How Many Races Do You Book In Advance?

[Deleted]

So, I'm looking at races in 2014 and getting a bit giddy with excitement. Training is going really well and I enjoy doing races because I like the atmosphere. I have a few booked in, but just wondered.... Am I booking too many in? 

How many do you normally book in, how far in advance?

[libbygrl109]

It depends on how popular the race is. The half I did in October was the earliest I'd ever signed up for something - 7 months. It sold out in 3 days, so I signed up as soon as registration was opened. There are a couple other popular races in my area that are capped, so if I really want to do them, I sign up quickly, but it's still only a month or two from the race. If I feel like doing anything else, I'll wait. If it's closed out, I see it as a sign that I wasn't supposed to run it.

[gt7301b]

Too many, I race almost every weekend in March/April and Oct/Nov. I currently am planning on 5Ks in Dec/Jan/Feb, a possible half when I visit my parents in March, 10 miler (assuming I get in), 10K, and half in April, and a 5K in May when I go to the Berkshire Hatthaway Annual Meeting. I'd also have a 5K on the calendar for March, but Mr. Gt is running RNR that day and I'll be a good wife and go watch him, since he's running a full. That being said, I've only actually currently signed up for three races, most of the 5Ks are small, local, cheap, and don't sell out.

[secretlyevil]

I sign up for way too many, most of which I sign up for months in advance.

[sadlebred]

I do about 20 cycling races/year. I don't start planning my season until Jan. when many of the race schedules are released. Sometimes I go week by week if I feel like racing.

[Susie]

Right now, only 2 for 2014:  a HIM in each of June and August.  Those fill up and get more $$$ as time goes on, so you kind of have to commit early.  I'll do a bunch more, shorter races that I'll sign up for much closer to the race date (because I can wait).   Having goal races planned in advance is great, but so is a little flexibility.

[shorewife]

I sign up for the big ones that I think will fill up fast - so usually 1 or 2. The rest are just in my regular rotation that I try to do each year.

[Deleted]

Interesting... Thanks everyone. Was really overthinking whether I was being a bit too keen. The only race I am worried about whether I have bitten off more than I can chew is the marathon because I have never run one before.

I'm tempted to sign up for the Iceland midnight sun run (half marathon). That's a June race and doesn't open until January anyway. What say you all? Would that be super awesome?

[secretlyevil]

Dec 5, 2013 9:01:24 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

I'm tempted to sign up for the Iceland midnight sun run (half marathon). That's a June race and doesn't open until January anyway. What say you all? Would that be super awesome?

Ummm, hell yes?

Signing up for races in advance keeps me (mostly) motivated to go to the gym and train.

[Deleted]

I'm looking for lots of races around Europe. If anyone knows of any others that would be really cool, send them my way, I might just do them!

[clseale]

Dec 5, 2013 9:01:24 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

I'm tempted to sign up for the Iceland midnight sun run (half marathon). That's a June race and doesn't open until January anyway. What say you all? Would that be super awesome?

Ummmm....yes! You need to do this. 

Compared to some people here, I don't race very often. Racing is a big production, so each time I race, I want to have a solid chance of a PR. I've actually PR'd every race I have run since fall of 2010 lol, but that's because I don't race every weekend. During the rest of the year, I'm happy with the runs & interactions I have with my running group. I usually wind up with 2-3 halves a year, 1-2 fulls, a local 15K I do every March, and then maybe a 5k, (kicking & screaming, I hate them).

[kams]

Dec 5, 2013 9:01:24 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

Interesting... Thanks everyone. Was really overthinking whether I was being a bit too keen. The only race I am worried about whether I have bitten off more than I can chew is the marathon because I have never run one before.

I'm tempted to sign up for the Iceland midnight sun run (half marathon). That's a June race and doesn't open until January anyway. What say you all? Would that be super awesome?

Oooooooh, must do! That would be incredible.

