It’s racing season! I have no statistics to back this statement up, but it sure seems like the majority of marathons are in the fall… at least around here. With so many of my friends doing a fall race (some are running their first marathon), I thought I’d focus on running tips in some of my upcoming posts. Some of the topics that I’ll cover in the next two weeks are race preparation, racing etiquette, racing check list, and layering for cooler weather.
Some of the fall east coast marathons that I have friends running (or that I have run) are:
The Baltimore Marathon is part of the Baltimore Running Festival which also holds a half marathon, relay marathon, 5K and kids’ fun run. Bill and I ran the marathon the first five years that it was held (2001-2005) and enjoyed it very much. It was a always a well organized race! This year’s races will be held on October 12, and I hope to post a recap of our five races on that day.
The Steamtown Marathon was my PR marathon. I ran it after seeing in Runner’s World that it is fast course and a great marathon for “PR’ing.” The hilarious emails from the assistant race director leading up to the race are worth the $$$ even if you slip on a banana peel in the first mile and can’t complete the course. This October 13th will be the 18th running of the race. On race day, I will post a recap of my three or four (can’t remember off hand) Steamtown race experiences.
The Marine Corps Marathon is celebrating its 38th year. It holds a very special place in my heart because it was the first marathon that I ever ran. I loved it so much that I ran it for the next nine years, too. With ten MCM’s under my belt, I’m a member of the MCM Ground Pounders Running Club and have a guaranteed entry into this popular race for the rest of my life. This year’s race will be on October 27 and by now you know the drill… I plan to post a recap of my many MCM experiences on that day!
My last full marathon was the Richmond Marathon where my my long running “hamstring” injury came to a ugly end and I finished the race in tears. It was a gorgeous day and a beautiful course and I was lucky enough to run the whole race with my honey, but it didn’t end the way I’d hoped. This year’s race will be on November 16 and it will the 36th running of “America’s Friendliest Marathon.” In addition to a marathon, they also run a half marathon.
I’ve never run the New York City Marathon, but my friends Beth and Miles have. I’ll beg, whine, and throw myself on the floor ask nicely to see if Beth will do a guest post about her experience running this huge race. The race will be held on November 3, and if we’re lucky we can experience the race through Beth’s eyes that day.
A couple of my friends are running Thunder Road Marathon this year on November 16. In addition to the full, Thunder Road will have a half and a 5K. My friend Meagan will be running her first marathon there, and my blogging friend Laura will be running the half marathon blindfolded in honor of her sister Taylor who has Batten Disease. Laura has graciously agreed to write a recap of her blindfolded running experience for my readers after the race.
Fall is also the time for numerous local 10K’s and 5K’s, and as we get closer to the holidays, lots of turkey trots and reindeer runs will be held in neighborhoods all across the country. Sign up for one! You’ll have a blast!
- Questions:
- Are you signed up for any of the above races?
- What’s the largest field race you’ve ever run?
- What race have you run the most times, year after year because you love it so much??
One of the reasons why I love Fall is because it is race season! I would love to run one of the above races, some day!
The race that I have ran the most times would be the OC half marathon in Newport Beach, CA. I have ran that 3 times, not consecutively though.
The largest race I have been apart of would be the Surf City Half in Huntington Beach, CA. I believe that was almost 15,000 runners.
Come run one of the fulls someday, and I’ll do the half! 🙂
Nice recap! I’ve only heard of MCM through other blogs, but mainly because I don’t run marathons (yet?).
I’ve never had a duplicate race since I just started running and racing this year. I look forward to trying some of the same races next year though. The biggest amount of people I’ve ever run with was actually last night at the Electric Run – they sold out with 15,000 people! Crazy business!
15,000 runners is a lot!
I’m excited to read your upcoming posts with tips. Right now I think I’m struggling with water and fueling and I’d like to read what a true veteran marathoner has to say!
Though I won’t be running in any of the above races I do have the Halloween Marathon in Peoria, AZ to look forward to. There aren’t going to be many runners… what if I come in last?!?!?!
There is a 5K in town that I like to run every year. Flagstaff has a Summer Running Series and I’d love to run in 6 – 7 of the races every year if I could!
Stephanie- if you come in last, you will be getting more for your marathon dollar than any of the other race participants 🙂
Exactly!
Biggest race: LA Marathon, I think it was capped around 25,000. I grumbled and swore under my breath for the first 5 miles….
The race I’ve run the most times…THAT is an excellent question. I think it was a small 5K organized by the med students at the University of Rochester (I got my PhD at a Medical Center). It was a fundraising run for a free clinic they operated in downtown Rochester, I could use my university parking pass for excellent parking, it was close to home, and after I collected about 3 shirts, I’d sign up just to keep my streak going. [Incidentally, the race also wins the award for comfiest race T ever: the year they did Heather Grey Ts. What is it about heather grey that makes a T-shirt 10x more comfy?] Of course, the streak is broken now, but with less overall race selection in Singapore, I’ll likely start another here…
I have to agree about the heather grey shirts being extremely comfy… What is it anyway?
I chose a fall marathon for my first because I did not mind training through the heat of the summer. I worried about choosing a spring marathon, and having poor winter weather conditions potentially derail my training.
I have yet to run my first marathon, but I already have a desire to run MCM someday. It looks like an amazing race, plus my dad knows D.C. really well and we could stay with him 🙂 So cool about you being a member of the MCM Ground Pounders Running Club! I had no idea something like that existed.
I have a special place in my heart for Richmond. I ran the half there in 2011 and 2012. The 2011 race was my comeback to running after taking a year off to deal with some major life changes. Then in 2012 I was shooting for sub-2 and ran a PR of 2:01. So close to my goal, but even though I didn’t get that sub-2 I still had an amazing day. I will miss not being there this year.
I am looking forward to all of your race-related tips! I am not new to road racing, but the full is definitely new territory for me. I will be soaking up any advice that I can between now and November 16.
Now you can train for a spring marathon without worrying about snow on the trails because you have Sven to run on!
good point!
I know! I would love to meet up. We’ll just have to plan on another race!
I totally get race envy come fall reading all the blogs of people racing!
That’s awesome you have guaranteed entry into MCM for the rest of your life! You’ve ran a lot of cool marathons!
The only race I’ve run multiple times is Bloomsday in Spokane! I think I’ve raced it nine times and since the last time (’05?) I’ve been itching to do it a tenth!
You’ve got to run it again and make it an even ten! 🙂
[…] so many people running a fall marathon or half marathon, I promised to talk about preparing for that big race that you’ve been training for all summer. […]
[…] As promised in early October, I was able to convince my Cruiser bestie Beth that my readers would love to relive her 2011 New York City Marathon race experience with her in celebration of today’s running of the marathon. Without further ado, here is Beth’s forth guest post on Deb Runs. […]