This week on Tuesdays on the Run we’re talking about your racing personality aka: Do you find yourself doing the same races over and over? Are you a one-and-done type? A 50 stater? Marathon Maniac? Tell us!
Me? I’m kind of all over the place:
At this point I’ve run over 100 races. While it was never my goal to run in all 50 states, over time I seem to have chipped away at a decent chunk of them.
I tend to be mostly a one-and-done type with out-of-state races. Locally I seem to race like Noah. He loaded up the ark with animals 2 by 2. I tend to run races in 2’s as well. I’m not quite sure what the reasons for this are: A too-good-to-pass-up deal, an enjoyable race, super convenient and/or need for redemption are all possibilities.
Of my 9 marathons, I’ve repeated two: Boston and Chicago
2 Salute 10ks
2 Chicago Half Marathons
I also run in 3’s…
3 Soldier Field 10 milers (no medal back in 2006)
3 RnR Chi (soon to be 4)
….and more…
6 March Madness Halfs (3 of those years there was no medal)
4 Nike Women’s 10k
There are too many local 5ks I’ve run multiple times to even count
How about you? What’s your racing personality? One and done? Or over and over?
Your Noah comment made me giggle. There’s something to be said to running the same ones more than once, but I love how many are hitting the 50 State Club. That’s some dedication to running and travel!
For me it just depends on the race. If the race is out of state it is usually a one and done, and repeat races are the local races. I just did Bay to Breakers on Sunday and I can see it easily being a repeat each year since it is so much fun!
I’d like to do one of the Nike women’s 10Ks! I like to repeat destination races if they are good ones and easily accessible!
I like to repeat a race if I thought it was a good course that I could run better on. I don’t like doing worse than before, so I don’t repeat them unless I have a REALLY good reason to, like pacing a friend. Anymore, I like great views, so I don’t repeat them. I’m looking for something new. Totally fascinated that you ran some races six times !
I think it depends on the race for me, where it falls within my training for that year and if it’s a destination race. All the planets need to align to just run a race, so it has to be especially good to run it again!
when I find local races I like, I do them over and over. it is easy to get to and I know how they will go! I want to travel for new races more though
Wow, you have run a ton of races ! I am a one and done type gal, I prefer the variety but also chose according to my schedule at that time in my life. Thanks for the link up.
I’ll repeat local races but not usually designation ones. Rob wants to run a race (or marathon) in every state, but we have a LONG way to go.
I tend to do the same ones sometimes but I do like variety. You’ve done a ton of races! I like the Noah comparison-lol.
I always thought I was a one and done racer. But some races are too good not to repeat–Chicago and that CARA 10 miler, for example!
I am a little “like Noah” with marathons, too. Of the 43 I have run, I have done 2 x Chicago, 2 x Los Angeles, 2 x Vermont City, 2 x Steamtown, 2 x Achilles Marathon in Brooklyn, soon to be 2 x San Fran (and maybe Phoenix next year). Then 5 x Boston and 16 x NYC because Boston and NYC – LOL! For halfs and other distances, I tend to repeat the ones I love as many times as possible. I have done the NYC half 6 or 7 times since I moved to Chicago and some Chicago races as many as 7 or 8 times. (Boy this comment makes me feel like a lunatic – hahahah)
You introduced me to the Nike races and I’m hopeful I can run one someday, even if it ends up being a onesie!
I definitley have local races that I tend to repeat every year. While I have no plans to run a race in all 50 states (to be honest, I have no desire to visit certain states), but I do like to take ‘racecations’ to explore different cities. This year I’m adding California to my list.
I’m kind of like you, minus marathons and just a lot less racing. 🙂
Except my goal to run a half in every state was a conscious decision!
Call me “late to the party.” I could have written a decent post on my repeat adventures. I easily have more repeat races than once-and-done’s. My biggest repeat is Dam to Dam, it is in it’s 37th year, and I have been there for the past 8 (#9 is happening on June 4th). It used to be a 20K, but they changed it to a 13.1 a couple years ago. I like doing new races because it’s exciting running on a new-to-me course, but it’s also fun to go back and run a familiar race, especially if it’s a well-organized event.
I’ve only run a handful of races so I’m a one-and-done kinda person as of right now. I think I’ll definitely repeat races that are close to home in the future though. They’re just so convenient!
