2011 Race Schedule - Check!

This weekend I put together my racing calendar for 2011. My goals for this upcoming year are:

• Run several half marathons
• Run 1 or 2 full marathons
• Do several sprint triathlons
• Do 1 or 2 Olympic triathlons
• Mayyyybeeee shoot for a 70.3 race by the fall

As I laid out my race calendar and looked up half marathons, full marathons, and triathlons, I was startled by how much race fees have increased over the years. When I started running distance races back in 2005 a half marathon was usually $65-85, and a full marathon was $85-100. Now the races were going for $85-$120 for a half, and $90-$140 for a full. Are you kidding me?!

Miss Cheapskate

My theory is that with the increase in popularity of distance racing, race organizers have increased fees because those people who are running their first race are willing to pay a higher fee for a big event. For people like me who want to run a lot of events in one year, this sucks. This is only my theory, but I can't imagine that all of the other factors that go into race organization have led to a 50% increase in race prices over the past few  years. I don't mean to be cheap, but I can run anything but a marathon on my own during a training run. I'm okay paying for the experience, but don't make me pay so much that I have to pick and choose which races I can do over an entire year. Sheesh!

I've committed to running the full San Francisco Marathon in July, but also wanted to run a full in spring as a tune-up. Preferably a flat course of course since I doubt SF will be a PR for me. I also want to run several halfs since that is my new favorite distance, and of course now that I'm a "triathlete" I want to work some tris in. I am new to the sport of triathlon and not great at running or swimming, so I was looking for female only events that were less competitive. Unfortunately I couldn't find anything I wanted to put in my calendar for sure for next year, so as it stands I plan on doing the Tri Club's free races as they are announced, and maybe in the Fall I'll sign up for some tris organized by other groups.

My Calendar

I have two races coming up between now and the end of the year. I'm running the Nitro Turkey Trot in Pinole on Thanksgiving, and then the Gladiator Rock N Run (a 5K obstacle course/mud race) in Irvine on December 4th.

For next year I've decided to do the Triple Crown half marathon series which consists of the Carlsbad Half Marathon, La Jolla Half Marathon, and the America's Finest City Marathon. I've only registered for the first of the three so far (I can't commit so far out because of my work travel schedule) but if I'm in town those weekends I'll do the race.

Ready for the 2011 line-up so far?

• 1/9/11 - Resolution Run (15K)
• 1/23/11 - Carlsbad Half Marathon
• 2/13/11 - San Dieguito Half Marathon
• 4/17/11 - La Jolla Half Marathon
• 7/31/11 - San Francisco Marathon
• 8/21/11 - America's Finest City Half Marathon

I will most likely run a full either in the spring (LA Marathon?) or the fall (hmmm... any suggestions?), and will also do several tris. I originally thought about training for Barb's Race which is the only women's only 70.3 distance triathlon, but unfortunately its the same weekend of the SF Marathon. Maybe I'll do it next year! In the 70.3 series the only other one I'd consider for next year is the Austin race which is 11/23/11. We'll see how my early spring races go and maybe that will be my ultimate tri goal!

It was fun putting together this calendar and I'm excited for all of these races coming up. If you're in town for any of these races and want to run with me, let me know!