This year at the Rock ‘n Roll 5K in Phoenix, that’s what many 5K runners got to do. The 5K is part of the Phoenix Rock ‘n Roll Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K Remix Challenge. A weekend long celebration of running.
Several elite runners including Ryan Hall, Steve Scott, Ben Bruce, Dylan Wykes, Stephanie Rothstein Bruce and Alan Webb served as pacers at the first ever Rock ‘n’ Roll 5k in Arizona. The 5K was run the Saturday before the big events on Sunday.
Ryan paced the 7:30 group.
Only in running can the average athlete participate on the same field and the same event as the elites. It is one of the many things that makes our sport special and exciting.
Photo: Rock ‘n Roll Marathon
Meb Keflezighi is scheduled to pace the Rock ‘n Roll San Antonio10K on December 4th, 2015! And he’s running the marathon the next day! Meb will be taking it easy and pacing the 7:30 group for the 5K.
I don’t think many people will be keeping up with him for the marathon.
Check out the full scheduleof Rock ‘n Roll Marathons for details and who will be there.
These are weekend long running events. Some have elite runners running as pacers at the 5K or 10K the day before the marathon. Others, such as Chicago, have elite runners conducting training events. Shalane Flanagan will be at Chicago in July.
This post was not sponsored by the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon Series, but I’d consider a complimentary entry! It sounds like a wicked good time!
Here is a list of Marathons and Half Marathons for New York State.
If you are a race director and I either missed your race or have some of my information wrong, please contact me. I will be happy to update my list with the latest information.
NYCRUNS has an extensive calendar of all races in New York and many races in neighboring states. If you are looking for a Marathon, Half, 10K or 5K in New York State, their listing is extensive. They also list various trail runs and races of other distances.
The New York City Marathon is a World Class marathon. Much like Boston, it is difficult to get a number for New York. New York State offers a number of other marathon options that can give you the “Big City” feel or the “Small Town” Charm. There is truly something for every taste in New York.
Some of the Half Marathons are in far-flung corners of the state. The CNY Bread Run Half & 5K is in Fabius, NY which the organizers assure us “Fabius, NY is not at the end of the Earth…” If you are looking for a “Destination” race, some of these smaller Marathons or Half Marathons may be just what you are looking for.
The Race and the Memories
The smallest marathon I have run so far ended up being one of the most memorable. Often these smaller races are more personal and intimate: it can feel like the community has embraced you. You may end up seeing the few hundred participants several times over the course of the race weekend. You will eat together, you will sweat and swear together. After the race you will get to celebrate together. It can be a truly remarkable experience.
I have run Boston six times and Hartford, which is also a large race. There is a certain excitement to being with thousands of fellow travelers. When you walk down the street in a city on Marathon Weekend and see someone else in race gear, you know. It just takes a glance and a nod. The Tribe has arrived and something big is about to happen. It is exciting. You are part of the Event that every one has prepared for and is expecting. There is a vibe and a pulse that you can feel.
Big City and Small Town offer completely different experiences. The struggle to the finish line is varied only by the terrain and the weather. Each marathon has 26.2 miles, but each is a unique experience that is a thrill to be part of.
3rd installment of my 50 state series on Marathon and Half Marathon races in The US.
Vermont is a small state with a population of just 626,741 as reported in the 2010 Census. Vermont has over 9,200 mostly beautiful square miles and offers many opportunities for hiking, cycling and running. The ample woods and streams provide many opportunities for hunting and fishing as well. The state web site lists a wide variety of outdoor recreation activities, but does not have any information on running activities.
I only found four marathons and twenty half-marathons, which is typical for a state of this size.
The big race in Vermont is the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon and Relay. This race takes place on Sunday May 25th and had over 2,600 participants in 2013. This race has a two-day EXPO where runners can pick up their bib and shop with over 70 local and national exhibitors. All Marathon and 2-person relay runners receive a medal.
Like Boston or Hartford, Burlington has a full Marathon Weekend including the 2 day EXPO, pasta dinner and post race festivities. On Saturday they have the Mini Marathon for kids with distances of 1/2 mile, 1 mile and 2 miles.
Here is my list of Vermont Marathons and Half-Marathons for 2014.
Hartford Marathon Foundation produces an extensive schedule of races in the greater Hartford area.
While the BAA overshadows the HMF with the Boston Marathon, the HMF schedule starts in March and goes through December.
Their calendar of events includes 5Ks, 10Ks, Duathlons, Triathlons and of course The Hartford Marathon.
Many of their events include the FitKids Run fun run, with distances ranging from 50 yards for 2 year olds up to a 1 mile run for 9-11 year olds. All participants receive a finisher’s medal and either a cotton t-shirt or a “Super Kid” cape.
