Choosing Races - My Process

Tuesdays on the RunToday I'm linking up with Erika at MCM Mama Runs, Marcia at Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and Patty at My no-guilt life for Tuesdays on the Run.

Today the topic is: How do you choose your races? What thought process do you use?

I would love to run all the races, but that would get pretty expensive!

I've ran in 4 races so far in 2016, and I go by the following criteria:

  1. Does it fit with schedule... do I have enough time to train

  2. Did it get good reviews

  3. Does the course look good... does it look like fun


Jail Break Run - my first Half Marathon since 2002. It was just enough time out from when I decided I wanted to run another half.  I chose this one over a couple others in the Houston area that same weekend because the reviews for this one were so great, and the course wasn't a double loop.

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Run Like A Diva - this looked like a lot of fun.  It was in my old stomping grounds of Galveston, and I thought I would have plenty of time to recover from the Jail Break Run.  Who couldn't resist tiaras, boas, and hunks at the finish.  I chose this one over another one in the Houston area because of the scenery.

diva hunk

Running With The Cows - I had looked at races when I was planning a trip back home to visit family.  This race caught my eye, based on the great reviews. Bonus was that it would be the 3rd half marathon within 90 days to qualify me for Half Fanatics.

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Baytown Bud Heatwave - this one was kinda impromptu.  The hubs decided that he was going to his hunting lease on the 4th of July, so I started looking into races on the 4th... a girl has to have fun too!  I opted for this one over a couple others in the area based on reviews.

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9 Comments

  1. I have always wanted to run the Diva race. Who wouldn't wanna get a medal from a hunk at the finish?

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  2. I did the Diva race when we were in Houston! It was really fun! I like that you check reviews... that isn't always something I look up, but that's a great way to get a sense of what the race is really like.

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  3. scenery is a good reason to run any race! I may need to consider a Diva. Ahem. ;)

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  4. These all look like great picks! That Diva race does have nice, um, scenery. ; )

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  5. I think reviews have helped me go to races I normally wouldn't have selected... and thankfully they have lived up to the hype.

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  6. I haven't done any of those races! Looks like fun ones

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  7. I always read reviews, and that's part of why I try to write detailed reviews of my races, too.

    I love Galveston, but have never done a Diva race and have already run my TX half.

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