When I saw that the topic for this week’s Tuesdays on the Run was repeat races, I thought it would be fun to look back at some of the races I have run multiple times and see my progression- or lack thereof! You may recall that I can be VERY consistent with my race times, to a fault. Like when I tied my Baltimore Half-Marathon PR from 2007 when I ran it again in 2011. Or when I raced the Charles St 12 two seconds slower in 2015 than in 2014.
I don’t just do this with the same course though. I have been lingering right around my 5k PR since December 2013. I’ll run a second or two slower but just can’t break it. I did manage to PR in the 6k last month by 2 seconds- that was a big deal for me!
So, let’s look back at some races I have run multiple times:
Pikesville 5k
2012 (23:01), 2013 (22:34), 2015 (21:40)
These times reflect the progression of my 5k times over the years, although my performance for this race is always affected by the heat.
Molly Murphy Memorial 5k
I think it was hotter the second time I ran this. Also, the course was slightly different. The first year we did 4 laps around a track, the second year was only 2 and the extra half a mile was on a hill.
Port to Fort 6k
2009 (29:01), 2016 (27:13)
This probably doesn’t count because the course was different. Back in 2009 I was rarely racing, and just getting into really running consistently. So clearly there was alot of room for improvement from that first 6k time.
Sole of the City 10k
2013 (47:31), 2016 (46:58)
It took me 3 years, but I finally PR’d the 10k distance. This has really been a long time coming- I had run faster 10ks in training runs, so it was just a matter of making it happen on the day of a race. Now that I think of it, this course changed a bit too. I don’t think it was drastically easier or more difficult though.
Baltimore Ten Miler
2012 (1:22:11), 2013 (1:22:13), 2014 (1:19:12)
How about those first two race times! Two seconds apart! And I really thought I was in much better shape in 2013. That was a bit of a disappointment, but at least I had some redemption in 2014.
Charles St 12
2014 (1:33:41), 2015 (1:33:43)
Another one where I was two seconds off. I guess it does look like I am working a little harder in the 2014 pic (left) than in the 2015 pic (right). It’s pretty crazy how I am pretty much in the same spot with the same form in both these photos!
Baltimore Half-Marathon
2007 (1:53:09), 2011 (1:53:09), 2014 (1:43:16), 2015 (1:41:58)
My first half marathon ever was Baltimore in 2007. I ran two other halfs (slower) before returning in 2011 to run the same course. 4 years plus a hip surgery later and I ran the exact same time. I was a completely different runner at this point, so I am amazed that it happened. In my defense, I was training for the Philly Marathon and could have probably run a faster time otherwise, but still. I came back with a fight in 2014 and 2015.
Maryland Half Marathon
2012 (1:52:41), 2013 (1:49:47)
This one is a tough course. The first year I was recovering from an injury, and the second year was extremely hot. I was actually aiming for a sub-1:45 in 2013 so I was pretty disappointed with my time.
Philadelphia Marathon
2011 (4:07:43), 2014 (3:46:33)
Philly 2011 was my first marathon ever, and I returned in 2014 and set a big PR. Only good things can be said about this race.
Wow, that was alot of running pictures. Also, this makes me feel like I have done alot of races. Actually, I have done 43 so this only represents a handful. I know many runners have done hundreds, which just amazes me!
Do you run repeat races? Ever run the same time twice?
How many races have you run?
I’m linking up with Patty, Erika, and Marcia for Tuesdays on the Run!
[Tweet “Repeat Races: Are you guilty of too much consistency? @runningoutowine #tuesdaysontherun”]
I have only ever run 1 repeat race, and both of them were training runs (mostly for other people), so I have no benchmark for this! At least you are generally maintaining or improving–there is a lot to be said for that!
That’s true! I actually think it’s helpful to run the same course because you know what you expect.
WOW your Baltimore Half time from 2007 and 2011! Incredible that you ran exactly the same time both years even though they were several years apart!
This post must have been gratifying to write because you can see your progress over time – esp. in the marathon!
Isn’t that crazy?! And yes, it was really helpful to write this and see if all laid out like this!
I don’t know why this post didn’t show up in my blog feed! This is a great topic! I did a post like it just for the li half but I have run a few other races twice so it’s interesting to reflect and compare.
Not sure what was going on with Bloglovin this morning but alot of posts were hidden! It was definitely interesting and fun to write this post and look back on repeat races!
No wonder you repeat the same races. The majority of them you have gotten faster each yr. Great job. It is always fun to look back and look at your progress. Even if it is a min here and there difference.
I definitely think it helps to know the course so I am more likely to run it better (or at least the same) the second time around.