I sign up for some races in advance if they tend to sell out - up to nearly a year for Ironman brand. I am bad about putting off registering for the small, local races that don't sell-out until the last minute.

[jene]

Dec 5, 2013 9:16:08 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

I'm looking for lots of races around Europe. If anyone knows of any others that would be really cool, send them my way, I might just do them!

I am so living vicariously through your race schedule for the next year.

[al320]

If the price goes up over time and/or it sells out fast, i register as soon as i can.

At the moment im registered for three for 2014. I expect to register for a few more in the coming months.

[emilyinchile]

What was the one in France where you get cheese? People were talking about it a couple weeks ago. Do that one!

[clseale]

Dec 5, 2013 9:42:03 GMT -5 al320 said:

If the price goes up over time and/or it sells out fast, i register as soon as i can.

At the moment im registered for three for 2014. I expect to register for a few more in the coming months.

Now that a couple of weeks have passed since your full, have you made a decision about Celebration? Half of the people in my group that signed up for the full are likely dropping to the half. lol

[al320]

Dec 5, 2013 10:03:23 GMT -5 clseale said:

Dec 5, 2013 9:42:03 GMT -5 al320 said:

If the price goes up over time and/or it sells out fast, i register as soon as i can.

At the moment im registered for three for 2014. I expect to register for a few more in the coming months.

Now that a couple of weeks have passed since your full, have you made a decision about Celebration? Half of the people in my group that signed up for the full are likely dropping to the half. lol

Yeab, im probably dropping to the half. I realized that if i did the full, that would be three fulls for me in 2014, and at might just be begging for an injury. Maybe.

Meanwhile, im still waiting for my dad to confirm he wont be on vacation that week so i can come down. Ill call him this weekend and remind him that i need an answer, id like to book my flight!

[Deleted]

Dec 5, 2013 9:46:12 GMT -5 emilyinchile said:

What was the one in France where you get cheese? People were talking about it a couple weeks ago. Do that one!

Marathon du Médoc? That is one I would like to do with other people, I think. The Paris marathon hands out wine and cheese at about the 38km mark though! 
Médoc is also fancy dress and the theme is a bit crap next year, it's 'countries of the world and their carnivals'. Australia and the UK doesn't really have carnivals

[Deleted]

Dec 5, 2013 9:37:51 GMT -5 jene said:

Dec 5, 2013 9:16:08 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

I'm looking for lots of races around Europe. If anyone knows of any others that would be really cool, send them my way, I might just do them!

I am so living vicariously through your race schedule for the next year.

I live vicariously through the races of the ladies here, totally jealous of the runs they do!

[clseale]

Dec 5, 2013 10:29:39 GMT -5 al320 said:

Dec 5, 2013 10:03:23 GMT -5 clseale said:

Now that a couple of weeks have passed since your full, have you made a decision about Celebration? Half of the people in my group that signed up for the full are likely dropping to the half. lol

Yeab, im probably dropping to the half. I realized that if i did the full, that would be three fulls for me in 2014, and at might just be begging for an injury. Maybe.

Meanwhile, im still waiting for my dad to confirm he wont be on vacation that week so i can come down. Ill call him this weekend and remind him that i need an answer, id like to book my flight!

I'd probably do the same thing. lol If it wasn't for the fact that I'm going after a small redemption, and just 4 1/4 min, I would definitely be doing the half. My friends are trying to be all, "It's OK! It'll be fun! You'll have a big group cheering you at the finish line now!" Meanwhile I'm all, "Shut the hell up! This was your idea! Now I have to do 20+ miles training runs alone. "   lol I've been training since June, and I'm just about over it. 

[al320]

Dec 5, 2013 11:35:37 GMT -5 clseale said:

Dec 5, 2013 10:29:39 GMT -5 al320 said:

Yeab, im probably dropping to the half. I realized that if i did the full, that would be three fulls for me in 2014, and at might just be begging for an injury. Maybe.

