Another race suggestion question

[Anonymous]

Any upcoming Oct/Nov/Dec races that anyone recommends? Either for fun, or timed?

Has anyone run the USATF 12k road race in Alexandria (http://www.national12k.us/Home.aspx)? Is it worth the $70 registration fee?

[Anonymous]

This is a great time of year for fun races. The Veterans Day 10K is always a well-run race in DC. We love the Goblin Gallop 5K in Fairfax or the Boo! 10K in DC.

Pick any Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. We prefer the 5-miler in Alexandria.

Jingle Bell 8K, Celtic Solstice 5-miler, Fairfax Four Miler on New Year's Eve.

These are some of our favorites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a great time of year for fun races. The Veterans Day 10K is always a well-run race in DC. We love the Goblin Gallop 5K in Fairfax or the Boo! 10K in DC.

Pick any Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. We prefer the 5-miler in Alexandria.

Jingle Bell 8K, Celtic Solstice 5-miler, Fairfax Four Miler on New Year's Eve.

These are some of our favorites.

New poster here-- I was at a different race a couple months ago (Charles St. 12 miler) and another runner told me about the Celtic Solstice (and how a lot of people run just for the AWESOME jacket race premium!) and he said it typically fills quickly. I looked for a website and it looks like registration isn't open yet
http://www.baltimorerunning.com/calendar_event/details/47/celtic-solstice

I wish I could run it, but I already have a different race that day.

The Baltimore running Festival is in a few weeks and has a 5k, a relay, a half marathon, and a full marathon....and really cute medals!
http://www.thebaltimoremarathon.com/

OP, where are you (DC, MD, VA?) and how far are you willing to travel? And what distance are you looking for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a great time of year for fun races. The Veterans Day 10K is always a well-run race in DC. We love the Goblin Gallop 5K in Fairfax or the Boo! 10K in DC.

Pick any Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. We prefer the 5-miler in Alexandria.

Jingle Bell 8K, Celtic Solstice 5-miler, Fairfax Four Miler on New Year's Eve.

These are some of our favorites.

New poster here-- I was at a different race a couple months ago (Charles St. 12 miler) and another runner told me about the Celtic Solstice (and how a lot of people run just for the AWESOME jacket race premium!) and he said it typically fills quickly. I looked for a website and it looks like registration isn't open yet
http://www.baltimorerunning.com/calendar_event/details/47/celtic-solstice

I wish I could run it, but I already have a different race that day.

The Baltimore running Festival is in a few weeks and has a 5k, a relay, a half marathon, and a full marathon....and really cute medals!
http://www.thebaltimoremarathon.com/

OP, where are you (DC, MD, VA?) and how far are you willing to travel? And what distance are you looking for?

OP here--

That's both pps for the suggestions!! I live in VA, inside the Beltway. I think I'm willing to travel as far as necessary, without needing a hotel for an early morning race. Distance-wise, 5-10k are good (but 10ks continuously are still challenging). The 12k Road Race is probably my max distance at this point.

[Anonymous]

Just stay local...there are a ton!
Have you seen runwashington.Com lately???

Turkey trots galore (vienna, centerville), goblin galops (fairfax corner), and that is just off the top of my head.

[Anonymous]

https://potomacriverrunning.com/races/

Potomac River Running Store offers lots of races around 5k-10k distances.

[Anonymous]

http://www.metrorunwalkspringfield.com/run-walk-live
races at Burke Lake Nov and Dec. October one in Springfield.

[Anonymous]

I did the Alexandria 12k last year and really liked it! I'm doing it again this year - although I live a few blocks from the start/finish so it's pretty much a no-brainer. The event is really well done and it's cool to be in the same event as elite runners, even though I never actually saw any of them on the course...my husband was excited to take some pictures of them running.

[Anonymous]

I kind of want to run the USATF road race 12k, but I'm super slow. Right now I can complete a 10k in about 56-57 mins. Looking at the past results of the race (http://www.albanyrunningexchange.org/results/search.php?ID=3589), I would finish around pretty close to last. Which I know, is better than not trying at all, but still makes me self conscious...

[Anonymous]

I did it last year and my 10k time is around 61-62 minutes. I was definitely on the slow side (the 75+ year old masters competitors were near/ahead of me) but I already know I'm a slow runner so I don't mind. Plus the race will probably be bigger this year since last year was the first time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I kind of want to run the USATF road race 12k, but I'm super slow. Right now I can complete a 10k in about 56-57 mins. Looking at the past results of the race (http://www.albanyrunningexchange.org/results/search.php?ID=3589), I would finish around pretty close to last. Which I know, is better than not trying at all, but still makes me self conscious...

Since when is a sub 1 hr 10K considered super slow?? Those are 9 minute miles! Who are you comparing yourself to and why?? This is why new runners are so intimidated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I kind of want to run the USATF road race 12k, but I'm super slow. Right now I can complete a 10k in about 56-57 mins. Looking at the past results of the race (http://www.albanyrunningexchange.org/results/search.php?ID=3589), I would finish around pretty close to last. Which I know, is better than not trying at all, but still makes me self conscious...

