Happy Friday! From this point forward, each Friday will be dedicated to Five Things. This week it is Five Races I want to Run.
Running is supposed to be the easiest sport because its just you and nature. But running for pleasure and running for sport are no longer two and the same. Running for sport takes dedication, fancy gear, and endurance to keep going. These are the 5 Races I want to Run, probably in the next 5 years. I am still only running 5k races. CA still doesn’t want to run in her stroller. And races are expensive without thinking about flying across the country. But these 5 races are this week’s Five Things- and I am going to run them all.
Disney Princess Half-Marathon. Next weekend is the Disney Princess Half-Marathon (with 10k, 5k, and Kid Races). Who doesn’t want a that empowers women to be their inner princess? Plus, the race goes through the parks, as per all Disney races. A hidden perk is that this marathon actually benefits the Children’s Miracle Network, which I have personally fundraised for since 2011. It would be great to not only Run for a Cause for CMT, but also CMN. I have been planning my costume for months, plus a matching mini for CA. Fingers crossed we make the cutoff for 2017 registration! For more information, click here.
Wrightsville Beach Marathon. This race is beautiful, and runners get the chance to run through the historic University of North Carolina at Wilmington college campus, and pass through Wrightsville Beach, twice. It’s a great race for runners shooting for a PR, because the trail is so flat, the weather is perfect, and the abundance of aid stations give you everything you need. The marathon is only $60 if you register soon enough, which is basically unheard of for a race that distance. Another neat thing is the pasta dinner before the race, which hosts great motivational running speakers. Plus, the 5k benefits the Susan G. Komen Foundation towards breast cancer research and awareness, and is actually held at night. For more information, click here.
- Stockadeathon. I had lived a hop, skip and a jump away from Schenectady, NY for my entire life, but never knew about the Stockadeathon until I got a job downtown on State Street. This is one of the oldest 15k road races in the country, and the course goes through the historic Stockade District in Upstate New York. The race has neat incentives, like free entry for qualifying times, and the winners receive hand crafted pottery. The best part is the awards ceremony, which is held at the historic Proctor’s Theatre downtown. For more information, click here.
- Philadelphia Marathon. This race has been going on, under various different names, since the 1920s. The event planners really know how to put on a special day, and the 30,000 community members who line the street are no different. There is an expo all with speakers and vendors, including some geared specifically towards children. My only qualm is that 8k finishers only receive a finishers certificate that they print off themselves. I am a big fan of finishers’ medals for all finishers in large events. For more information, click here.
- Rock ‘n Roll Marathon/ New Orleans. The Rock ‘n Roll Marathon series looks like so much fun. There is a concert at the finish line, with beer. Finishers not only get medals, but marathon finishers get a jacket, and there are incentives for runner who run multiple races with the series. There are about 30 races in this series, but I would want to run in New Orleans. The race course runs through the historic French quarter, which is beautiful. Plus, the runners get great swag; a teeshirt, finishers medal, gear, and free beer at the finish line. For more information, click here.
If you have run any of these races, let me know in the comments below. Any tips or perks I didn’t mention. I’d love to read your experiences.