I hate planning races ahead of time... it gives me anxiety! Remember a couple weeks ago when I told you I ran a 30k and you were all like, "I didn't know you were running a 30k!"? Well, I didn't want to put it on my calendar in PEN because I didn't know how I'd be feeling that day.
I'm afraid of race commitment, is what it is.
So I'm sharing what races are written in VERY LIGHT PENCIL on my 2018 calendar! Okay, some are written in dark pencil and one actually is written in pen because I registered and paid for it already!
Last Man Standing Race - January 6
This is that cool trail race where you run a loop and the first time you have 20 minutes to complete the loop, then 19, then 18, and so on until you can't complete the loop in time! I'm debating on whether or not to train for this and try to do one loop more than I can normally complete. The problem is I am soooo slow right now that I feel like I would need to train just to do as well as I normally do. This race is in dark pencil because as long as I am not sick or injured, I am DOING IT.
Little Patuxent River Half Marathon - February 4
I don't know much about this race but it's a loop on trail, it's only an hour and a half away, and it's only $35. If I feel like a nice long trail run in early February, I can just drive on down to Maryland and do this race.
Naked Bavarian 20 miler - March 3
Another "if I feel like a long trail run" type of races. It's only $35 and an hour away in Leesport!
Jim Thorpe is the cutest town! I bet Paul would even travel to this race with me. The race will be run on the Lehigh Gorge rail trail. Registration is only $50!
Bird in Hand Half Marathon - Sept. 8
Ana has been telling me about this road race and I always forget to sign up before the price hike. Well, I am OFFICIALLY signed up. It was $80... and that was BEFORE the price hike. I think that is an insane amount of money for a half, but apparently it's worth it. So yeah, this is the race that's written in PEN.
Dam Half Marathon - September
I ran this race this past September and it was a CHALLENGE. I would love to do it again. Oh, I'm not usually into swag, but I got a SWEET sweatshirt and the post race food was delish- fried chicken, mac and cheese, cornbread, and pizza!
HARRC in the Park 15k - October
This race is at Pinchot Park on a trail I used to run all the time. I normally do pretty well at this race, and this year I want to PR on the course! Here's my recap from this past fall.
Dirty Bird 30k - November
I enjoyed the Dirty Bird so much that I think I'll do it again. But this time, I'll line up near the front so I don't spend the first 6 miles passing people!
I ran this race this past September and it was a CHALLENGE. I would love to do it again. Oh, I'm not usually into swag, but I got a SWEET sweatshirt and the post race food was delish- fried chicken, mac and cheese, cornbread, and pizza!
HARRC in the Park 15k - October
This race is at Pinchot Park on a trail I used to run all the time. I normally do pretty well at this race, and this year I want to PR on the course! Here's my recap from this past fall.
Dirty Bird 30k - November
I enjoyed the Dirty Bird so much that I think I'll do it again. But this time, I'll line up near the front so I don't spend the first 6 miles passing people!
What races are YOU eyeing up for 2018?
Do you like to schedule races in pencil or pen?
Do you like to schedule races in pencil or pen?
I too hate committing to racing way in advance (so I usually end up missing out on the lower price). Disney races you had to sign up for a year ahead of time and I hated that!
ReplyDeleteI've done a pretty good job with trying some new races this past year so perhaps I'll stick with that but I do have some favorites that I want to continue to run as well. Which reminds me that I wanted to ask you about a race next year. I'll text you.
Also, is the last man standing the race at R.B Winter Park?
Yes, it is at RB Winter!
DeleteDoes Last Man Standing get hosted several times a year? I swear I feel like just a few weeks ago you did this race. I was shocked to see it listed as being in January!!! Maybe I am thinking of a different race where you run as many loops as you can in a certain time frame or something? Is that a different race?
ReplyDeleteAfter losing out on a big chunk of money when I had to drop out of Wine and Dine this year I am now using pencil! If I ever do another runDisney race (or race of similar cost) again I'm buying the insurance! :D
It does not get hosted several times a year but it is the one where you keep running a loop! I guess time does fly. I can see why people buy insurance for the very expensive races!
DeleteI love the idea of a Last Man Standing race. I've always wanted to do something like that, or a 3 hour, etc. Not really a distance ultra but a new challenge. It's hard to find anything around here that isn't a 5K! All of these sound like so much fun and it's neat that you have a lot of options.
ReplyDeleteThe Last Man Standing is soooo cool. Maybe you could organize a group run like that sometime instead of your speedwork/track nights? Someone would have to time but it could be fun!
DeleteI'm going to add Dirty Bird to my list to consider for this 2018.
ReplyDeleteWe are also considering the Squirrelly Trial race in February, but only if there isn't a lot of snow. I can't imagine running 13 miles IN snow... like around snow would be ok.
I am so excited for BIH!! In my opinion it's totally worth it, the whole weekend is fantastic and the post race picnic is where I make my money back.
Oh yeah i gotta look at the Squirrelly! I was going to do it one year but it was sooooo wet that I didn't want to.
DeleteSo great that you have so many races planned! How fun!!
ReplyDeleteWe'll see if I get out of my jammies and do them. :)
DeleteWow! That's a whole lot of races.
ReplyDeleteI look for races that allow you to defer, but of course there aren't many of those. I like signing up early, but of course it can be anxiety provoking too. I just try to trust the universe.
That's a good way to look at it! I feel like a lot of races don't let you defer anymore. Is that the case?
DeleteI feel like I need to clarify.. I don't think I'll be "racing" many of these!
DeleteI have nothing on my calendar right now. It feels weird, and kind of not right since I knew I signed up for this year's Bolder Boulder in summer 2016, and then I knew I wanted to do Vegas back in the spring. I kind of feel like a lost runner without anything planned.
ReplyDeleteIt's okay! These are in pencil so the only one planned is Bird in Hand.
DeleteI'll be doing the Glass City half again this year. Hopefully it will be as part of our family's relay team too. The Jim Thorpe half sounds good - I think inaugural races tend to go big. It looks like there is a lot of fun stuff planned! I still have to pick a 50 miler for 2018. Ideal time would be in early to mid May. Any ideas?
ReplyDeleteOoh let me look into the 50 miler thing okay? How far are you willing to travel????
DeleteOkay I looked up a bunch. I never ran any of them but I think they are in your neck of the woods so you can check them out!
Deletehttp://www.mohican100.org/
http://www.50sforyomomma.com/
http://www.dwdgnawbone.com/
https://ignitetrailseries.com/indianatrail.php
http://glacierridgetrailultra.com/
hey, thanks for this research!! There are several here I had not seen yet! Indiana would be a good place... I shall investigate more! Sadly the Mohican one was going to be my goal, but we can't make it - for good reasons though, an epic camping trip out West! (more on blog later)
DeleteHey no problem! I wasn't sure how close IN was to you but figured it could be a good option. I CANNOT WAIT TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR OUT WEST TRIP!! You are going to be putting that camper to good use!
DeleteI dont like committing to races in advanced either! Its so much less pressure to just sign up at the last minute.
ReplyDeleteWe think alike!
DeleteI'm a very last-minute race committer and usually don't share before the last minute... LOL
ReplyDeleteThat's nice, less pressure that way.
DeleteLooks like a great line up! I have the spring mostly worked out but haven't looked beyond that. I was considering the Jim Thorpe and Bird in Hand races, too!
ReplyDeleteOh cool! I see you are in the NYC area. How did you hear of Bird in Hand and Jim Thorpe?
DeleteThese are some great suggestions and recommendations, Megan. I am eying up the Rock ‘n’ Roll race for 2018. :)
ReplyDeleteOh cool! Any city in particular?
Delete