I’ve run a few of the CCR races twice and I think I’ll probably do Newport again. I’m not someone who needs to only run new races. I like to better my times on courses I’ve run before. I’ve never laid everything out like this though and I kind of like the idea of it because it allows you to see the big picture!
Yes it’s definitely helpful to do this to see the big picture! I love doing CCR races multiple times. They are my go-to website when looking for races!
that marathon time was some serious improvement! I think with the shorter distances taking any amount of time off the previous race is an accomplishment because you have a much smaller window to get your pace up there. i have ran several races a few times but all have been disney races. i typically dont like to repeat races because there are so many out there that I want to try! if only i had an endless budget to do them all!!
I know, the budget piece is definitely a problem! I think alot of times its just easier to sign up for something i have already done because I know the logistics already.
I’ve run the NYC Half Marathon 3 years in a row, and it definitely reflected where I was at each time. First year, first half of 2:10. Second year coming off an injury, 2:14. This year, feeling great, getting faster, looking ahead to marathon training – 2:06. Not surprised each year, but cool to see how I do!
It’s so helpful to be able to look back in that way and remember where you were with your running at each point in time!
I haven’t done any repeat races, but it’d be a great way to gauge my improvement. I tend to run a consistent pace, and I get faster only through strength training. I’d like to repeat a 5k from last fall to see how I can do this year.
It’s a great way to gauge improvement I think!
That’s very cool to see so clearly how you fared from year to year, though I think all of your finishing times are awesome! That’s definitely one of my favorite things about running races more than once – you get to see that progress.
Thanks! Yes, it is nice to be able to see progress in that way, and reflect on how far you’ve come!
Your progres in the Baltimore half is impressive! Since I started racing I haven’t lived in a city long enough to repeat a race! I plan on repeating the Lake Sammamish half again, but I also like trying new races and there’s so many to choose from in the area.
You should definitely do that half again, it sounded like a great one! It’s nice that you have moved around and gotten to race in different places, but I am sure it will be nice to repeat some races too!
I love all your racing pics!! I guess I’ve done zillions of races since I started doing them when I was 19 (I’m 38 now) but I used to run a lot more races than I do now. All my race pics are great because I kept having babies, so you can see how my body changed from year to year along with my times.
That’s really great! I wish I had saved more pics from my early days of running.
I’m not sure how many races I’ve done? Maybe 25 or so? I love to repeat local races, but the couple I’ve traveled too near by I don’t think I’d repeat.
It’s so much easier to repeat races when they are local!
I loved reading through this! It’s awesome to see how your times have improved on the same (or a similar) course. I look forward to running a few of these that I haven’t already done! This will be my first year doing repeat races, and I’m looking froward to hopefully seeing some improvement, even after the past couple of months of little running.
I think it helps to do repeat races because you know what to expect! Let me know when you decide what other local races you’re doing this year. I am doing the Baltimore 10 miler and then a 5k at GBMC in June.
Wow, I’ve done 56 races! I’ve never added them up before.
I tend to repeat my local races year after year. I love seeing how I did compared to past years. It was a big day when I finally went sub-2 on the 4th try at my favorite local half marathon!
I’ve done a handful of destination races and wouldn’t mind repeating some of them (especially RNR Savannah) I have some many other “bucket list” races I’d rather do first!
It must have been so great to break 2 hours at your local half marathon! There is definitely something to be said for doing those “bucket list” races if you have to travel rather than repeating a destination race.
It is amazing how consistent your times are. Mine are all over the place and generally get longer as I get older…
Congrats on such a huge time improvement on your marathon !
Thank you! It’s weird because I have no idea how I am so consistent. My husband says I’m not pushing hard enough!:)
43 races?!?! That is CRAZY, girl! You are seriously awesome.
It’s actually kind of cool how consistent your times are – like you must have your own groove that you run to each time! 😛
I guess that’s true! Sometimes I just come so close to a PR that I wish I was a few seconds faster!
I’ve never done the same time twice, but I’m always a few minutes apart. It can be frustrating for sure, especially because I feel my fitness level has improved. That’s so inspiring you’ve done 43 races!!!
It really can be frustrating when that happens. I have learned i just have to push myself extra hard when I think a PR is close!
I’m one of the runners with 100s of races and I’ve run some as many as 17 – 20 times. The NYC Marathon (17) and NYC 1/2 (10, I think), Shamrock Shuffle (8+) and lots of NYC races before I moved to Chicago in 2006. I’ve run the NYC Marathon within 10 seconds year on year. And the NYC 1/2 within a few seconds, too. I never thought about it but pretty wild how consistent we can be!