dine Half Marathon in Orlando, Fla.

What: The Arthritis Foundation's Joints in Motion
What you do: Run or walk a half marathon or marathon
What events you might go to: The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and Half Marathon in Denver, Colo.; the Walt Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon in Orlando, Fla.

To make sure that any vacation you take keeps you on track with your exercise program, book a room at one of these hotels with fun fitness offerings.