What's Your Next Race?
I've been searching race listings for a fun, new-to-me marathon or half marathon to look forward to in 2013. There are so many, how do I choose? My main criteria are: fits in the budget, not too hot or humid, well-organized especially if huge, decent start time & logistics.
Enter Twitter - when I asked for suggestions I received a number of great responses! I made a list and did a little research, and I want to share that with everyone here on the blog. I haven't chosen a race yet, but there are lots of great ideas here and the Twitter name of the person who suggested it. Thanks everyone!
Toronto Around the Bay 30K - @carolinerunning
March 24, 2013 at 9:30 am
Average High 38, Low 22 (YES! I like cold.)
Registration $70-$90 Cdn
Shamrock Marathon & Half, Virginia Beach, VA - @krissymurphy
March 17, 2013 at 8:30 am (full) & 7 am (half)
Average High 59, Low 40
Registration $95-$120 (full) & $85-$115 (half)
Blue Ridge Marathon & Half, Roanoke, VA - @krissymurphy
April 20, 2013 at 7 am
Average High 68, Low 45
Registration $80-$100 (full) & $65-$85 (half)
Tinkerbell Half, Disneyland - @krissymurphy
January 20, 2013 at 5 am (sold out this year)
Average High 71, Low 48
Registration $150-$165 (ouch!)
Paris Marathon - @tlsendres
April 7, 2013 at 8:45 am
Average High 57, Low 42
Registration 65-95 Euro
Wine Glass Marathon & Half, Bath, NY - @robertwbriggs
September 30, 2012 at 8 am
Average High 73, Low 46
Registration $70-$100 (full) & $60-$90 (half)
Miami Marathon & Half - @seedouglasrun
January 27, 2013 at 6:15 am
Average High 74, Low 61
Registration $90-$125 (full) & $65-$100 (half)
St. Louis Marathon & Half - @Huey800
April 15, 2012 at 7 am (no 2013 date up on site yet)
Average High 67, Low 47
Registration prices not found yet
Oak Barrel Half, Lynchburg, TN - @ekalifeh
April 7, 2012 at 8 am (no 2013 date up on site yet)
Average High 70, Low 46
Registration prices not found yet
Mississippi Blues Marathon & Half - @ekalifeh
January 5, 2013 at 7 am
Average High 55, Low 35
Registration $70-$90 (full) & $50-$70 (half)
Athens Greece Marathon - @jaystancil
November 11, 2012 at 9 am
Really Big Free Marathon & Half, San Diego, CA - @RunDougRun
May 2013, information TBD
Average High 68, Low 59
My favorites from this list based on my criteria are the Around the Bay 30K, Shamrock Marathon & Half, and the St. Louis Marathon & Half. However, so many of them look great and I loved getting recommendations from people who have run them. In addition to these, I have a few other races I'm considering based on race reports, friends, and just curiosity.
Eugene Marathon & Half
Columbus Marathon & Half
Dublin Marathon
San Diego Safari Park Half
Napa Valley Marathon
I have lots of friends in Ohio who run the Columbus events every year, and someday I need to make it back to join them. It's not going to happen for 2012, but maybe 2013. I'm pretty sure I'll end up running the 2013 Safari Park Half with a friend as her very first half marathon.
Decisions - isn't planning a race schedule fun!? It's one of my favorite things to do. I'll make sure to update you on what I choose!
Did I miss any amazing events? Let me know in the comments!
Enter Twitter - when I asked for suggestions I received a number of great responses! I made a list and did a little research, and I want to share that with everyone here on the blog. I haven't chosen a race yet, but there are lots of great ideas here and the Twitter name of the person who suggested it. Thanks everyone!
Toronto Around the Bay 30K - @carolinerunning
March 24, 2013 at 9:30 am
Average High 38, Low 22 (YES! I like cold.)
