Disclaimer: I received a free entry to the Missoula Half Marathon, the Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago, and the Detroit Free Press/TCF Bank Half Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews!
Maybe summer will be here soon or maybe it won’t. In one day we can have 3 different seasons which is absolutely crazy. Regardless of whether it is cold, rainy, or hot, I have a couple of races planned for this year.
• Missoula Half Marathon, June 30 – I signed up for this race on December 16. That same day I also made my hotel reservation. I’ve been training for this race since then. At the end of May I realized that I didn’t have a flight reservation. I looked and it was too expensive. The cheapest from Midway was $619 (and it would take me 8 hours to get there) while the most expensive one was $1,060. I almost decided not to run the race because I didn’t want to pay that much money. Finally one day I found the shortest and cheapest flight. I paid $557 for the flight to Missoula. <<< In my opinion it is still too expensive. Holy frijoles! I am excited about it since many people have said it is a GREAT race. It will also be state #41 for me.
• Elmhurst 4 on the 4th, July 4 – This is a race I’ve been doing since 2013. I love the distance and the location. I would really, really like to get a PR. I am done and in my house with plenty of time to participate in the holiday festivities.
• Human Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago, July 21 – I’ve run the half marathon before but every year the weather is iffy. Last year it rained throughout the entire race (I was spectating) and it was scorching HOT in 2013. Thanks to BibRave I have the chance to run either the 5k, 10k, or half marathon. I asked my coach for her 2 cents. She told me that if I don’t run 13 miles that day, I would still need to do a long run. I guess the half marathon it is. Isn’t the medal pretty cool?
• Center of the Nation|Mainly Marathons, August 21-August 23 – I have not signed up but I will as soon as I can. The registration fee is $115 per race till August 1. I just realized that $115 is a lot of money for a half marathon. I don’t want to wait too long either because of the flight reservation. My first race is in Wyoming and Southwest doesn’t fly there so I would need to fly to Salt Lake City, Denver, or Boise and then take another flight or rent a car to Sundance, WY. The next races are in South Dakota and then North Dakota. I hope I can find someone to travel with me. I don’t mind traveling alone for one race but this is 3 races. I could use the company. Want to join me?
• Detroit Free Press, TCF Bank Half Marathon, October 20 – I am registered for the race, have airline and hotel reservation. Whew! If I end up doing the 3 races in August, this race will be state #45 for me. I’ve never been to Detroit but am more excited to travel to both downtown Detroit and Windsor, Ontario and crossing the border at both the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.
I might add to my schedule the Santa Fe Thunder in New Mexico on September 15. Not sure how I would feel running another half marathon after running 3 of them 3 weeks before. Someone did warn me about the elevation but she also told me that it is a fun and well organized race. The race is point-to-point but with a 1,000 foot net downhill. This race will be #46 and then a race in South Carolina in December (#47) will leave me with 4 half marathons in 2020. Yes or no to the race in New Mexico?
This week’s Tuesday Topic: What are your Summer running plans and/or race schedule? You can write about this topic, or feel free to post any running related blog post. Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Remember to come back for later linkers!
That Missoula half would be awesome! I’ve got a couple local 5ks and 10ks on my calendar; there’s a half in Busse Woods in July but that all depends on how I’m feeling. Nothing exciting, but hey, it feels good to move!
How fun that you have a couple of 5ks and 10ks in your calendar! Excited for you! I saw the news about the incident in Busse Woods. So scary! I am angry that he is out on bond? Did I read that correctly?
I think it’s crazy when flights get so expensive like that! Glad you were able to find one, though!! The Santa Fe thing is tough…not sure what I would do!
I am looking for a flight to go to Mexico and once again flights are so expensive. it is almost $600 and I still have to pay extra for luggage (carry on in free). Part of me wants to go to Santa Fe to cross off another state but then another part doesn’t think it is a good idea.
Sounds like you have some awesome races lined up for the summer. I have done the RnR Chicago race 3 times and it’s one of my favorites. I’m not doing it this year because I’ll be there in October for the marathon.
RnR Chicago is usually fun but it sucks with the weather. I am hoping that with the late start to summer, it won’t be hot on race day. Crossing my fingers!
Lots of traveling for you 😉 Yes, I remember Chicago last year and all the rain! I ran that in 2014, also, and that year it was especially hot. No regrets, on either, because I loved seeing all the Chicago sights 😉
I remember I saw you last year right before the finish line!
You do have an exciting summer race schedule ahead! I hope your weather for Chicago is better than last year!
Thanks. Me too. I am hoping that this late start to summer extends to late July. 🙂
These all sound awesome! I wish i had some longer races coming up, but it’s just too hot to train or race anything more than a 10K in Florida during the summer.
Oh yeah, I’ve heard about the hot weather in Florida.
You’ve got a lot of exciting races coming up! Holy smokes on that Montana flight. This is the reason it’s so hard to race there and in Idaho. You’re getting so close to 50 states, I’d say go for New Mexico.
I almost cried when I saw the cost. The worst part about it is that I will only be there for one day and won’t get a chance to do explore the area.
Wow! You are traveling to a lot of races! I love having a full race calendar. I heard those Mainly Marathons are very well-organized and fun. 3 races in 3 days is a lot. I wish I could join you, but we will be traveling ourselves that week. Of course, I say “Go for it” in NM.
I have also heard great things about the Mainly Marathons but simply would like some company. At least to do some of the driving too. I don’t like driving that much. Oh well. You are the second person that tells me to do the NM race. 🙂
Wow. You are almost done. I can’t imagine doing all 50 states.
You definitely have some interesting races on your schedule.
I plan to run Zooma Aruba. I am nervous about the cost.
I am excited to be almost done. Who knows what I will do when I am done with my goal. Aruba has to be expensive but I am sure lots of fun!
Looks like a really fun race schedule! I hope the weather for RnR Chicago is better this year!
Me too! I hope that the late start to summer extends to late July. 🙂
Oh man, I WISH I could join you for those halfs AND Thunderdome (which I have definitely considered). It’s just not in the cards for me right now.
I will be racing on the 4th, it’s usually way to hot (starts at 9) for a PR, but the weather has been so wacky who knows?
Now you don’t know what to expect with the weather. Hopefully you have great racing weather on the 4th!
Right now it looks like it might rain (which usually feels good for that race) but this far ahead I always figure that means it’ll be dry (and therefore way too hot).
Hard to tell. Looks like it could be warm & rainy (which usually means it’ll just be warm, and that’s the norm for this race).
It’s always fun, though, and has great spectator support.
Wow, I hadn’t realized you had raced in almost all 50 states, that is so cool! I SO wish I could’ve been selected for RNR Chicago, that’s been on my bucket list for ages. Love the medal!
I hope you have a great time at Missoula – I’m glad you were able to find a cheaper flight!
Yep, almost done and I am excited about it. Hopefully one day you get a chance to run RnR Chicago. It is a fun race but the weather is always wacky!
Unfortunately $500 is pretty normal for ‘tourist season’ flights to Montana. It costs a lot to fly between here and anywhere expect Denver pretty much. I’ve heard the Missoula half is really fun though!
Ugh, I had no idea it would be that expensive. I have heard the same thing about the race. Excited about it!