How cool is that! Can you imagine being 5 years old and getting a cape, and a medal? I applaud their efforts to include children in their events and hopefully inspire the next generation of runners.
I’m really impressed with this organization and the number and variety of events they manage. If you live within an hour of Hartford, you should be checking out their event calendar. Many of their races are in neighboring towns and could be close to you. Continue reading “Hartford Marathon Foundation”
Here is my first installment of State by State Marathons and Half Marathons for 2014.
This time of year not too many people are thinking about races in Maine, unless you are a race director. Even a modest race takes many hours and days of planning. There are meetings to organize the committee or core group that is organizing the race. There are meetings with public safety officials and donations and sponsorships to be arranged.
Even the smallest race at the end of a gravel road took a considerable effort by someone to make happen. While you are looking at your race calendar for the summer and fall, I hope you will consider some of these races.
Changes from last year
To help with formatting I have combined the columns for Medal and Expo. Now I will just list Y or N. If a medal is given just to half marathon runners I will specify with “1/2”. I have 2014 dates for most races, but not all.
Race series can take you to new places and running new races, all of which helps keep things fresh and exciting.
Many race series allow you to sign up once for all of the races. Some races in a series may sell out fast, so registering for the complete race series can give you peace of mind.
Here in New England we have several storied series, including the “Will Run for Beer Series“. This series is sponsored by Smuttynose Brewing and LOCO Sports.
It consists of nine 5k,10k and half marathon races that begin on January 1st and concludes in late June.
If you register for the series and complete at least 5 races, you get a “Will run for Beer” series running jacket. I have two of them.
Many race series offer a full series registration bonus such as a jacket, fleece or series medal.
We also have “The New England Half Marathon Tour”. This is a series of eight half marathons in six states. If you finish at least one race in each New England state you will receive a special New England Half Marathon Tour Jacket. It might not be the same as a Stones Tour jacket, but this tour is probably better for your health! My friend Bill ran this series in 2013 and said the races were tough. Ready to man up?
The Boston Athletic Association has the “Distance Medley” which consists of the BAA 5K on Marathon Weekend, the BAA 10K and the BAA Half Marathon. You can sign up for this race series on one application. These races have all sold out early one year or another, so full series registration is a good idea if you really want to run them all.
A few other great things about these BAA races; no qualifying times! and great bling! They also put your name on each bib and you get the same bib number for the series. After you finish the last race, the BAA Half, you get a medal for the half marathon and a huge golden Race Medley medal. Walking around with those two medals clinking together is pretty cool.
Here is a display frame with my 2012 Distance Medley medals and my BAA Boston Marathon medal.
If you complete a half marathon at both resorts in 2014 you will receive their special Coast to Coast Race Challenge medal.
Between the two resorts, Disney produces seven race weekends where you can run more than one race. If you love to run and are looking for a good excuse to visit both Disney resorts in 2014, click on the link above and check out the details.
A friend of mine ran The Challenge in 2013. As part of her running fun she ran the Dumbo Double Dare at the Disneyland® Resort. This consisted of the Disneyland® 10K and Disneyland® Half Marathon during the Disneyland® Half Marathon Weekend. She also ran the Goofy’s Race and A Half Challenge at the Walt Disney World® Resort, which consisted of the Walt Disney World® Half Marathon and the Walt Disney World® Marathon. All together, she received seven medals! Check out the frame below that I made to display her medals.
As I created this display frame I was able to look at these medals up close. Anyone who has been to a Disney resort knows that Disney does it right. For these medals, all of the ribbons are showers and have that Disney Magic. But the 20th Anniversary Marathon medal and the Coast to Coast medal are works of art. HERE is a link to more information on the Disney races.
50 States Challenge
Feeling ambitious? Taking a long-term view of your running career and aspirations? How about running a half or a whole marathon in all 50 states (DC optional)!
Check out the Fifty States Half Marathon Club. You can take up the challenge and run the 50 States Half Marathon Challenge™, if you’re really ambitions, take on the 50 States Endurance Challenge™ and finish a half marathon, full marathon, 70.3 HALF Iron distance triathlon, or full Ironman triathlon, or combination of any of these mentioned distances, in all 50 states (plus DC optional) in the USA!
You can join the club for $79.00, and run all halfs, all Ironmans or any combo. As far as I can tell there is no time limit to complete 50 races. There is a $21.00 annual fee but they provide discounts to over 200 races across the country. I can feel my pulse increasing!
If you have medals from a race series and would like to have them framed check out Omni Running’s Frame Shop.
