How do you keep from signing up for too many races???
stubbysticks
Posts: 1,275 Member
Seriously...how do you not register for every single fun race you hear about? I know by this time most of us have already committed (at least in our heads) to our "big" races for the year & I already have my tentative training schedule mapped out for those. But I am trying really hard to limit myself to 12 races this year & people keep telling me about all these fun events & I want to do them ALL.
I know I can't. My checking account wouldn't like it.
How do you decide which races you're going to do? How do you stop yourself from signing up for everything that comes along???
I know I can't. My checking account wouldn't like it.
How do you decide which races you're going to do? How do you stop yourself from signing up for everything that comes along???
0
Replies
-
You can do too many races???
I know a guy who is 75 and last year he wanted to match his age so he did 75 races! Anyway, assuming one has the pocketbook, and you are willing to make some races training races rather race not sure you can do too many. I by and large set my calendar at the beginning of the year and work it around some perennial favorites 0 -
Set a budget... as in "I can spend xxx$ on race entries during such-and-such time frame" and when it is spent, that is it until the next time period.0
-
THey do all sound so fun! I sometimes look at which charities they support, and pick from that perspective which charities I am most passionnate about...0
-
The only thing I could possibly sign up for too many of, just considering the volume of what's available, is probably 5Ks. So, when it comes to 5Ks, I really look for unique experiences. For example, running through the McHenry tunnel in Baltimore a few months ago.0
-
The hardest part for me is that I'm part of the leadership team of my running club at work, so I'm talking running with people just as addicted as I am all the time. I do a beginner running workshop every quarter & take people through Couch to 5k, so I also end up surrounded with people who are just discovering the excitement of races. How can I resist when they find a wicked awesome 5k & want me to run it with them? I'm trying to keep my bigger events to Aug-Oct because training for anything longer than 10k tends to take more time away from my family than I would like...then a friend or co-worker will be like, "you HAVE to do this half with me!" & all I can say is "um, let me think about it" because I don't want to say no! lol
I think I've managed to select races for the year that will keep my reg fees under $250 total for the rest of the year, because I was super-awesome & pre-paid for a series of 5 varying distance events back in December. Maybe having to justify more than that to my husband will keep me from going overboard...maybe???0 -
If money is the problem, the solution is obviously to win prizes
Pretty good motivation to get faster!0 -
I used to sign up for a lot of races. There are a ton locally and you can do multiple ones practically every weekend if you wanted to. Now I'm a lot more discerning. Except for a few very select cases I don't do repeats anymore. Life's too short to keep doing the same races over and over again. Also, since I moved into the ultra distances I almost exclusively limit my race budget to the marathon distance and longer. There's only so many of those this particular body can handle so that naturally limits how many races end up on my schedule.0
-
Compared to the States our races in S Africa is still relatively affordable. A standard HM sets me back less than the equivalent of $10. Bigger races with the whole marketing angle can get more expensive but as most of our races are organised by local clubs the costs are kept under control. I love races and run a race most Saturdays.0
-
Too many races?? If budget is a consideration, consider looking at a running club. They may have low key race series that cost way less than the crowded and expensive fun runs. Sure there are no shirts and prizes, but you can race and measure your progress over the year on the same course. My club runs the same race every month and it attracts several hundred people. The 5K is about $15 as opposed to $40 or so for a fun run. They also do 10K, 15K, and/or half marathon at the same time depending on the month. (I'm doing the 15K tomorrow.) There are also a few trail running groups in my area. I don't belong to those clubs, but even the non-member prices are less than for a typical fun run - and they are so scenic. 0
-
Getting injured usually stops me from signing up. Other than that, good old fashioned discipline.0
-
Races have to fit into my training plan for whatever my "big" race is. If I'm training for a 50K, I can't do 5ks every weekend, obviously.
that said, now that I write my own training plans, its a lot easier to do races b/c I can choose which weekend will be a super long run and which weekend will be my low weekend. Ive got three races next month, but they lead right up to my race, and the mileage is even appropriate for my taper. Pretty cool!
And, this spring, my races are close enough together that each month is recovery week, long run week, taper week, taper week, race week, rinse and repeat. and, nearly all of mine are trails, and the big races ultras, so I have fewer to choose from.0 -
If money is the problem, the solution is obviously to win prizes
Pretty good motivation to get faster!
Now, why didn't I think of that??0
