TGIF, y’all! Sorry ’bout the radio silence yesterday. I took an unexpected rest day from blogging. On the one hand, it was nice to not have to worry about a Thursday post. But on the other hand, I kind of missed it. I know I’ve mentioned before that I may take my blogging down to three or four days a week — just undecided if (or when) it’s gonna happen.
Luckily I’m here today and that’s what matters, right? And today is the first Friday Five 2.0 of the New Year! Wahoo!
Quick recap of this week — I’ve posted a few things that may be of interest to you:
Intentions for Health and Happiness in 2017
Coaching, Running and Family Time
Special Considerations for Athletes with Hypermobility
Friday Five 2.0
Today’s topic for the Friday Five 2.0 is “goals, resolutions for the New Year.” Since I already touched on that topic last week with 2017 Goals and Aspirations, I thought I’d go in a slightly different, though very much related, direction with five races I’d like to try in 2017.
I’ve got several races on my calendar so far. Included on this list are
- Hoosier Half Marathon
- 20-Mile Drop
- Football Hall of Fame Half Marathon
- Cleveland Half Marathon
- Rock Hall Half Marathon
- Northern Ohio Half Marathon
- Marine Corps Marathon
Many of these are repeat races for me and most I have not signed up for yet. I’m really hoping I can make Hoosier Half work but it depends heavily on school for my kids and travel-ability with the dogs. So that’s a big question mark. But it’s a super fun race and I would love to do it again.
I’m training for the 20-Mile Drop as well as the Football Hall of Fame Half and Cleveland Half. Rock Hall and Northern Ohio (both half marathons) are among my very favorite races and will definitely be on the calendar at some point here in the very near future.
Marine Corps Marathon is a question mark because of the whole lottery thing, and I’m terrible at fundraising. If I get in through the lottery MCM will absolutely be on the 2017 race list.
There are several races that I would love to do in 2017 (plus two in 2018 — but they count because they’re in February and that’s just not gonna happen this year!) that I’ve not run before. They’re all contenders for different reasons and I won’t be able to make them all happen in 2017 — but I can try! Check out my 2017 Bucket List Races:
2017 Bucket List Races
Grandma’s Marathon (June 17, 2017)
I so badly want to run Grandma’s Marathon. I don’t even know why. Maybe because it follows along the shoreline of Lake Superior. It could be because it’s a relatively small race (ish). Or perhaps I could be longing to return to the area that made such a large impact on my life 20+ years ago. It might even be because there are some amazing people that are running it and I need to meet them in person! Regardless, Grandma’s has made the top of my list for 2017. I’m even considering bumping other races to make it happen. I have to really dig and see if it will be feasible because if it is, we’d be planning a rather large vacation around it. Fingers crossed!!!
Fall Classic (November 19, 2017)
The Fall Classic is a half marathon relatively nearby that I’ve been eyeing for a couple years now. I’ve heard mixed reviews about the course, though, and it’s usually held at the end of November which can be hit or miss with the weather. But it looks like fun and I know a ton of people that run it every year and love it. This one is on my list for 2017 — depending on the weather. 😉
Towpath Half Marathon (October 8, 2017)
The Towpath Trilogy consists of the Towpath Half, Towpath Ten-Ten, and the Towpath Marathon. For my purposes, I would opt for the Towpath Marathon in October, which also features half and 10K distances. I do a lot of my distance training runs on the towpath so it would be an easy race to slip onto the calendar. Course familiarity and location FTW.
Sedona Half Marathon (February 2018)
The Sedona Half Marathon is one of my cheat races for 2017 and here’s why: it’s in February and there’s no way I’ll be able to get myself together by race date this year. So I’m tacking it onto the “2017” list even though the race will technically be in 2018. Sedona makes the list because a) I’ve seen others post amazing things about it and b) Sedona is breathtakingly beautiful. But…
The Phoenix Marathon (February 2018)
The Phoenix Marathon might beat out Sedona. It would be incredibly easy for me to get to — 3/5 of my family lives in Phoenix. I would have an automatic place to stay. I would have home cooked meals during my trip, and it would be as low stress as a racecation could possibly be. Plus, have you seen the medal? The Phoenix Marathon also comes with rave reviews from fellow bloggers that ran it a couple years ago so I know I would be heading to a great race. Plus, have you SEEN the medal?! I don’t even like medals but apparently I like this one enough to mention it twice. But again, a February race date isn’t going to happen for me so I’m also bumping this one into 2017 even though it will technically be 2018 by the time it happens.
I have a million other races on my bucket list — everything from a road 50K (or two) to trail festival heaven (actually two there as well). But not all races can make the list for this year so whatever I don’t run will be stored in my pocket for future use.
I hope you’ll continue to join the lovely ladies of Fairytales and Fitness and myself for the Friday Five 2.0 through 2017. We’ve just posted topics for the months of February and March. We decided to keep the topics fairly open-ended so you could get creative with them if you so choose. We love reading your posts. 🙂
Happy running, friends!
xo
TALK TO ME!
