This week’s Tuesdays on the Run topic is How Do You Choose Your Races. Do you have a system? A budget? A goal of how many you wanna do? Share your thought process!
I guess I’m most selective when it comes to full marathons (duh). Those typically get on the schedule first. Since completing the World Marathon Majors is on my bucket list, knocking out those is a priority and the logistically “easier” ones, aka domestic ones, are done.
When I was gunning for a BQ, I’d choose fast, flat marathon courses and that worked out beautifully.
These days I choose marathons upon the suggestion of friends (BRFs). Who can say no to a fun girls’ weekend with a little 26.2 in the middle? Not I. Twin Cities last fall and Indy Monumental this fall will be girls’ weekends.
I choose smaller races for many reasons. Dates must work. I like 5k and 10ks to be fairly close by. Racing with friends is always awesome.
I also have sentimental favorites, one of which I just finished earlier today. When we travel to North Carolina to visit the in-laws (usually in summer or for Thanksgiving), I usually run a race that’s part of the Tour de Carrboro Series. Today it was 4 on the Fourth. I ran this for the first time 9 or 10 years ago and I think it was one of my first ever age group wins. It has become a tradition.
How do you choose a race?
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I go for price, timing, and location. I am training for the marathon I am limiting the number of races I run. I ran the Elmhurst 4 on the 4th this morning and loved it (my 4th year running it). Plus, I paid around $30 for it. I love the Chicago Marathon so I think that will always be in my schedule.
Now I need to write my post too.
I use to only choose destination races but I have since found joy in local races!
There are a lot of factors that go into choosing a race. For those 5k/10k races, they have to be local. I don’t want to spend a ton of effort going to pick up a packet for a race that is less than an hour. After seeing Sara yesterday, I realized how much I miss racing with friends! We need to plan a race for the fall.
If it’s a more local race, I look for the price and also the past reputation for the race. For “racecations” I try to visit new cities and I like to make sure that some of my running friends are also doing the race as well.
For a marathon I try to run in a place I’ve never run before. A relatively flat course is important too! For small races I just run local ones that fit into my schedule.
Oh man it all depends on my goal for the race! Lately my goals have been to PR in different distances, so flat, fast, local courses are what I look for. Also the date is important- has to align with the amount of training I need.
I usually try to pick so I can sleep in my own bed lol I also really like smaller races, the big events are fun, but I really like a course that isn’t overloaded with people.
I never think about if the course is flat or not. So many of the races here are flat, so that hardly ever crosses my mind. Good reminder though if I am looking at US races.
Out of necessity, I choose races by date and location first. I would love to plan a long race-cation to run the races on my bucket list with little to no regard for date or location.
I have so many sentimental races that keep drawing me back year after year, so those are a given. Typically, I kind of like the more challenging courses….of course, striving for a PR on an “easy” course builds one’s confidence, too. Now that I’ve entered the 26.2 field, I’m looking for those (or 13.1’s as well) in interesting locales.
Location is always key for me, both where it’s held and what the course is. I want to be able to get there without any problems, and then enjoy the course. Racecations are different, but I don’t do many of those. We’ve got a lot of good races in the area so I can always find a fun one.
The shorter races tend to be ones I’ve either done before or ones I have friends going to.
I do put a lot of thought into my halfs, and I’ll write about that at some point, just didn’t have time today! It’s a great topic, though.
I think overall I’m open-minded to the types of races I choose to sign up for, but I really want a nice course more than anything!
I love a girls race-cation! I like local 5K’s & new locations & races for longer runs! Running with friends is the best!
Aw, you’re running Monumental?? I wish I was. It was my second choice race if I didn’t get into MCM this year. My coach is running it, in fact, and I know a ton of people that will be there!
These days, it’s all about location first… I don’t have the time to go too far from home too often. Like you, the marathon gets filled in first and I work backwards from there!
I definitely have some favorites I like to run again and again if the starts align. Ultimately, race choice is based on location and date vs. what’s all going on with the family schedule. Many races still sit on my bucket list because they conflict with a major school/kids sports event.
I make my race choices a lot like you. If my friends are talking about a marathon that’s a weekend away it always seems more attractive. What’s not to like about having your running friends on the same training schedule, working towards the same goal and being there at the race with you?!
You’re so funny- a little 26.2 in the middle! LOL But yes, I am all about the girls race weekends too! Huge draw to get me to a race is if my BRF are going
i love races! i tend to enter too many, and race consecutive weekends because I fear the FOMO, but now that I am training for my first marathon I am being more selective with the races I enter. Plus races get expensive and I am on a budget!
awh, this makes me miss running races so badly. I choose mostly local races as traveling for races is hard for me with my husband gone so much.
I want to do more destination races, but money and time always factor in to those. My schedule is crazy, so sometimes I have a hard time scheduling races. I usually just pick one at the last minute and do it.
I love tradition races too! My family would always do the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving and the Trolley Run in the spring.
I do mostly local races because of price, but am allowed one fun travel marathon a year.