Wow you sure have run a lot of races! I ran the Harrisburg Marathon and half marathon twice. I ran Boston twice. I ran the Harrisburg Mile twice. Other than that, I have not repeated any races- but I don’t race a lot. 🙂
I’ve never repeated the same race, but if I’m going to stay more local, then that might change. The summer limits my choices to fall and spring so it’s possible I might do some of the same races again.
I’ve run almost 200 races – 19 halfs and the rest short ones – all over the place – no state goals or any goals but I usually don’t repeat halfs because there are o many good ones to pick from.
I think more than anything I have races that are one-and-done just because I get bored with certain races and like to try as many races as I can! The ones I repeat are usually for sentimental reasons.
I’ve repeated races over & over. Mostly because I don’t have lots of $$$ & time to spend traveling to races, so I need something nearby, or that I can drive to the morning of. I would love to run all over the place. Maybe when I’m older & have some more vacation days. But right now, I save my moo-lah & stay close to home.
I love the Noah comment! I’m not sure I would do a Chicago a 2nd time, but I would totaly back for the Airforce Full again. Maybe when I have the ability to travel more I’ll get races done in more states!
Oh, I love this topic! I wish I had more time today to write a blog post about this! I run many of the same races each year but I do love trying new ones. I started running all over and one day just realized that I should just plan on running at least one race in each state.
But I had to ask your thoughts on the Solider Field 10 Miler. I assume since you have done it multiple times you would recommend it. I was scheduled to run it this year but due to my traumatic brain injury and recovery time it isn’t going to happen. I have a goal to run all the football stadiums in the NFC North, we live in Minneapolis, I am a Packers fan, and my fiance is a Bears fan, there is no Detroit link.
I like running repeats of local races….if it aint broke-right?
I also would love to run all new races in different state. I like the race-cation idea of new scenery, new routes and always new food ;).
Local races I repeat often, but I’ve only traveled as far as Minnesota and Wisconsin for out of town races. I’d definitely repeat Grandma’s.
I tend to stay close to home and repeat races. Once my kids are older I would like to travel more, but I also get in a zone the week before a race so hanging out with my family in close quarters before a race may not be a great idea for me. 🙂
I didn’t even know Nike Womens had a 10K! I’m a runDisney race repeater, but not necessarily the same one over and over, except that dang Princess race.
Impressive. I tend to repeat my races because it’s simple and easy. I do the North Shore 1/2 in Highland Park every year and I’ll do Chicago this year for the 3rd time… one day when the kids are over maybe I’ll get CRAZY and do a race in Wisconsin 🙂
I generally do races over and over – usually because they’re close to home. Some of my races are chosen because of FOMO. If my friends are doing it I don’t want to miss out. Even if I’ve done the race before and swore I’d never do it again.
Your point about redemption is a good one. Sometimes it helps to just go back and conquer a course!
Ja ja !! I am still chuckling at the Noah joke!!
100 races!! amazing!!
I’m a race repeater, when schedule allows.
Your Noah comment cracked me up 🙂 I have some fave local races that always make the cut whereas my destination races are one-time ventures. I also think I still have too many races I want to try that will keep me more on the one and done path.
I am definitely a race repeater, but that’s partially because I don’t have the inclination to deal with a lot of travel for races. I do a lot of races close to home. The Steamtown marathon is one of the only races where I have had to get a hotel room and travel the day before.
i like to try new races, but it there is one that was super well organized and fun I will do that again1
For me it just depends, I have a few races I’ve done I’d do them year after year if I could. A few others I enjoyed doing them but likely won’t run them again.
Location and course play a huge role and if I like both, then chances are I’ll repeat:)
Mostly one and done with a few over and over. Yep, that’s me 🙂
No Mississippi, Louisiana, or Alabama? Girl, we have got to do something about that! Oh wait I don’t have an IL either…. Kind of like the kettle calling the pot black huh?
I don’t have an AR race, maybe we could meet there on unfamiliar ground lol
I’m all over the place when it comes to races. I like doing certain races over and over again if they go to a cause I believe in and/or are convenient to me with good perks. But I also appreciate mixing up the scenery and trying new things! I want to do more race-cations in the future!
Hmm that is a good question. For smaller races I tend to stay local for but bigger races I like to change it up and travel!