Fall into Racing Season!

I love Fall.  I love cool weather, Ohio State Football, leaves changing, baking with pumpkin, apple harvest, Halloween, Oktoberfest, even the beginning of a new school year.  I did get married in October for these very reasons!  But nothing gets me excited quite like running Fall races!  I sign up for far more races in September-November than the rest of the year and see my weekends fill up quickly.  I just crave running in the Fall.

One reason may be grounded in the fact that I ran cross country and it was a fall sport.  Summers were hellish, hot, and humid conditioning and training and fall meant the thrill of races and working for PRs.  When the air starts to get crisp and that autumn smell is in the air, I summon memories of cross country and just have a desire to race.  Now its even more fun because I have a PR singlet to wear and get to be on a team again 🙂

Another reason is definitely the weather.  I am NOT a hot weather runner and I do NOT fare well in humidity.  It is a cycle I see every year where I run Spring races and continue to improve after my winter slothishness (not a word, I know) and then June hits and my times just drop.  I have to focus on effort more than pace and get up before the crack of dawn to avoid complete misery during every run.  I often don’t run many races during the summer either.  I just don’t have the desire to suffer through the heat and humidity when races still start at 8 or 9am and I am usually running by 5:30-6am.  For example, this year I ran races in February, March, April, May, and one in June.  Then I didn’t run a single race in July or August.  Call it lack of will power or discipline.  But then, Fall arrives.  And I chomping at the bit to run races!  I don’t have to deal with humidity and I can thrive.  The later into the Fall it gets the better 🙂 I have/had six races already on the calendar and will probably add more!

Here is my current schedule with links if you want to check them out and sign up! (of course for next year in some cases)

• September 5th – Great American Labor Day 5k, Fairfax, VA (Completed – 20:04)
• September 18th – Navy AirForce Half Marathon (and 5-miler) – Washington DC
• September 25th – Potomac River Running Race Series “Perfect 10 Ten-miler and 10k” – Reston, VA
• October 9th – Chicago Marathon – Chicago, Illinois
• October 30th – Monster Mash Dash 5k – McLean, VA
• November 19th – Philadelphia Marathon’s Rothman Institute 8k – Phildelphia, PA

***Will add something for Thanksgiving, December, and maybe Veteran’s Day

The third reason – I think most people agree with my reason above, and the best races are scheduled in the Fall!  The races held in the summer are usually community 5Ks or miserable races for sadistic and impressive people who want to suffer through the heat.  And maybe longer races in, like, Alaska?  But for those of us in the Continental U.S. the races get good in the Fall.  Everything from Marathons and Half-Marathons to fun 5ks and Turkey Trots.  There are so many options, whether you want to be serious or run your first race, that you just HAVE to sign up for one!  The training weather gets perfect and you can’t ask for anything better than the crisp fall air (unlike summer) and low likelihood of rain (unlike Spring).  Here is a list of races around the DMV and Cincinnati (where most of my reader’s live) in case you get the running bug!  If none of these are near you and you read my blog then check out Running in the USA, Runner’s World, Ahotu, or one of  a dozen sites that will help you find a race to run!  Some are kind of short notice but that gives you plenty of time to sign up, train, and run next Fall!

Marathons 

• Bank of American Chicago Marathon – Chicago, IL – October 9, 2016 (full this year but usually second weekend in October)
• Marine Corps Marathon – Arlington, VA – October 30, 2016 (also full but always in late October)
• Nationwide Columbus Marathon – Columbus, OH – October 16, 2016
• U.S. Air Force Marathon – Dayton, OH – September 17, 2016
• Philadelphia Marathon – Philadelphia, PA – November 20, 2016
• UnderArmour Baltimore Marathon – Baltimore, MD – October 15, 2016
• Richmond Anthem Marathon – Richmond, VA – November 12, 2016
• TCS New York City Marathon – NYC – November 6, 2016 (full but usually first weekend in November)

Half-Marathons 

• U.S. Air Force Half Marathon – Dayton, OH – September 17, 2016
• Navy Air Force Half Marathon – Washington, DC – September 18, 2016
• Philadelphia Rock’n’Roll Half Marathon- Philadelphia, PA – September 18, 2016
• UnderArmour Baltimore Half Marathon – Baltimore, MD – October 15, 2016
• Nationwide Columbus Half Marathon – Columbus, OH – October 16, 2016
• Philadelphia Half Marathon – Philadelphia, PA – November 19, 2016

10Ks – 10-milers

• Perfect 10 10k and 10-miler – Reston, VA – September 25, 2016
• Army 10-miler – Arlington, VA – October 9, 2016 (likely sold out but always Columbus Day weekend)
• Marine Corps 10k – Arlington, VA – October 30, 2016
• Hot Cider Hustle 15k – Washington, DC – November 5, 2016
• Run for The Parks 10K – Washington, DC – November 6, 2016
• Cincinnati Thanksgiving Day Race – Cincinnati, OH – November 24, 2016

5Ks – 8Ks

• Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5k – Cincinnati, OH – September 24, 2016
• Run Like Hell 5k benefiting Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Cincinnati, OH – October 28, 2016
• Hot Cider Hustle 5k – Washington, DC – November 5, 2016
• Veteran’s Day 5k – Fairfax, VA – November 13, 2016
• Rothman Institute 8k – Philadelphia, PA – November 19, 2016
• Turkey Day 5ks – Everywhere!  Just find one then go feast on Turkey! – November 24, 2016
• Run with Santa 5k – Reston, VA – December 4, 2016
• Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell Run 5k – Cincinnati, OH – December 10, 2016

I hope you can find something between my lists and/or other race calendar websites!  Just embrace this beautiful weather and sign up for a Fall race!  You can run or walk, no one cares just get out, enjoy the weather, and be good to your body.  Plus you won’t feel as guilty eating candy apples, candy corn, and pumpkin spice everything.  Happy Fall Running!