What’s one race on your bucket list for 2017?
What’s an amazing race you ran in 2016 that should go on my race bucket list?
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70 Comments
Looks like you had some fun races planned for this year! Im not signing up for anything just yet, but Im hoping I can work towards a fall race. Maybe also a few last minute short, local races in the late spring/summer!
I hope I can run them all! Seems like a lot when I look at it in a billeted list… lol!
I’ve heard such wonderful things about Grandma’s! I hope you enjoy it!
Me too! I hope I can make it happen!
You know I did my first BQ at Phoenix, right? It is a well planned race, but not very scenic, JSYK. But it is a fast course, and if you run it correctly, it can really be a great RACE. Not a run, but a RACE.
Not sure I would put it on your bucket list, though.
More of a bucket list because it’s in sunny PHX and my family lives there. ?
Ummmm….. Grandma’s????? YES!!!!! I ran it in 2015 and procrastinated too long last year and didn’t get in before it closed. Beautiful course (although my experience involved a few hours of rain), and a huge expo with non-stop crowd support. I’m gonna be there this year, it would be awesome to see ya there, too 😉
Yasssssssss!!!! I need to make this happen!!!
I am signed up for 2 halfs in 2017 and am still trying to decide about a third. I hear you on going to races with other bloggers there — it’s so much fun! I always struggle with my one and done thing — as it is, I may never finish all 50 states!
I am really waffling on that third — spring, fall, late fall . . .
Sedona was AMAZING. And you can drive there from Phoenix. Running there was HARD — elevation + hills — but just oh so satisfying. I always thought I’d do my AZ half there, but I think I’m glad I didn’t — it might just have killed me.
Haha you would have survived!
I had Sedona on my list a couple years ago and then when I saw your race recap it jumped back on the list. 🙂
Great races. For the first time in ages, I’m looking at adding new races to my calendar. Grandma’s is tempting, but only the half!
It’s kind of fun to add new races! It’s hard to juggle the training and traveling sometimes though.
Wow you do have lots of fun races on your schedule this year! I have not done any of them so look forward to hearing all about it. Thanks for the linkup today
One of these days we will meet up in Bloomington. 🙂 Maybe this year??
I hope so! I am not up to doing the half this spring but maybe next year.
Deal!
Not sure if I’m running MCM, but if you come down, we should meet up!
Who are you kidding? You’re totally doing MCM. And we should absolutely meet up! 🙂
I’m checking off one of my bucket list distances this year: 70.3! An amazing race I ran in 2016 is the Maui Oceanfront 10K–there’s also a half and a full marathon so a distance for everyone 🙂
Wahoo!!!! That’s awesome, Stacey!! GET IT!
What a great year ahead! I would LOVE to do the Sedona Marathon. I went to school in AZ but this before they had a race up there. It’s just so beautiful there! I did the first Phoenix Marathon a few years ago. It was a fun race!
Do I smell the beginnings of a Sedona blogger meetup in 2018…? 🙂 I’m in if you are.
And I see YOU have an amazing 2017 on tap! I’m going to finish reading your post now.
Grandma’s is at the top of my race bucket list. I actually was registered for it in 2012, and kinda regret the DNS, but I ended up moving out of state that same month. I think I’m so drawn to it because I’ll always be a Minnesotan at heart, and my uncle has run it many times and I’d like to follow in his footsteps. One year, I’ll make it to the race.
Moving and a marathon is a lot to handle at the same time. One of those is a lot to handle on its own, I can’t imagine doing both!
You’ll get there eventually. And maybe I’ll see you! If I get there… haha. 🙂
So many exciting races on the list! I’m still working on shaping up my 2017 race list. I might try one in Columbus in October.
Which one? Columbus Marathon?
Yep, the Nationwide one in October. I’m hoping to convince my brother to run it as his first half marathon.
Fun!! I’ve heard such great things about Columbus. Have you run it before?
I signed up for the Bolder Boulder before I even decided to move to Boulder. It is a bucket list race, and now will be the first race I can train for in the town it’s held.
That’s great! It was meant to be. 🙂
You’ve got some really cool races on your radar! I’ve heard great things about Grandma’s Marathon as well …beautiful scenery! The 20 Mile Drop race sounds really cool …with pancakes at the finish, why wouldn’t anyone want to run that!!
Good luck with getting in the lottery for the MCM! Happy New Year!
Thank you so much! I hope I can make MCM and Grandma’s happen this year. It would be amazing.
The 20 mile drop is a really fun race. And beautiful, too!
You’ve got some great races on your bucket list! Sedona is on my radar too and I would also have to consider 2018! I would love to do a race in San Francisco one day, as long as I get to run over the Golden Gate Bridge! And I still need to do a race in NYC!