Registration $70-$90 Cdn
Shamrock Marathon & Half, Virginia Beach, VA - @krissymurphy
March 17, 2013 at 8:30 am (full) & 7 am (half)
Average High 59, Low 40
Registration $95-$120 (full) & $85-$115 (half)
Blue Ridge Marathon & Half, Roanoke, VA - @krissymurphy
April 20, 2013 at 7 am
Average High 68, Low 45
Registration $80-$100 (full) & $65-$85 (half)
Tinkerbell Half, Disneyland - @krissymurphy
January 20, 2013 at 5 am (sold out this year)
Average High 71, Low 48
Registration $150-$165 (ouch!)
Paris Marathon - @tlsendres
April 7, 2013 at 8:45 am
Average High 57, Low 42
Registration 65-95 Euro
Wine Glass Marathon & Half, Bath, NY - @robertwbriggs
September 30, 2012 at 8 am
Average High 73, Low 46
Registration $70-$100 (full) & $60-$90 (half)
Miami Marathon & Half - @seedouglasrun
January 27, 2013 at 6:15 am
Average High 74, Low 61
Registration $90-$125 (full) & $65-$100 (half)
St. Louis Marathon & Half - @Huey800
April 15, 2012 at 7 am (no 2013 date up on site yet)
Average High 67, Low 47
Registration prices not found yet
Oak Barrel Half, Lynchburg, TN - @ekalifeh
April 7, 2012 at 8 am (no 2013 date up on site yet)
Average High 70, Low 46
Registration prices not found yet
Mississippi Blues Marathon & Half - @ekalifeh
January 5, 2013 at 7 am
Average High 55, Low 35
Registration $70-$90 (full) & $50-$70 (half)
Athens Greece Marathon - @jaystancil
November 11, 2012 at 9 am
Really Big Free Marathon & Half, San Diego, CA - @RunDougRun
May 2013, information TBD
Average High 68, Low 59
My favorites from this list based on my criteria are the Around the Bay 30K, Shamrock Marathon & Half, and the St. Louis Marathon & Half. However, so many of them look great and I loved getting recommendations from people who have run them. In addition to these, I have a few other races I'm considering based on race reports, friends, and just curiosity.
Eugene Marathon & Half
Columbus Marathon & Half
Dublin Marathon
San Diego Safari Park Half
Napa Valley Marathon
I have lots of friends in Ohio who run the Columbus events every year, and someday I need to make it back to join them. It's not going to happen for 2012, but maybe 2013. I'm pretty sure I'll end up running the 2013 Safari Park Half with a friend as her very first half marathon.
Decisions - isn't planning a race schedule fun!? It's one of my favorite things to do. I'll make sure to update you on what I choose!
Did I miss any amazing events? Let me know in the comments!
I loved Eugene! It is FLAT! Well ok two small hills before mile 9 but that's it. I'm not sure I can do it next year because I'm signed up now for the Tacoma Marathon in May. It's the maniac's meet up next year and its so close, I figure I have to go@
ReplyDeleteI'm still in the 5K realm: I have my second one next Saturday and my third in August. I would love to run a half someday (right now a full still seems too intimidating!) and I want to make that first one somewhere special. I love this list and the idea of scouting out in advance!
ReplyDeleteI vote for Shamrock, though I'm highly biased as it was my first marathon and Virginia Beach is my hometown. We can chat about it when we hang out though. :)
ReplyDeleteIve heard great things about Shamrock and Toronto Around the Bay. Also Columbus I hear is the best in Ohio. But to me Toronto and Va sound more fun. Shamrock sells out very quick btw. Also had a friend run Paris... I think we all know that has to be amazing! can't wait to hear what you decided to do. So fun to contemplate them all!
ReplyDeleteI'm running the UnitedHealthcare (Jamestown, RI) Half-Marathon tomorrow morning.....then the YuKanRun.Com Cape Ann (Rockport, MA) Half-Marathon on August 5th, followed by the Surftown (Westerly, RI) Half-Marathon on September 16th. Finally, I'll be running the ING Hartford Marathon on October 13th.
ReplyDeleteI've run Oak Barrel and it's a great half. The course is really scenic and the registration is pretty cheap from what I remember. I think it was $40-$50.
ReplyDeleteI've done St. Louis twice. You would enjoy it! It's fun running by the brewery and the arch:) esp. if you're from STL like me. Sorry I missed you in San Fran!
ReplyDelete