Non-RunDisney 10k suggestions

[Figment1990]

So since DS really didn't want me to spend my whole Disneyland weekend resting for the Rebel Challenge, I signed up for the Star Wars 10k this morning. We were going out there that weekend to visit family anyway, so I'm excited! But it was hard to resist the call of the Rebel Challenge.

So I'm creating my own challenge and looking to fill my 2016 race calendar with at least TEN 10k's. (Or 8k, if that's all i can find). Send me your suggestions!

I'd like to stay sort of close to home for half of them because I'm already planning to travel to DL (twice actually - star wars and Avengers) plus RnR NOLA. I'm in Pittsburgh, PA so anything in the surrounding states would work for me. Here's what I'm already doing:
DL Star Wars 10k (Jan)
RnR NOLA 10k (Feb)
VA Beach Shamrock 8k (Mar)
Pittsburgh 5k or Half Marathon (May)
Pittsburgh Great Race 10k (Sep)
Runners World Festival 10k (Oct - hopefully)
Avengers 10k (Nov)

So if any of you all have a great 10k race to recommend, I would love to hear it. FWIW, I very much recommend the Pittsburgh Great Race!

 

[FFigawi]

Monument Ave 10K in Richmond

 

[ANIM8R]

The Peachtree in Atlanta (usually on July 4th). HUGE race and it seems like the route is lined with people the entire way!

 

[Slogger]

@Figment1990....good list so far. I would second the Monument 10k and Shamrock 8k.

Others to consider....Wicked 10k (Virginia Beach/Halloween), Marine Corps 10k (DC, usually week before Halloween), Hot Chocolate 15k (Philly, usually end of March), and have you considered one of the rollercoaster/run combos (Kennywood and Cedar Point both have them)?

 

[Keels]

RnR NOLA is awesome! We'll be back there for (at minimum) the 10K, if not the half in 2016.

 

[kim3339]

What about the Crescent City Classic 10k? It's in Mar, Sat before Easter; I saw you're doing RNR NO already, but if you're close it's another one to add. Also there's a 10k in Boston in June put on by the BAA who do the marathon. You mentioned 10ks but there's Bay to Breakers in May in San Francisco and it's a 12k; really fun.

 

[Figment1990]

Awesome suggestions! Thank you so much. I'm making a list and going to look up dates and things soon. However...

You Peachtree runners are a crazy bunch. I can't imagine running a 10k in July in Georgia! I hung out before the Tinkerbell half in 2014 with a guy who runs the Peachtree and I told him the same. It must be SO hot! I thought I was gonna melt running the Princess 10k in Florida in February at 5am!

 

[stitchsx3]

The Bolder Boulder 10k in Boulder Colorado, 50,000 people 99 waves and one of the best run races ever. It is Memorial Day. You finish on University of Colorado's Folsom Field. I can not post a link but Sean Astin(actor from Goonies and Lord of Rings) ran it this year and wrote a great review of it.

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

I second the Peachtree! Assuming I finish this year, it will be 29 in a row for me!

 

[Slogger]

Thought of a few more that I haven't run but would like to....

Cherry Blossom 10 miler (DC)
Thanksgiving Day 10k-Cincinnati
Bluegrass 10k-Louisville
Hollywood 10k-Hollywood, CA (Run with the STARS!!!)

 

[Chiomaca]

I'll second the MCM 10K - my mom ran it last year and had a blast.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

I have to admit I think the Disney 10k's are ridiculously overpriced (even more so than the halves and full; for example Peachtree is only $38 compared to $110 now for a Disney 10k). Personally, I find 10k a pretty common distance and probably wouldn't travel more than a couple of hours away for one. Local 10k's (like local 5k's) are pretty common, so finding 10 in a year shouldn't be too hard. (No they won't give finisher's medals or have the big spectacle, but if it's just about reaching a goal of how many in a year that could help you reach your goal)

In addition to seconding many of the one's already mentioned (and assuming your determined to do big races not small) I'd add the Tufts 10k for Women in Boston and the Rodeo Run 10k in Houston.

 

[Keels]

I have to admit I think the Disney 10k's are ridiculously overpriced (even more so than the halves and full; for example Peachtree is only $38 compared to $110 now for a Disney 10k). Personally, I find 10k a pretty common distance and probably wouldn't travel more than a couple of hours away for one. Local 10k's (like local 5k's) are pretty common, so finding 10 in a year shouldn't be too hard. (No they won't give finisher's medals or have the big spectacle, but if it's just about reaching a goal of how many in a year that could help you reach your goal)

In addition to seconding many of the one's already mentioned (and assuming your determined to do big races not small) I'd add the Tufts 10k for Women in Boston and the Rodeo Run 10k in Houston.

I guess it really depends on where you live. In Texas, 10Ks are pretty few and far between except for major race weekends (which normally overlap each other, with Austin being the exception).

Rodeo Run, Cowtown Marathon and RnR NOLA fall on the same weekend. Houston would never be a "destination" trip for me, I live in FW and could do that race weekend, but NOLA would (and has been) a destination race weekend for me.