Meanwhile, im still waiting for my dad to confirm he wont be on vacation that week so i can come down. Ill call him this weekend and remind him that i need an answer, id like to book my flight!

I'd probably do the same thing. lol If it wasn't for the fact that I'm going after a small redemption, and just 4 1/4 min, I would definitely be doing the half. My friends are trying to be all, "It's OK! It'll be fun! You'll have a big group cheering you at the finish line now!" Meanwhile I'm all, "Shut the hell up! This was your idea! Now I have to do 20+ miles training runs alone. "   lol I've been training since June, and I'm just about over it. 

If i wasnt injured this year, id totally be up for the full. I like being in a training cycle, im totally lost without it, if that makes sense. Anyway, i just emailed my dad. Ill let you know once everything is definite.

[thom]

Dec 5, 2013 9:01:24 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

Interesting... Thanks everyone. Was really overthinking whether I was being a bit too keen. The only race I am worried about whether I have bitten off more than I can chew is the marathon because I have never run one before.

I'm tempted to sign up for the Iceland midnight sun run (half marathon). That's a June race and doesn't open until January anyway. What say you all? Would that be super awesome?

Yes!! Totally super awesome if it works for you.

I'm signed up for none yet, but I'm notorious for having work stuff come up that keeps me from racing. I think I've no showed to about 2 shorter races, so now I almost always sign up day of for 5K or 10K. I'm eyeing a half & marathon this spring & will likely sign up several month before for those.

[skwcm80]

I have a running list of races I want to run and typically pay for them right before prices increase. I'm not registered for any yet.

[emilyinchile]

Dec 5, 2013 11:17:00 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

Dec 5, 2013 9:46:12 GMT -5 emilyinchile said:

What was the one in France where you get cheese? People were talking about it a couple weeks ago. Do that one!

Marathon du Médoc? That is one I would like to do with other people, I think. The Paris marathon hands out wine and cheese at about the 38km mark though! 
Médoc is also fancy dress and the theme is a bit crap next year, it's 'countries of the world and their carnivals'. Australia and the UK doesn't really have carnivals

Yes, that's the one! I didn't realize it was fancy dress though, my brain stopped at French cheese.

Did not realize Paris also had wine and cheese. If I ever do a marathon (this is like a 0.00001% chance, but never say never), maybe I shall do it in Paris...

[clseale]

I just signed up for a half on my lunch break. lol It was already on my schedule though, and it's at the end of this month.

[Deleted]

Dec 5, 2013 13:43:52 GMT -5 clseale said:

I just signed up for a half on my lunch break. lol It was already on my schedule though, and it's at the end of this month.

That's kind of how I approached the Wales half marathon. I signed up ten days before it, having never run one before. Lol! I am still pretty pleased with my time (1:51) for a first effort, which now makes me wonder how quick I could do one with actual training!

[runaways]

Dec 5, 2013 11:35:37 GMT -5 clseale said:

Dec 5, 2013 10:29:39 GMT -5 al320 said:

Yeab, im probably dropping to the half. I realized that if i did the full, that would be three fulls for me in 2014, and at might just be begging for an injury. Maybe.

Meanwhile, im still waiting for my dad to confirm he wont be on vacation that week so i can come down. Ill call him this weekend and remind him that i need an answer, id like to book my flight!

I'd probably do the same thing. lol If it wasn't for the fact that I'm going after a small redemption, and just 4 1/4 min, I would definitely be doing the half. My friends are trying to be all, "It's OK! It'll be fun! You'll have a big group cheering you at the finish line now!" Meanwhile I'm all, "Shut the hell up! This was your idea! Now I have to do 20+ miles training runs alone. "   lol I've been training since June, and I'm just about over it. 

Off topic, but dude. Meeeee too. 

Re: races, I only sign up for the big ones in advance - pretty much halfs and fuels. Anything shorter is usually spur of the moment.