Destination events are among the most popular running trends in recent years. Runners make airline and hotel reservations and rent a car months in advance. They train with an event in mind, and then they eat meals upon their arrival - all coordinated around the pending competition.

There's no doubt experiencing faraway races - the Big Sur International Marathon to a secluded mountain 5km - can be enjoyable. But the experience can also be frustrating.

While trying to complement a vacation with a race, runners can instead increase the stress levels they're trying to reduce with exercise. It's not a bad idea, therefore, to forget about the competition while vacationing, and simply run for enjoyment.

During several recent excursions in Pacific Grove, Monterey and Carmel, for example, morning runs along the Monterey Recreation Trail were energizing. There was no potential race-related stress.

And with the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop and the combined smell of salt water and various coastal vegetation permeating the chilly morning air, it was complete running enjoyment.

On one run, my wife and I left the Gosby House Inn (Tel. 800-527-8828; web site: http://www.foursisters.com/inns/gosbyhouseinn.html) the more than 100-year-old Victorian on Lighthouse Ave. in Pacific Grove, around 8 a.m. We ran downhill no more than a half-mile on 16th Street to Oceanview Blvd. and onto the recreation trail that parallels the ocean.

The sometimes single-track trail meanders through the grass gardens of Lovers' Point and continues through ice plant and other wonderfully healthy shrubbery, including huge, blossoming aloe trees. An extended journey would have led to Asilomar State Beach and eventually to the entrance gate to the famed 17-Mile Drive.

On a solo run, I ran for an hour along on the same trail, but headed in the opposite direction toward Monterey. Within a mile, I approached the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

A sign near the facility's service entrance listed distances to area locations: San Carlos Park (.7 miles), Fisherman's Wharf (1.2 miles), Monterey Bay Park (1.7 miles) and Seaside City Limit (3.3 miles).

As a normally more populated section of the trail, this asphalt section is wide and includes a divided line and posted guidelines and suggestions for various exercising user groups.

For exercisers with pets (leashes required), a local animal hospital has sponsored several locations along the bike path where plastic "degradable pick-up mitts" are available for animal clean-up responsibilities.

With or without one's own pet, trail users can also view many animals, as we did later the same morning while walking along the same trail to visit the aquarium.

Several harbor seals, an otter, a deer and several varieties of birds appeared along the shoreline. These sightings gave further credence to the theory that while tourists driving in scenic areas can see plenty, sightseers on foot can view more.

During our recreation trail run, for example, we passed through a brief tree-lined section where the scent of the cypress and pine trees was pleasantly strong. In the same area, a mural obscured to vehicular traffic featured renderings and writings that explained the area's history, in particular the genesis of the clustered, small lots and homes in Pacific Grove.

According to legend, the lots were originally sold beginning in 1875 by the Methodist Church. Known as "tenting lots," many of the homes built on the sites have been renovated and are now honored by local historical societies. The mural also provided a history lesson of local city names - Carmel (By The Sea), Monterey (By The Smell) and Pacific Grove (By God).

The cities' monikers seemed fitting, although their designations could easily be switched in any manner and remained appropriately enticing.

"It's a very safe place to run," said Don Martine, owner of the Martine Inn in Pacific Grove (Tel. 800-852-3388; web site: http://www.martineinn.com). "That's not to say something has never happened. But we recommended to runners without reservation that it's safe at all times."

From the Martine Inn on Oceanview Blvd., a short jaunt across the street positions exercise enthusiasts on the above mentioned trail. Turn left and it's about three miles to the Pacific Grove Golf Course. Turn right and it's about 12 miles to Ft. Ord.

The Martine Inn, built in 1899, features luxurious accommodations in 24 rooms. Martine said a good percentage of guests inquire about running, cycling, walking, kayaking and scuba diving. The entry hallway to the inn has guided and self-guided walking (and running) route information.

Visiting or area runners looking fellow runners familiar with the vast trail and road routes in the area can do no better than to contact Tony and Glynis Greening, proprietors of The Inn at Seventeen Mile Drive (Tel. 831-642-9514; web site: http://www.innat17.com) in Pacific Grove.

Tony Greening, a veteran of many adventure races including numerous marathons, is on the board of directors of the Big Sur International Marathon. Glynis Greening is also an experienced marathoner.

Inn guests arriving late in the afternoon are encouraged to join one or both of the innkeepers, former residents of New Zealand, as well as their son and family dog on a run along the ocean and through tree-lined neighborhoods. Most Saturday mornings, a larger group also meets at the inn for a long trail run.

James Raia is a freelance journalist and long-distance runner in Sacramento, Calif. Visit his web site www.ByJamesRaia.com