Favorite race of all time

[Ariel484]

Traditional race would probably be the Flying Pig in Cincinnati. I would say the National Half but I haven't run it since it turned into the Rock N Roll USA.

But, I just finished my new favorite, albeit non-tradidional, event. I posted about it on the weekly thread but figured I'd throw it in here too.

It was a marathon relay all run inside the Cleveland Zoo. It was 22 laps of 1.19 miles. You could run it solo, or with teams of 2, 3, or 4. I did it on a 4 person co-ed team (2 guys and 2 girls).

What made it really different was that you didn't do your whole leg and pass the baton like most relays, you did one lap, then the second runner did one lap, then the third, then the fourth, and back to the first. It was really different, more like a track workout meets a marathon relay but it was a lot of fun.

I read about that! Sounds really interesting...if they do it again next year I might sign up.


Favorite local race for me is a 10-miler...flat course with really nice scenery. It also helps that I've run the race 4 times and each time has been a PR. . But this was also my first longer race and I think the one that really made me want to start challenging myself to do better.

Favorite Disney race was the 2011 Princess Half Marathon...my first half and first race at Disney, and it wasn't super crowded. The 2012 WDW Marathon is a close runner-up since it was my first marathon.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

I don't know if I could chose between my top two, but my favorite medal I just got in Eugene. It's got scenes from the course on the medal and I love it.

 

[Bephus]

I guess my favorite race is a local Turkey Trot the Subaru Distance Classic 1/2 marathon. I have run it 4 times and no matter how the rest of my year is going I always do it sub-2 hours. In fact it was my first sub-2 1/2. I consider it my lucky race. It is perfectly flat, the weather is usually nice and it us a pretty and shaded course. Plus, I can eat anything I want for Thanksgiving after the race.

My favorite marathon so far was the Shamrock in Virginia Beach. It was a really fun race, great course, awesome swag, and I loved finishing on the boardwalk. I also really liked that it started right in front of the hotels on the boardwalk, I walked right out and started. That was sweet. They had great kids races and an 8k the day before for a fun 2-day challenge. All around an awesome experience. I might need to do that one again.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[kappyfamily]

I don't know if I could chose between my top two, but my favorite medal I just got in Eugene. It's got scenes from the course on the medal and I love it.

Yep it was amazing wasn't it! Never knew eugene was so pretty!

 

[J3nn78]

Mine is a toss up between 3.

1. Disney full- probably because this was my first race ever. Otherwise I think it is overcrowded and I don't really like fulls. They take too much time in training.

2. Wine and Dine- the one I enjoy most and will likely keep doing every year

3. RnR Providence- but it was the weather that puts this on top for me. It was my first rain race. I was so nervous, but ended up loving it. It rained buckets. Seriously the hardest rain I could imagine at times. Just had to laugh. It was great.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

Yep it was amazing wasn't it! Never knew eugene was so pretty!

I'd never been to Oregon and this was a fun way to visit

 

[Diskidatheart]

I don't have a ton of races to choose from, but the Pittsburgh Half Marathon that I did yesterday was great and has just jumped past the Disney Half that I did in January. I couldn't believe the number of spectators that were out on the course cheering people on, an estimated 100,000 over the full marathon course, and from what I saw on the first half of the course, I believe there were more than that. The course goes over 5 different bridges and crosses all 3 rivers. It was a big thrill to run the streets of the city that I was born and raised in. I highly recommend this race to anyone.

Very cool thing that happened as well. The race director had about 30 Boston Marathoners, who were unable to finish that race, run this race (all expenses paid). I thought that was a very cool thing to do.

 

[Dagna]

I don't have a ton of races to choose from, but the Pittsburgh Half Marathon that I did yesterday was great and has just jumped past the Disney Half that I did in January. I couldn't believe the number of spectators that were out on the course cheering people on, an estimated 100,000 over the full marathon course, and from what I saw on the first half of the course, I believe there were more than that. The course goes over 5 different bridges and crosses all 3 rivers. It was a big thrill to run the streets of the city that I was born and raised in. I highly recommend this race to anyone.

Very cool thing that happened as well. The race director had about 30 Boston Marathoners, who were unable to finish that race, run this race (all expenses paid). I thought that was a very cool thing to do.

I love it when a race has great spectators. Back before I started running, a friend and I would pack a picnic breakfast, grab a bottle of champagne, and go out at 5am to stake out a good embankment spot to watch the Peachtree Road Race. When the runners finally arrived, we'd each pick numbers and yell for those numbers as they came up Cardiac Hill. The look on people's faces when they realized their number was being cheered was amazing. Made the early start well worth while .

I love what the race director at your marathon did for the Boston participants--that *is* very cool.

 

[cewait]

Mine are in no particular order...

- Disney 2001 - By far my most challenging marathon and one where I learn more about gutting it out than I ever knew I could. Oh, also my first full.

- Hell Week 2008 - not really a race but an 8 day cycling event in the Texas Hill country. I learned more about recovery in that week than I ever could in a back to back run. I managed 700 miles through the week even with one day off for equipment repair.

- San Antonio RnR - simply my PR and about 10 minutes shy of Boston.

- Houston Rodeo Run - a simple 10k that runs in front of the annual rodeo parade.... much, much better than after the parade. Will miss this run.

- Impact a Hero 5k 2008 - all I can say is that the proceeds help those who gave so much more than most of us so that we could all enjoy our freedom. There is a lot of clicking from prosthetics in the race and it was fun chatting it up with a couple folks on them.

 

[Dagna]

- Houston Rodeo Run - a simple 10k that runs in front of the annual rodeo parade.... much, much better than after the parade. Will miss this run.

{{snarf}}

It was even better at first, since I read the second part as, "Will mess this run."

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

My favorite would have to be my first and that's the 2012 PHM. 2nd place goes to a local race with great scenery and that's the Shelter Island 10k. It's very Gatsby-esque with all the beautiful houses on the Long Island Sound and rich people cheering you on while they sit in their lawn chairs sipping champagne.

 

[cewait]

{{snarf}}

It was even better at first, since I read the second part as, "Will mess this run."

 

[PaDisneyCouple]

My favorite: YMCA of York Turkey Trot 5k in November 2010. First time running a race since high school track. DW gave me about 3 weeks advance notice. She was the one to ask me out all those years ago, and this time, she was the one to say, "I want to run a 5k this year". My goals: finish; run the whole time. I met both goals.

In the finish corral, a volunteer snipped the chip off my shoe. I immediately started to look for a way out of the area, so I could circle back around and cheer DW on to the finish. Before I made it out, a bouncing, smiling DW tapped me on the shoulder. She said, "we did it!" And we hugged.

It is one of the top 5 memorable moments for us as a couple, ever.

 

[Disneygymrat]

My favorite half marathon is the Air Force Half. I love the flyovers before the race. There medals are my favorite of any race that I have ran.

I also love the Papa John's 10 miler. It is a bit of a challenge with a hilly few miles, but you are rewarded Papa John's pizza at the end.