Finding your next race can be overwhelming. At least it is for me. There are so many options and so many things to weigh that it can stall the whole process. "Do I have time to train for this one?" "Is this race really the best for my goals?" "Do I know anyone else running it?"
Last fall, I set a goal of running a marathon under 3 hours, and two decisions were extremely hard: which marathon, and which training plan. I knew picking the right race was probably the most important decision for that goal, and I was nervous about getting it wrong. I finally landed on the Monumental Marathon in Indianapolis, but it was a painstaking process.
When a specific time (or just finishing) is the goal, you have to do your research. Pick a race that fits your goal and keeps you motivated. Here's what I weigh.
Location and travel
Do you want to run local, or are you willing to travel? I needed a flat marathon to run under 3 hours, and I wasn't going to find that where I live in Nashville. So I had to look elsewhere. Traveling means days off work, lodging and other costs, so this ties right into your budget. (And I thought running was going to be cheap when I first got into it. Ha!)
Timing and season
Look at the race date and make sure you have enough time to train, and that the race fits your life. The season matters too. You may want cooler weather for your goal, or a certain time of year for a destination race. I knew I needed cold weather, so I chose a November marathon with plenty of time for a 16-week plan.
Hype and motivation
Does this race or distance excite you? When you picture crossing that finish line, do you get fired up? Sometimes running a specific race is the goal itself. Maybe it's a beautiful course, iconic landmarks, or the energy of a big crowd. Make sure the one you pick keeps you motivated every day of training.
Support and community
Do you have friends running it? Training partners, or anyone with the same goal race, are a massive boost. I loved knowing some of my run club friends were running the same marathon and chasing PRs. Almost every week we asked each other how it was going. Even on the days I trained alone, I knew I had a support system.
How Run This helps
That last one is a big reason I founded Run This. I wanted a better way to find races and see what my friends are running.
Find races near home or far away. Filter by distance, dates and how far you'll travel at runthis.run/races, then share your search with a friend.
See who's in. Races your friends are registered for show up on your calendar, and the app has a "Friends are running" row.
Save races with a note to yourself, like "PR attempt" or "road trip," and find them later under My races.
Keep it all on one calendar: races you're registered for, saved, volunteering at or directing, each in its own color.
Count down on your Home Screen with the Run This widget, on iPhone and Android.
How it went
I ran 2:57.
The training did the work. But picking the right race gave that training its best shot: a flat course, a November date, and friends chasing the same goal.
Got a question about finding your next race, or about Run This? Send me a message. I read every one.
