Sep 4, 2015

Five Fall Races | #FridayFive

It's recently warmed back up to more summer-like weather here in NoVA. But school is coming back in session, the leaves are turning colors, football is starting... all of which means fall is coming. This means the fall racing season is beginning, and the topic for this week's Friday Five linkup is quite appropriate. This week's topic is


Five Fall Races

1. Runner's World Half Marathon (Bethlehem, PA)

October 18, 2015
Reason to run: It's Runner's World! Also, Bart Yasso

My first choice for my fall races list is one I am running, the Runner's World Half Marathon and Festival. They offer a weekend of activities, including kids races, 5K, 10K, the half marathon and even a 1 mile dog run. You can even do a Hat Trick (5K, 10K, Half) or a Five and Dime (5K, 10K). It looks like a great weekend of activities. I'm excited to be running the Hat Trick for BibRave this year. I recently posted about making a training plan for the challenge, so go read if you're considering a challenge. Being PA born and raised, I really wanted to run this race, so I'm glad I'm getting the opportunity. It's Runner's World own event, so I'm sure they'll put a lot of attention into it and be a great event for runners. Interestingly enough, this race was on my races to run in 2015 list, and then I received the opportunity to run it for BibRave. Funny how those things work out.

2. Rock 'n' Roll Virginia Beach (Virginia Beach, VA)

September 6, 2015
Reason to run: Flat, fast, rocking race

This race is high on my list of half marathons to run. Rock 'n' Roll Virginia Beach is one of the most consistently good Rock 'n' Roll races. I've heard nothing but good things about this race, from the course, the organization and the entertainment. Sometimes the RnR races seem to be hit or miss on location, except this one seems to be always a hit. Couple that with an excuse to go to the beach, and you have a perfect racecation.

3. Beat the Blerch (WA, CA, NJ, Virtual)

September and November, 2015
Reason to run: Run with Mathew Inman, and from the Blerch.

You very likely have seen the Oatmeal's comic about running. It even has been made into a book. Last year the inaugural race was held in Washington, so that you too could run from the Blerch. This year, due to it's great popularity it was expanded to the east coast. Unfortunately, the NJ race is just before my vacation, so I am instead running the virtual race again. Even the virtual race comes with a great swag packet. It includes a shirt, medal, squeezable blerch, magnets, stickers and other awesome little surprises. I heard great things about the actual race last year, so hope they keep the east coast race so I can run it in the future.

4. Your Local Turkey Trot (Wherever, You Are)

November 27, 2015
Reason to run: Run off the turkey in advance

Last year I ran my first turkey day race, the Chris Yung Memorial Turkey Trot. It was a great small race in Manassas. The benefit of running a turkey trot? You can pre-run off that Thanksgiving meal you're going to eat later in the day. I really enjoyed starting my day off with the race, then going home and enjoying a delicious meal. Thanksgiving is the perfect cure for runger. So find your local turkey trot and sign up. Evey where has one.

5. Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend (Orlando, Florida)

November 6 - 7, 2015
Reason to run: Running through Disney and awesome after party

I couldn't have this list without including a runDisney event, now could I? It was hard to choose which one, but I had to give Wine & Dine the edge over Avengers. The weekend includes two races, the first being Mickey's Jingle Jungle 5K. A Christmas themed Disney race?! Reason number 1 for this weekend getting the edge. The second race is the Wine & Dine Half Marathon, an evening race through the parks. The course traditionally includes 3 parks, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, when other halves at Disney only include 2 parks (Reason number 2 for this weekend). Finally, the main reason for it getting the edge over the Avengers, this race also includes and after party, the finish line party that includes the After-hours Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival. Yes, until 4 am you can enjoy the rides, characters, music and most importantly over 25 Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival kiosks.

Linking Up


Check here for some links out to others sharing, staring with our three lovely hosts: CourtneyCynthia and Mar. Check their posts (Eat Pray Run DC, You Signed Up for What?! and Mar on the Run to see the full set of links). I will add some others, usually randomly, as I read them to share the love. Go visit and keep reading!


Our hosts:

Mar on the Run

Eat, Pray, Run DC

You Signed Up for What?!







22 comments:

  1. Well, we obviously both like turkey trots because we included those in our post today. The Rock 'n Roll Virginia Beach race is a flat course, but it is usually hot and humid so do not expect a PR. That being said, it is still a really fun race. Funny that we did not include any Disney races, but the Tower of Terror is now gone and Wine and Dine just slipped my mind!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, VA Beach looks like it'd be great, but I'd imagine it could be hot given when it is.

      I'm still bitter about Tower of Terror. We're going on vacation when the race "should" have been.

      Delete
  2. wine and dine is something i've wanted to do for awhile but the timing never worked. i'm hoping maybe 2016. have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah. It looks great, just a matter of making it happen sometime. I eventually want to run the all, so that helps.

      Delete
  3. I have been wanting to go to Runner's World weekend since the race began and it never has worked out - hopefully next year! Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm super excited to go this year. One that I think would be fun to do every year, with all the special speakers and sessions they put on as well.

      Delete
  4. Have fun at the RW! That is on my bucket list as well. I was sad that they did not have the Boston one this year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I plan to have a blast. Just need to make sure I'm sticking to this later part of my training plan.

      Delete
  5. You have some AWESOME races on your calendar!! I want to do the Runner's World Hat Trick someday, and Beat the Blerch sounds amazing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. I'm super excited for RW. I'm actually using my training half as my virtual beat the blerch race. I just got my kit for that in the mail, and it's pretty sweet.

      Delete
  6. All the races you've chosen look fab! I do enjoy the Turkey Trot each year. It's such a great way to start off the day! Happy Fall Running!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a great way to start of the turkey day. Really helped me feel good the whole day last year. Have some great fall running too!

      Delete
  7. The Disney races are coming to Disneyland Paris in 2016. I can't wait. No Rock n Roll races in France... yet.
    Great list !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are getting your very own runDisney race, which is awesome! I'm surprised no RnR there yet. They do have a handful of international races. Must only be a matter of time, haha

      Delete
  8. I'll be doing my first Disney race in January! And your right how could you not include a Disney race! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is awesome! Have a great time! It's an experience beyond the race, soblet yourself soak it all in.

      Delete
  9. I"d love to do the Runner's World race one year! I bet it's a blast and I am sure you will meet tons of cool peeps. Can't wait to read about it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I plan to get the most out of it I can, so that will probably mean several posts worth of fun, haha

      Delete
  10. Great suggestions for races! I always do our local turkey trot, and I think this year I might get Dan to run with me :) I hope one day to run the Runner's World hat trick..definitely a goal of mine. For now I'll just cheer from the sidelines until it fits in my schedule!

    ReplyDelete
  11. All good races! Runner's World was fun! The course is definitely NOT flat, but the expo is amazing and they really do a good job on all the other events. I may have to participate again in the future and bring my dog! I've also loved VA Beach and the Jingle Jungle 5K. I love that it is Christmas theme! -M

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm making sure to work in hills to my training. I haven't looked at a map tobsse the exacts, but I heard it had hills so made sure to make the turns to the less flat roads when running.

      Delete