Mark it down for 2018. Let’s make it happen!
Great races… I would love to run Grandma’s and Sedona as well.
Mark your calendar for Sedona 2018. Let’s make it a blogger race! 🙂
I hope you can make Grandma’s work our for you. I’ve heard so many great things about that race!
Thanks for the link-up 🙂
Me too. It would be so awesome.
Thanks for linking up!
I’ve done Towpath the past two years and LOVE it! One of my favorites for sure.
I remember that! Are you coming back in 2017?
I have considered Grandma’s in pretty good detail. I know several people going and it would be so cool. But I’d be doing the last of my training in May which is pretty hot here and that’s after a heavy race schedule since last October! I just don’t see how I can get it done this year!
Thanks for the link up! I sure plan on participating in more!
Ah, it would be so cool if you came!! Maybe you can get it done…? Maybe?? 😉
I had a friend a few yrs back that ran the Grandma’s marathon and she said it was a great race and fairly flat.
Ironically, that’s the one thing I’m a little nervous about. I don’t tend to do well with flat courses!
Hooray for putting races on the calendar. I am a ‘last minute decision maker’ in some regards… I might be in training, but sign up for a race on a whim. We’ll see how that goes this year 😉
The only reason I sign up early is because those race registrations add up quickly! #earlybirdforthewin!
RnR Nashville is a bucket list race that I’m hoping to knock off this year. The hills in Nashville are a little intimidating but the plan is to run it with my sister as her first half marathon.
One of our favorite races is the Syracuse Half Marathon. The last couple of years have brought some crazy weather (its March in Upstate NY) but its so well run with great crowd support and awesome swag as well!
One of my clients ran Nashville as her first half and loved it! It was years ago, though, so not sure if the course is the same.
Those both sound like amazing races!!
I have heard such wonderful things about Granmda’s! I hope you can make it work out this year.
Me too 🙂 Thank you!
On my list is the Football Hall of Fame Race and of course eventually all of the “major” marathons! And get the Immortal medal for Ragnar by running 12 Ragnar races in a single year. #dreams!
Yes! Those are awesome races. Are you registered for Football HOF this year?
Great races! I’d love to run Marine Corps some day but the lottery is such a big question mark. I’m excited to run Chicago marathon this year. Thanks for hosting the linkup!
Sounds like a great list of races! I’ve heard great things about Grandma’s. I’d love to do that one sometime.
I’ve heard great things, too. I hope I can get there!!
Ummmm…yes! Grandmas! I think we’ll have a blast! Sedona would be fun for next year. I’m going to put it on my list.
I know, I’m working hard on the Grandma’s thing. Must. Make. It. Happen!
Sedona would be awesome for 2018. 🙂
A great choice of runs Rachel and entering them keeps us motivated doesn’t it? At the end of each year, the ladies I run with – we call ourselves the Saturday Sisters – plan which runs we will do for the following year and then put our training into place. Good luck with your races and I love seeing others achieve. 🙂
Aw I love that! What a great idea. 🙂
Eek you have a busy racing year coming up!! I really REALLY hope you get into Grandma’s! Fingers majorly crossed.
ME TOO. I’m doing my due diligence tomorrow and scoping out all the fixin’s of a long vaca. Stay tuned!
Sounds like a good list! I can’t imagine running a half marathon or marathon in June (but then I live in the south where it’s so miserably hot then). The only two races I’ve got on my radar for 2017 are the Cooper River Bridge Run (I have a bone to pick with that race) and the Kiawah Island Half Marathon. I’ve been sick for most of 2016 and while I ran both of those races last year, they were terrible times for me, so I want to get healthy and really race them. Plus, they’re gorgeous courses.
Aw, I hope you have better races in 2017. It’s tough being sick and unable to do well!
The Arizona ones sound cool. I’ve read read about several bloggers who ran the Towpath one last year. I don’t remember who though. It must be a good one! -M
You could mark Sedona on your calendar… just sayin’ 😉 Sounds like we might be able to put together a blogger race-cation. Lol!
Totally forgot to link up! I did Grandma’s and Phoenix in 2015. Two thumbs up for both. The weather really matters for both. It POURED rain on us before Grandma’s. It was unforgettable. the course is amazing and it’s beautiful up there. It belongs on the bucket list. Phoenix is less pretty but nice, fast course!
I need to get some bucket list races on my calendar. This may be my CIM year. I’ve been wanting to do it forever.
I need to get to grandmas!! Ack!
All of these races sound amazing! I want to run the Grandma’s Marathon just for the fact that it’s called Grandma’s Marathon 😛 I ran the NYC Half for the first time in 2016 and would highly recommend it! For me, I’ve got the Air BnB Brooklyn half on my list for 2017 since I haven’t had the chance to run it yet.
I know right? What a funny name. 🙂 Can’t wait to hear about Airbnb!
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