Hi Guys! Hope your Monday is off to a good start.
Now that my foot is almost fully recovered from my foot injury, I've been thinking about signing up for my next race. My last race was Phoenix PF Change Rock n Roll Half Marathon in January. It's almost May and I know I won't be ready to race for at least another month. That means I probably need to look for a race outside of Arizona since it will be steaming hot here by June. Part of me is bummed I missed the cooler months here for racing. The other part of me knows things happen for a reason and the races will be there next year.
I'm considering doing a race out of state in the coming months now that I've missed the good AZ weather. I'm thinking either a Zooma race in Chicago or one in So Cal. I haven't been to So Cal in awhile and it's right next door. The weather is generally mild and good for racing.
As I was thinking about my own races, it dawned on me that as some of you were watching the Boston Marathon last week you may have been thinking about adding a race to your calendar too in the coming months. Today I'm sharing with you tips for choosing your next race.
1. Identify your Goal. Do you want to run a 5k, 10k, half-marathon and eventually a full marathon? Or, do you want to bypass your 30 minute 5k and go for a personal best? It's important to consider your goals short-term and long-term. If you run 5ks all year, you will not be ready for a half-marathon next year.
2. Evaluate your Current Fitness Level. Running has a different impact on your body and long distance requires both mental and physical stamina. If you don't run at all now, start with a 5k and work yourself up to a 10k, a half-marathon then a marathon. Your body and mind need time to build mileage and endurance.
3. Consider your Time. Look at your calendar and identify time frames to avoid. Also, consider your work schedule. Do you have business trips or vacations planned? Rule out time frames where you already have things planned. Then identify dates where you have gaps of time available. You never want to schedule a race in the middle of a month that you have something planned every weekend. You need that time to train, recover and rest.
5. Pick a Location. Where do you want to race? Maybe you're most comfortable racing at a local event. A word of advice. It's less stressful racing local than out-of-town. If you're new to racing, I recommend going local first. On the other hand, a destination race is a great and fun way to celebrate your accomplishment, discover a new place and treat yourself. A destination race is always a fun girls weekend getaway.
6. Account for the Weather. If you prefer running in warm weather, then don't pick a race in Chicago in December. Unfortunately the weather is not predictable, but you can investigate average temperatures for a given location and race date to get an idea of what you will be up against. I prefer
7. Research Races. Review the course map on the race website. Good scenery is always important I believe. I did a race in San Diego once that was entirely on the highway and it was boring. Also, be sure to know the course time limits for your race and be sure your expected pace will allow you to finish on-time. You can also learn a lot about how good or bad a race is by Googling it, so be sure to do your research before making the commitment!
Not sure where to find a race? I like using Active.com, Runner’s World Race Finder and Competitor to search races. Some of my favorite race series are Rock 'n' Roll, Iron Girl, Women's Running Series, Hot Chocolate, Mermaid and Zooma.
One of the blogs I follow is offering discount codes for a races on the west coast. You can find them at Run Eat Repeat Race Discounts.
What is your next race? What distance are you racing? Where is your dream race location? What race do you recommend I sign up for next?
#running #racetips #race
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Lara @ Uptite Mamas says
My next race is a Mother's Day 3.5 mile this coming Sunday. But the real next race is my first half marathon Memorial Day weekend. I"ll be coming back to this post after that because I'm not even sure I'll want to run again after this! Training is so hard!! #bestfoot
The Skinny-Life says
Some people get addicted & can't wait to sign up for their next race. Good luck!
Tantra says
My next race is THIS sunday and I'm doing the Long Island Half Marathon... I'm soooo excited!!!! There is clearly something wrong with me, lol, I run 13 miles for fun...lol
My dream race location is Paris... I WILL one day do the Paris Marathon.... it may take a while but I WILL get there...
The Skinny-Life says
Paris sounds awesome and there's nothing wrong with you! I'm the same way. 🙂
GiGi Eats says
I feel like, if I ever did a race, I would just walk it! LOL! Is that not allowed?
Kels @ Blonder Side of LIfe says
Great list of tips! I think the research one is huge!! The most recent Half I ran is known for being super hilly and having found this little tidbit via research I was able to prepare. I can't even imagine showing up expecting a flat course, it would have rocked my world and NOT in a good way lol
The Skinny-Life says
I did one in Chicago last year & it was flat. It was nice 🙂
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets says
Great tips. I'm not much of a race girl, but I do like to cheer the runners on from time to time.
FitBritt@MyOwnBalance says
Great tips! I'm not much of a racer but my last race was a triathlon and it was a lot of fun. I picked it based on proximity and whether I thought the water was clean! Lol. Unfortunately the water was freezing!
The Skinny-Life says
I really want to do a triathlon but am so scared of a moving bike.
The Silent Assassin says
You are right... being a fellow Arizonian, the only races you'll find here are the 5k's and 10k's. Next week I'm in the OC for the second leg of the Beach Cities challenge. That's May. June 1st in San Diego for RnR, and July 27 in San Fran for the San Fran Half. August is Flagstaff, and September is in Utah (Big Cottonwood)... October is back in LB to complete the Beach Cities Challenge, November is Las Vegas RnR and December is the Honolulu Mary... =)
The Skinny-Life says
Wow you've got a ton of races. Good luck!
Katie @ Blonde Ambition says
These are all really good tips! I ran my first half marathon last month and am contemplating my next right now and you brought up some points I hadn't considered. All of my races have been local so far, but a destination race sounds pretty tempting!!
Thanks for linking to Monica's race discount list too, I had no idea she had that on her site!
The Skinny-Life says
Congrats on your first race!