Thursday, February 19, 2015

Five Races for 2015

TGIF everyone!  I'm linking up with the DC Trifecta to talk about Five Races to Run in 2015.  I race quite a bit during the year.  Although I hope to do a few new races this year, I also plan to repeat some favorites.  I can't wait to read other blogs to get some new ideas too.  Many times, the best races are done on the spur of the moment!


FOR THE BLING:

The Biggest Loser series gives out some serious hardware. They host races all over the US and have now added Off Road Races.  You get to meet some of the contestants from the show too.  Back to the bling...   If you do more than one of their events within the year, you get an extra medal.  Plus, if you repeat a race from one year to the next, you get yet another medal.  If you like the bling, this is your race.  I recently had a horrible humidity poop-fest at the Panama City Beach half.  But let me just admit it now -- the 3 medals I earned surely did help my feelings.  I clanked around loud and proud!



FOR THE FUN:

I ran the Talladega 21000 for the first time last year.  It is held in September and would typically be incredibly warm and humid.  We lucked out to get 65 degrees at the start, even though it didn't stay that way.  You run on, around, above, below, beside, under, over and outside the Talladega Super Speedway.  (It's like the old preposition rule: "A runner goes _____ the track.")  There were cute homages to the movie Talladega Nights and a great after party with BBQ and a live band.  If you are a NASCAR fan (and I'm not), you should do this race.


Note to self:  Open eyes at finish.
The stands always look full.















FOR THE FRIENDS:

A favorite local 5k is the Pancake Run.  It's in a beautiful neighborhood and fairly flat.  Held in May, it's usually the first warm and muggy race of the season.  {Blech}.  However, the friends and the delicious pancake breakfast afterwards makes it all worthwhile.  They give out very nice trophies for awards too.


Beth pinned her number on upside down!



Nice trophy




















FOR A NEW EXPERIENCE:

On my April calendar is a Girls on the Go race in Arizona.  It is in the Lake Mead area just outside of Las Vegas.  You get to experience beautiful views of Lake Mead and the surrounding mountains.  The course is on a historic railroad trail which passes through 5 train tunnels.  Being an out and back, that would be 10 tunnels!  That just sounds super cool to me.  This would give me a new state and I love to travel and run!

From Girls on the Go website

FOR THE BEAUTY:

I ran the inaugural REVEL Rockies half marathon last year (read my recap here) and it ended up being my favorite half out of 17 in 2014.  I'd really like to run the full marathon this year.  REVEL hosts races in other cities so this one didn't feel inaugural.  It was very well executed.  They had the best rock band at the after party.  The medal is humongous.  The course descends about 1800 feet through the Colorado canyons.  No spectators, but absolutely breathtaking.

We ran down through those mountains!

As big as my face!


















Please, recommend a race for me!   I'm always looking!


55 comments:

  1. Wow! The Biggest Loser races sound pretty cool; I had no idea they did all of that. The Lake Mead/Arizona race looks like it would be a great one, as well. I'm sure the scenery is going to be absolutely breathtaking, so you're going to have to take lots of pictures for us! I hope you have a great weekend; enjoy the sunshine for me, since it's going to be raining buckets here all day - ugh.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll be running a half Sunday. They can't decide on the forecast. It's been bouncing around. I guess I'll go prepared for anything.

      Delete
  2. wow - what a great race. i've heard awesome things about the talledega speedway race! well, i'm biased but DC puts on some great races. if you like trails the ncr trail marathon is 2 days after thanksgiving and beautiful and quiet. i loved it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, you really have some great DC races to choose from! I love races that are beautiful and peaceful. NCR sounds like my kind of race.

      Delete
  3. Looks like a great list! The tunnel one would be cool! The REVEL one looks like a great one too! Love the huge medal!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't wait to run the one with the tunnels. I bet my Garmin loses signal. If you get the chance, do a REVEL race.

      Delete
  4. I really want to run a Revel race someday - they look beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was very impressed with REVEL and I love a downhill course!

      Delete
  5. Wow, all of these races sound awesome! I'm not into race car driving but I'd be stoked to run on the speedway! And a pancake run?? Yes please!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not a NASCAR fan, but it was cool! Who can pass up pancakes, right?

      Delete
  6. Wow, the Revel looks AWESOME! Wish I had known about that when I lived in Colorado!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I believe REVEL hosts races in CO, UT and CA. They are all downhill courses.

      Delete
  7. The Revel Races look great! If you like wine ... I enjoyed the Healdsburg Half in Healdsburg California (same people who run Napa to Sonoma).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I looked at that race because we were traveling to CA this year. Our plans changed but I thought that race looked interesting. I'd love any wine country half.

      Delete
  8. The Talledega race looks like the half I did in Indy! So much fun to be on the race track! I've run in AZ but not raced. Maybe I need to fix that. Come to Chicago! But our weather sucks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm thinking about entering the Chicago Marathon lottery and let fate take its course. So, we'll see!

      Delete
  9. Those look like some great races. I'm drooling!

