Guest Post By: BackAtSquareZero
As runners most of us think about racing a lot. Ask any runner for their bucket list of races and they can probably rattle them of instantly. (The NYC Marathon tops mine.) However, not every race you run can always be that bucket list race, so how do you go about choosing the other races?
Here are 5 Tips to Help You Choose Your Next Race:
Training – Really ask yourself what do you want to train for?
For example: training for a 5K and a marathon are very different. Your 5K training will involve tons of speed work, intervals, etc., whereas your marathon training will pack on the mileage and your long runs will eat away at your weekends. These can both be hard training cycles and you can push your body to exciting new levels in each one. It is all about what you are up for.
Timing – Do you have a busy season when it is harder to get out of the house?
If so make sure you don’t pick a race that would force you to train during this time, you’d just be setting yourself up for a tough training cycle. Also, take the weather into account. Do you train better through the winter or the summer? If snow keeps you indoors (I loathe snow) then be sure not to pick a race with a winter training cycle. If summer heat is the bane of your existence than maybe fall races aren’t the best for you.
Goal – What do you want out of this race? If you’re going for a PR attempt you want to look for a flat, fast course that gives you the best PR chance possible. If you are going for a “racecation,” then it is all about the city the race is in. You’ll want a place that has lots to see and do before and after the race
Cost – Start looking for races before you think you need to. Costs go up the closer you get to race day, so registering in advance can save you a lot of money. Also, always search around online for race discount codes before you hit that registration button.
Reviews – Read up!
Finally, before you make your final decision and register for a race, be sure to read some reviews of the race (these are usually pretty easy to find by Googling the race + review/recap) to make sure it is a good fit for you and your race goals.