If I were leaving PA like the OP is planning to, Tufts in Boston sounds like a great idea. Houston? Not so much. That city stinks. #DFWRulesHoustonDrools

Also - to the price-point issue. I paid more for a local 10K than I did for a RnR 10K ($65 to RnRs $50). And I got no medal and a cotton t-shirt from the local 10K. I have no problem paying for quality when you get better shirts, better bling and an all-over better run experience.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

I guess it really depends on where you live. In Texas, 10Ks are pretty few and far between except for major race weekends (which normally overlap each other, with Austin being the exception).

Rodeo Run, Cowtown Marathon and RnR NOLA fall on the same weekend. Houston would never be a "destination" trip for me, I live in FW and could do that race weekend, but NOLA would (and has been) a destination race weekend for me.

If I were leaving PA like the OP is planning to, Tufts in Boston sounds like a great idea. Houston? Not so much. That city stinks. #DFWRulesHoustonDrools

Also - to the price-point issue. I paid more for a local 10K than I did for a RnR 10K ($65 to RnRs $50). And I got no medal and a cotton t-shirt from the local 10K. I have no problem paying for quality when you get better shirts, better bling and an all-over better run experience.

Different strokes.

I'd also suggest checking area Race for the Cures. Some cities do both 10ks and 5ks for it. I've moved around a lot in the last five years and will agree that the local series may vary depending on area, but for staying nearby ask at the local running store or look up the local road runners group(s). I would guess there are at least 2 in the area and are likely to be more if you do the same in neighboring cities. I'm also sure there are a few in Philadelphia, but I'm less familiar with that area (and with Pennsylvania geography).

As far as price issue. I typically pay $25 per race locally for everything from 2 milers to 10ks. I paid $75 for the RnR NOLA Full (I register for fulls and halves early to get the best deal), and most big 10,000+ 10ks charge about $35-50 (The local $65 seems odd to me and to be honest unless I was really passionate about the cause, I wouldn't have done it). Disney is still at least double the price before you add park tickets. I typically win my age group or place overall female (even have won overall a few times recently) in the area I'm in, so I don't really look for 10k finisher medals (not judging those to who do and getting one from a Marine when I ran the MCM 10k was awesome) and just see the t-shirt/tech shirt as an added perk. Usually, if I'm running a 10k somewhere outside my local area, I'm looking for somewhere to be challenged (by the course, by the other participants, by my own PR on that course) or just happened to be there. The bling is nice, but I'd prefer a PR.
It'd be interesting to see what would happen if they cut the price in half and took away the medal or let you purchase it separately (like Peachtree does). I know I'd be more willing to sign up and travel down for one forgoing the medal, but I know that's basically blasphemy around here. A $200 half is bad enough, but it is not entirely out of line with say New York Marathon or London, so I could make excuses to convince myself to do it. But a $110 10k is a pretty hard to swallow comparatively. (Also 5 years ago when I did my first Disney full I signed up in October and still paid less than $150 and so I'm still in shock at the price increase in 5 years as I look to do another Disney race)

 

[Miranda]

I guess it really depends on where you live. In Texas, 10Ks are pretty few and far between except for major race weekends (which normally overlap each other, with Austin being the exception).

Same in NH. There are only 3 that I know of in my area: June, July, and August. I'd have to travel an hour+ to find more.

 

[Z-Knight]

Houston started a series of 5k, 10k races this year - in fact 5 sets of races all over houston and the entry per race is like $40 and you get cool medals. I wish I found it earlier because I missed 2 of the 5 already. Did one and two are left this year.

Anyway, I know you are farther out but for those in houston check out these:

http://runhouston.com/

Also there is the Bridge Series of two 10ks and the half marathon all while running up and down bridges in Houston.

 

[LSUlakes]

Although it has already been said, If you can push your NOLA trip back, I would choose Crescent City Classic instead of RNR NOLA. Any particular reason you picked going to NOLA? The good news is smoking is now banned in all indoor business/bars/casinos. The bad news, those people will probably be standing along the course for there fix.

 

[kim3339]

Although it has already been said, If you can push your NOLA trip back, I would choose Crescent City Classic instead of RNR NOLA. Any particular reason you picked going to NOLA? The good news is smoking is now banned in all indoor business/bars/casinos. The bad news, those people will probably be standing along the course for there fix.

Have you run that one before? If so, how was it? I'm going out there next Mar. for it; I heard the after party is a lot of fun.

 

[LSUlakes]

Have you run that one before? If so, how was it? I'm going out there next Mar. for it; I heard the after party is a lot of fun.

I ran CCC for the first time this spring. It's a well put together race and you can submit a estimated time for corral placement. If you have run a sub 45:00 10k, then you will have to provide a more official type of result to get into the faster corrals. I did not have a sub 45 minute time to submit, but wasn't really aiming for a PR so it did not matter. About the race though... Very good crowd support, and interesting costumes from people running it. You can find a number of alcoholic beverages being handed out by spectators, and of course your normal water stations. The course takes you down some nice highlights of the city. The finish festival is a big party, but if I recall the only beer offered was light beer. The only thing I was not a big fan of, was how loud the band was at the post race party (GET OFF MY LAWN). lol The loud music just isn't my thing, but the race is a lot of fun which brings runners in from elite to guys in star war costumes pulling and ice chest full of beer.
If you make a trip in January, check out the Louisiana Marathon weekend in Baton Rouge, the food at the finish festival is much better than CCC IMO. Hope this helps some, if you have any other questions, just let me know.

 

[Keels]

Oooh - Crescent City Classic. That would actually work A LOT better with my 2016 schedule!