    ReplyDelete
  10. All sound great! The Biggest Loser does host some near me. I might have to look into doing one for the bling!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've done them in 2 different cities. I'll do another in April. I think you'd like it. They have the contestants speak at the expo (although the expo doesn't have many vendors). It's pretty neat.

      Delete
  11. I hope to run some Biggest Loser races someday, but they are always NOT in Iowa. Very frustrating. I cannot afford to just travel all over the country to run races. sigh..
    Love the photos and those other races sound fun too!! Have a great season!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I understand! I'm lucky enough to be close to two of their coastal locations. They started out small, but are definitely growing.

      Delete
  12. Great list. Love the categories you picked. Always love awesome bling.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Very cool list! The one in Arizona would be so neat! I've never been anywhere near there so that would be a treat! I have considered looking into the one at Talladega I think that would be very neat!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've never been to AZ so I'm excited about that one. You'd like Talladega. It's probably not too far from you? It's a smaller event but fun!

      Delete
  14. Great races!! I think the one in Arizona with the train tunnels sounds awesome! If you've never tried it, Space Coast is a really nice race with good weather the last two years, flat course and spectacular bling!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've looked at Space Coast and was very interested! There are just so many to pick from.

      Delete
  15. I bet the biggest loser races are a ton of fun. I don't know about that Rockies half. I did a 10k in Aspen last year and thought I might die from altitude.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was difficult to breathe at the top (7500 feet or so). But, it got better as we descended. That's one way to may you start out slow!

      Delete
  16. Wow, the Girls on the Go looks and sounds beautiful! I also just found out, from this link-up, on Running With SD's post, about this Revel series. Then I see it here! It's calling me :) I am ready to sign up for the one in LA now! Have a happy race year!! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you like running downhill do REVEL! I loved it and the scenery was spectacular. I want to do the full this year.

      Delete
  17. The Talladega race & Revel Rockies both sound really fun! I love running races with beautiful scenery or fun locations. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So do I. It helps take your mind off the miles and just enjoy it.

      Delete
  18. That Talladega race looks really neat! We normally have a half and 2miler in Daytona but it was cancelled this year because of construction.

    Love some of these on your list. I would love the opportunity to try racing in new locations. This is the first year I will be running out of the state (Virginia Beach) and out of the country (Castaway Cay), so I'm pretty excited about that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Talladega is just cool. Running in Castaway Cay sounds awesome! That's during a cruise, right?

      Delete
  19. I would love to run a biggest lose race. I used to watch that show back in the day. Had no idea they offer such awesome bling.-L

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Check their website. They host quite a few throughout the US. I am lucky enough to be close to 2 of their coastal locations.

      Delete
  20. I'd love the wine country race!! So many races and only one me! Talledega is in September and you'd really enjoy it. It's a smaller race and not very hilly. It's just cool being on the track.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Next year, come to Wisconsin and run the Door County half marathon in May. It's hilly, it's beautiful, and it's small. If you sign up, I'll do it too (again!)...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A definite possibility! I may really get into the 50 states thing once my kids are in college...which is not too far away! I'm still planning on the Chicago lottery.

      Delete
  22. I haven't ran any of these. But I am seriously contemplating a Revel race by my house this fall. The Cottonwood one in UT. I train up and down that canyon for marathon training anyway, it might be fun to try it for a race. It's going to be a quad killer though, almost too much downhill. But as long as I don't plan one to close after it, should be good:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have looked at Cottonwood too. It's later in the year, right? They moved CO back to July so I was thinking about bringing a kid or two. Let me know if you decide on this one. Yes, it trashed my quads for days but they felt great during the race.

      Delete
  23. The Rockies race sounded fun until I read your recap! Sounds tough, but maybe if you want to do the marathon, it's doable after all!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I could tell I was running at altitude in the first miles. That's one way to force you to take it slow! But, I still loved it. I know better what to expect this time around.

      Delete
  24. If you like to go out of state for any of your races I would recommend the Nashville Rock n Roll Half Marathon. The course was pretty, the spectators were absolutely amazing and the city was out of control fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did the Nashville Women's half last September. I believe it's pretty much the same course. I did not race well (cramps!) but we had a BLAST in Nashville afterwards. It is out-of-control fun! I also came home with cowboy boots and hat. Oh, my.

      Delete
  25. The Arizona run looks awesome! There's a tunnel trail that I'm looking forward to taking my dog to when it warms up a little and I'm really excited! There's just something cool about walking through tunnels :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know what it is about tunnels...can't wait for this one. I wish I had a cool place to walk my dogs!

      Delete
  26. That Talladega race looks so fun. I'm not a fan of NASCAR but I think that's a race I would enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not a fan either and was surprised how much I liked this race.

      Delete
  27. I like the bling for the Biggest Loser Half! It's all about the bling, right? ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It sure does help if you've had a not-so-good race!

      Delete
  28. Amazing races! The one in Arizona looks particularly spectacular!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm really excited about that one. A new state and an amazing trail!

      Delete

I enjoy reading your comments. Thanks for taking the time to leave one!