Are you a planner or a last-minute racer?
davemunger
Posts: 1,139 Member
There is something to be said about registering early for a race: You are guaranteed a slot if the race fills up, you won't have to worry about the race running out of t-shirts, and you often get a better deal.
That said, if you wait until race day to register you know you won't ever have to cancel (and very likely *not* get a refund) due to injury, illness, or schedule conflits, and who wants 600 t-shirts anyways?
I tend to register relatively early, but I have a friend who usually doesn't know if / where he is racing until the morning of the event...and he races nearly every week!
So, where do you fall on this spectrum? Do you plan out your racing schedule months in advance, or do you register at the last possible moment?
That said, if you wait until race day to register you know you won't ever have to cancel (and very likely *not* get a refund) due to injury, illness, or schedule conflits, and who wants 600 t-shirts anyways?
I tend to register relatively early, but I have a friend who usually doesn't know if / where he is racing until the morning of the event...and he races nearly every week!
So, where do you fall on this spectrum? Do you plan out your racing schedule months in advance, or do you register at the last possible moment?
0
Replies
-
Many of my local races are hosted by my running club, and free for members ($9 for non) and don't give anything beyond a chip timed course and a small snack spread at the end. Sometimes they sneak up on me, but I tend to have a few races that are planned out in advance. Depending on timing, I may change strategies to accommodate another race. I rarely turn down my local races as I'm competiing in a series that requires a certain amount of races.0
-
I've been looking over the race schedule in my area I feel the itch and eyeing one up on Sunday I knew I was going to do one but haven't committed to any, now I have the one picked out and if I don't register Saturday it will be Sunday before the race it's a smaller local race. If that answers your question, the bigger races though I do tend to sign up somewhat earlier.0
-
Planner. But I haven't signed up for many so far.0
-
I do both. My big "A" races I know almost a year ahead of time that I will be doing and register when registration opens. But I have also done spur of the moment races, like when my husband and I have gone out of town for a weekend.0
-
I am a planner for sure. Signed up for 3 of my races in the fall when they opened to save money and then the other 11 were part of the same racing series, by signing up early January I saved 35% on all the races. But I also signed up all at once to have them spaced out to keep training. Still fairly new to running and need motivation to keep pushing myself to get better. Last year I had one event in May that I trained hard for and then once that was done I was just doing the bare minimum to get a workout in, but nothing more. So far I have completed 5 of my races and can't believe how much I have improved already, can only get better from here!0
-
Planner. I usually pick two main races each year. I sign up for them waaaay in advance because....well....because I know I'm going to do them barring anything drastic. Then, along the way, I'll sign up for a tune-up race here and there or a race for a good cause.
But in our trail running community here, everything sells out pretty quickly so planning becomes necessary. Many of them, you have to sign up as soon as registration opens if you want to get in.0 -
Planner--I like to have a t-shirt that fits, plus I like to save $$. I have on my calendar the last days to sign up for races before the price increases.
I have been burned once, when I signed up me and my son for a race and he was ill. If that happens more often I may change my tune!0 -
Since I work for a race company all of our owned races are free to run. I will run about 30 this year. They also sponsor us to run other races that we don't own; example huge races like BolderBoulder or full/ultra marathons since we don't produce any of those. We also have other companies that sponsor those of us that run for our race company so they sponsor us in additional races. Yes, it's the best job ever in case you were wondering. Anyway, back to the question... Out of respect I plan most of my races around our company events and register for those well in advance because I know what goes into each step of planning an event. There's only so much that can be done to accommodate last minute registrants. On the other hand I have run a race on a whim occasionally. For example Endurance House (local running/tri store) was sponsoring a local fundraiser so I ran it with like 3 days notice. Half marathons and beyond I would like to plan for. I am running 12 in 12 months right now (Sept-Sept) and I couldn't just on a whim run an extra one. For 5k's it's a bit easier.0
-
I'm somewhere in between. I have all of the upcoming races written down in my calendar. I kind of know which ones I'm thinking about doing, but I rarely register in advance. I have 2 small kids and things just seem to pop up at the last minute. I'm usually a "show up the day of and register" kind of gal. I always prefer the "no t-shirt option" if given. Saves me a few bucks and I don't wear tshirts that often anyway.
ETA: This only goes for 5ks. I am already registered for my 2 halfs this year (one in september and one in october)0 -
Since I work for a race company all of our owned races are free to run. I will run about 30 this year. They also sponsor us to run other races that we don't own; example huge races like BolderBoulder or full/ultra marathons since we don't produce any of those.
I'm literally aching with envy.
That's fantastic! 0 -
Since I work for a race company all of our owned races are free to run. I will run about 30 this year. They also sponsor us to run other races that we don't own; example huge races like BolderBoulder or full/ultra marathons since we don't produce any of those.
I'm literally aching with envy. That's fantastic!
LOL! I would be too if I wasn't me haha. It's a great company and our directors are amazing people. I'm very fortunate! Now I just need to buy a medal display. ????0 -
I'm a planner. Since I run with a friend we have to check calenders to make sure we are both free on the date and stuff like that. I also like to save the money.. and get that 'free' tshirt!0
-
LOL! I would be too if I wasn't me haha. It's a great company and our directors are amazing people. I'm very fortunate! Now I just need to buy a medal display. ????
I use towel racks from Lowes to hold my medals. Works pretty well, and cheaper than an "official" medal display.
0 -
LOL! I would be too if I wasn't me haha. It's a great company and our directors are amazing people. I'm very fortunate! Now I just need to buy a medal display. ????
I use towel racks from Lowes to hold my medals. Works pretty well, and cheaper than an "official" medal display.
WOW!!! That's a lot of medals! I only have two medals so far.. most of the 5ks in this area don't give out medals... but I hope to get more and the towel rack is a brilliant idea for displaying them! Thanks for that idea! I was thinking of using some type of coat hook wall hanging thingy... 0
This discussion has been closed.