Since when is a sub 1 hr 10K considered super slow?? Those are 9 minute miles! Who are you comparing yourself to and why?? This is why new runners are so intimidated.

PP here. For me I feel like it's slow, because I still can't run 10k continuously, and need to take about 2 short breaks to walk. It's possible that I need to slow my pace to retain the energy to run it without stopping, but it's hard to do. I've only been running for a little over a year, so I feel extremely intimidated too, as a new runner! I think it's still hard to gauge how I'm doing, but a lot of people probably feel this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I kind of want to run the USATF road race 12k, but I'm super slow. Right now I can complete a 10k in about 56-57 mins. Looking at the past results of the race (http://www.albanyrunningexchange.org/results/search.php?ID=3589), I would finish around pretty close to last. Which I know, is better than not trying at all, but still makes me self conscious...

Since when is a sub 1 hr 10K considered super slow?? Those are 9 minute miles! Who are you comparing yourself to and why?? This is why new runners are so intimidated.

PP here. For me I feel like it's slow, because I still can't run 10k continuously, and need to take about 2 short breaks to walk. It's possible that I need to slow my pace to retain the energy to run it without stopping, but it's hard to do. I've only been running for a little over a year, so I feel extremely intimidated too, as a new runner! I think it's still hard to gauge how I'm doing, but a lot of people probably feel this way.

You can. Just not at that pace. Which, by the way, is fast. The fact that you can maintain it for over 6 miles is impressive. Who cares if you have to break once, twice or three times? But if it's important to you then slow down just a bit. Or incorporate hill and speed work. Those two things will do much more for your long distance endurance and pace than running the long distance. I've been running consistently for over a year. I workout 6 days a week and am in great shape (although I prefer lifting to cardio, but do both) and just broke a 9 minute mile THIS MORNING! lol So congratulate yourself on being a badass runner and go hit some sprints.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I kind of want to run the USATF road race 12k, but I'm super slow. Right now I can complete a 10k in about 56-57 mins. Looking at the past results of the race (http://www.albanyrunningexchange.org/results/search.php?ID=3589), I would finish around pretty close to last. Which I know, is better than not trying at all, but still makes me self conscious...

Since when is a sub 1 hr 10K considered super slow?? Those are 9 minute miles! Who are you comparing yourself to and why?? This is why new runners are so intimidated.

PP here. For me I feel like it's slow, because I still can't run 10k continuously, and need to take about 2 short breaks to walk. It's possible that I need to slow my pace to retain the energy to run it without stopping, but it's hard to do. I've only been running for a little over a year, so I feel extremely intimidated too, as a new runner! I think it's still hard to gauge how I'm doing, but a lot of people probably feel this way.

You can. Just not at that pace. Which, by the way, is fast. The fact that you can maintain it for over 6 miles is impressive. Who cares if you have to break once, twice or three times? But if it's important to you then slow down just a bit. Or incorporate hill and speed work. Those two things will do much more for your long distance endurance and pace than running the long distance. I've been running consistently for over a year. I workout 6 days a week and am in great shape (although I prefer lifting to cardio, but do both) and just broke a 9 minute mile THIS MORNING! lol So congratulate yourself on being a badass runner and go hit some sprints.

NP here. Did you use an app as a guide to incorporate your hill and speed work? I want to start running 10Ks, but I seem to tap out around 4 miles and am looking for some resources to assist me with building endurance. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I kind of want to run the USATF road race 12k, but I'm super slow. Right now I can complete a 10k in about 56-57 mins. Looking at the past results of the race (http://www.albanyrunningexchange.org/results/search.php?ID=3589), I would finish around pretty close to last. Which I know, is better than not trying at all, but still makes me self conscious...

Since when is a sub 1 hr 10K considered super slow?? Those are 9 minute miles! Who are you comparing yourself to and why?? This is why new runners are so intimidated.

PP here. For me I feel like it's slow, because I still can't run 10k continuously, and need to take about 2 short breaks to walk. It's possible that I need to slow my pace to retain the energy to run it without stopping, but it's hard to do. I've only been running for a little over a year, so I feel extremely intimidated too, as a new runner! I think it's still hard to gauge how I'm doing, but a lot of people probably feel this way.

You can. Just not at that pace. Which, by the way, is fast. The fact that you can maintain it for over 6 miles is impressive. Who cares if you have to break once, twice or three times? But if it's important to you then slow down just a bit. Or incorporate hill and speed work. Those two things will do much more for your long distance endurance and pace than running the long distance. I've been running consistently for over a year. I workout 6 days a week and am in great shape (although I prefer lifting to cardio, but do both) and just broke a 9 minute mile THIS MORNING! lol So congratulate yourself on being a badass runner and go hit some sprints.

NP here. Did you use an app as a guide to incorporate your hill and speed work? I want to start running 10Ks, but I seem to tap out around 4 miles and am looking for some resources to assist me with building endurance. Thanks!

I don't know of apps that find hills, but bridges and overpasses are easy ways to build up hill endurance. The Woodrow Wilson bridge is a great one. If that's too far, find smaller bridges with a pedestrian path, alongside a road. Find some up/down combination that works for you (run up/walk down, or run up/down one rep, then walk up/down the next one).