Are you looking to plan out your races for the rest of the year? Or did you already do that? I usually like to create a race calendar in January, but not this year. I don’t want to pay for a race and then not be able to run it. With the way things have been going, I probably wont to commit to anything more than 3-4 weeks in advance. Luckily, there are plenty of local races to run! Even though I’m not signing up for any races right now it’s still fun to think about what I could run or what races I would want to do.
Usually when I plan out my race calendar I figure out if I have a goal race and when that would be. (Usually a fall marathon). From there I plan out some shorter races, some that I would run for fun, and any that would be included in my training. I only really like to travel for one race a year and usually that’s my goal marathon race. The rest are local or within driving distance.
Baltimore Race Planning
I made a list of races I would do each month of the year. If you are in Maryland or nearby, you should definitely check these out! If not, is Maryland on your list of places to run a race? Let me know if you plan to do any of these! Most I have run before (just not the first 3- I usually don’t start racing until March or April).
January- Resolution Run 5k
I’ve never done this one, but what better way to start out the new year than with a race?
February: Little Patuxtent River Run
I had no idea there was a trail half marathon in February until Sam mentioned it on her blog. The weather would make me nervous but I think this would be a lot of fun!
March- St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock 5k
This is a really popular race that fills up early every year. The one time I signed up I didn’t even get to run it. I hear it’s really crowded so not ideal for a PR. However, the course is fast so if you get up front you may be ok.
April- Sole of the City 10k
I ran this in 2013 and 2016. I hope to make it back this year if I feel like I am ready…and if there are still spots available. Maybe this will be my first race of 2017. Maybe.
May- Maryland Half Marathon
This is a race I love to hate. It was hot and humid the two times I ran it in 2012 and 2013 and the hills are no joke. I’m not sure exactly what it is that I like about this race. I guess I just like to torture myself. Also, it’s down the street from my parents’ house so that’s a nice bonus.
June- Baltimore Ten Miler
Another hilly course but fun race! This is an out and back so I don’t think the hills are too bad because you know exactly what you are getting. The after party is great- outside on an open field with live music and beer. You can see my recaps here and here.
A bonus for June is the GBMC Father’s Day 5k. My friend’s twins were in the NICU there in 2014 so their family is planning to run this every year. Last year I signed up but it was right around the time I hurt my foot. Hopefully I will get to do it this year!
July- Pikesville 5k
I think a 5k is about all I can handle in July, and even that can be tough. I’ve done this race in 2012, 2013, and 2015.
August- Dreaded Druid Hills
The name says it all. I think the appeal for this race is the challenge. Once you do it, you will know what I am talking about.
September- Charles St. 12
This is one of my favorite Baltimore races. It’s a point to point course that is net downhill. The last 2 miles go through the inner harbor, and the after party is at Power Plant Live. It’s always a fun race even though the weather can be hit or miss. Recaps can be found here and here.
October- Baltimore Running Festival
The Baltimore Running Festival offers a 5k, half-marathon, marathon, and relay. The half-marathon was my first race ever in 2007. I’ve done it 4 times now (recaps here and here) and also the full marathon once. The course takes you all over Baltimore (with quite a range of different sights- the zoo, the harbor, parks, stadiums) and ends in Camden Yards. The crowd support is amazing and that is what gets me through this tough course year after year.
November Annapolis Running Classic
I ran this in 2013 about 6 weeks after running the Baltimore Marathon (so it was not a goal race). I was supposed to run it last year as an ambassador but this was another one that I had to skip because of my foot. I love November races because of the cooler weather but the one potential issue with this one is wind, especially when running over the bridge.
December: Jingle Bell 5k
There are a few locations for this race; I have done it in Baltimore and Ellicott City. The Baltimore one is hillier and a bit more competitive. The one in Ellicott city goes around a lake and is pretty flat with a few sharp inclines. I set my 5k PR on that course and also pulled off first female (which goes to show that my age group was not very competitive!)
How do you plan out your race schedule?
Do you plan races in advance or run them at the last minute?
Have you ever done a race in Maryland? Is it on your running bucket list?
You may also like:
How to recovery properly from a half-marathon
Another Weekend Away And Weekly Workouts
A Last-Minute Race Week
Runner-Favorites-From-Trader-Joes
Looks like you’ve got plenty of local choices! I don’t commit too far in advance (unless I have to) but I’m not a last minute kind of girl either.
I definitely don’t like planning too far ahead, unless its a long race like a marathon.
I love this post as running in MD is on my list! I have been tossing around the idea of the Baltimore running festival so i’ll have to go back and read your race recaps! Thanks!
Let me know if you have any questions about any of these races!
I’ve become really last minute/routine with the few races that I run. maybe that will change at some point but right now, I don’t really think much about planning to run races these days. I think I’m in a phase lol
Yea, I don’t think I would be too upset if I didn’t race this year. I don’t want to sign up for something and then deal with the stress of feeling like I have to run it.
Being in Philly, I’m so close to Baltimore but have yet to run a race in the city! I need to change that – thanks for the recommendations! I ran the Annapolis Classic which was really tough the last few miles of the half marathon!
You should definitely do a Baltimore race! Let me know if you plan to do any of these!
Wow, Baltimore has some great races! I ran the marathon in… 2009 I believe? I really enjoyed it. It was the only marathon in which I never hit “the wall”.
Thats a tough course so its awesome that you didn’t hit the wall! When I did the full I went out way too fast and definitely struggled at the end.
I really love local races! I think CIM will always be my favorite marathon, but local races are my favorites for any other distance. I usually plan out my race calendar fairly in advance – even if I don’t register, I like to know what the year will look like.
Its definitely help to have a plan outlined even if you don’t sign up for them all right away!
You guys have way more races to choose from than we do! I don’t like planning out races because I never know what life will be like on those dates. I often decide to race something at the last second. I don’t think I have ever completed a training plan from start to finish!
I dont think I could handle doing a marathon at the last minute! I could probably pull off the other distances if I was in decent shape.
Shamrock is actually where my 5k PR is from! It’s definitely crowded but because of the downhill and how flat it is, it’s still a super fast course. I’m running it this weekend and can’t wait. I’m with you though that Charles Street 12 may be my favorite Baltimore race. I may have to fly back for that one too….
Have so much fun at Shamrock this weekend! I need to actually run it one year. And you should definitely come back for the Charles St 12!
I’m definitely a planner and don’t do things last minute. Even if it’s a local race, I need to know how to get there, what parking is like, etc. I rarely decide to do a race spur of the moment.
It is definitely helpful to be able to plan those things out! The ones I have done at the last minute were smaller so I didn’t have to worry too much about logistics.
I always start with the local races too, and typically work backward from a big race. Your schedule sounds great! I may have to check out the Baltimore ten miler… I’d love to do a ten mile race this spring.
The 10 miler is really great! Not the easiest course but definitely manageable.
You’ve got so many awesome races to choose from!
We are pretty lucky that there are a lot of good ones around here!
I have always wanted to do the Baltimore running festival and it never seems to fit into my schedule. Maybe this year!
Let me know if you decide to run it!
There are so many local races! I tend do like to travel and see new places through races but I try to do a couple local ones each year, and lots of beer run groups!
Traveling for races is really fun but there is definitely something nice about local ones as well!
This is a perfect rundown for me! As my training for my first half is wrapping down, I’m eyeing all the local races that I can sign up for. Baltimore 10-miler, Charles-12 and BRF-Half are what I’m inkling to do. (Darn I need that tax refund to come sooner). Will definitely check out your recaps.
Sounds like a great list! Let me know if you have any questions about any of those races!