The Running Thread - 2026

[marty3d]

All the majors except Boston because I don’t know how I’d ever get in. Maybe maintain current fitness and pace until I’m 90?

Honolulu is another one for me.

I’d like to do a marathon on each continent (not Antarctica!). The majors would cover most of those.

@Novatrix - having run on NZ’s South Island (training not a race) it is one of the most amazing places I’ve run. I didn’t know about the Queenstown marathon but if you could do it I would highly recommend!

 

[michigandergirl]

I am checking off one of my bucket list destination races in less than 5 weeks at Big Sur!! I am so nervous for this one, my hill training is not going as well as I hoped...

All the majors except Boston because I don’t know how I’d ever get in. Maybe maintain current fitness and pace until I’m 90?

Same!!

 

[PrincessV]

Does anyone have, or have completed, any dream destination races?

Only as a spectator: I have no interest in ever racing anything other than Disney races, myself. But I fantasize every year of spectating on a mountainside during UTMB! And I’d really love to volunteer at Hardrock or Western States someday.

 

[FFigawi]

I’d like to do a marathon on each continent (not Antarctica!). The majors would cover most of those.

I have two more to go, South America and Antarctica. Hope to knock them out in the next year or two.

 

[Jillfo]

Only as a spectator: I have no interest in ever racing anything other than Disney races, myself. But I fantasize every year of spectating on a mountainside during UTMB! And I’d really love to volunteer at Hardrock or Western States someday.

I volunteered at Western States a few years ago and was stationed in the river. After my shift, I spent several hours in the stands at the finish spectating. Big fun! Definitely recommend.

 

[The Expert]

Well. It was going to be a dream race….until Storm Babet canceled it the night before…..

In 2023, I signed up for the Dramathon Half. The races (also a 10k and full) ran along the Speyside trail, passing whisky distilleries along the way. At the end of the race in Dufftown—at Glenfiddich—you would get a spey dram glass and then get samples of each of the distilleries that you passed.

“The sea was angry that day” and though the race was canceled, we got the swag, got the whisky samples (at packet pickup, and then when returning our old school timing chips) and got a lovely, small race, community vibe and a story. Many racers went and ran anyway, and I did a brief run from Craigellachie to Aberlour and back along a wet and rainy path. Coffee and pastry in a small cafe, followed by a bit of a white knuckle drive to Inverness to catch a flight.

Would like to give this a try again one day.

DH is a HUGE scotch guy and we've been to Scotland several times and visited most of these place you mentioned. I remember when this got canceled and I looked up the race and thought it would be cool to run someday.

As for my answer, we'll see how it goes in Chicago. I've yet to do a non-Disney marathon, but if I don't absolutely hate it, I definitely see London, Berlin and probably NYC on my list. Boston needs to decide what it wants to be before I'd commit to even a charity bib (since I'll likely never qualify by time).

 

[PrincessV]

I volunteered at Western States a few years ago and was stationed in the river. After my shift, I spent several hours in the stands at the finish spectating. Big fun! Definitely recommend.

I’m glued to the livestream every year, so I can only imagine the fun! My stupid body gets altitude sickness as low as 5000’ in the NC mountains, so I’d definitely be stationed in a low valley aid station lol!

 

[SheHulk]

Chicago was a big one for me, which i ran in 2023. My other dream races are London Marathon and Rome Marathon. I'm not a great time-change adjuster, transatlantic travel really knocks me out. I'd need to make it part of a pretty long trip.

 

[Jackie Skellington]

I am checking off one of my bucket list destination races in less than 5 weeks at Big Sur!! I am so nervous for this one, my hill training is not going as well as I hoped...


Same!!

Big Sur is a beautiful, but challenging race. Take your time and take pics as the views are stunning! Enjoy and good luck!

 

[sandam1]

Combination QOTD/What Would You Do --

I'm looking to work with a physical therapist to address some small nagging issues and to help me implement a comprehensive strength plan before I get into the depths of training for Chicago. I'm lucky to have two excellent options to work with, but I'm not sure which route to go:

Option A - A PT's office that is more specialized in dealing with runners and who I've worked with before. While they can probably help with the nagging issues, it's going to be harder to get an overall strength program and I'm probably going to need to figure out how to put a square peg in a round hole on some things.

Option B - Work with a PT without a ton of experience working with runners, but who I worked with for 5+ years as a personal trainer while he was in school. I know that he understands what works for me (mentally and physically) and can build a top notch strength program that will work for my overall fitness. However, I've never worked with him on specific injuries or things to specifically improve my running.

Since I'm completely stuck in the analysis paralysis, I'm going to crowdsource the decision

 

[The Expert]

Combination QOTD/What Would You Do --

I'm looking to work with a physical therapist to address some small nagging issues and to help me implement a comprehensive strength plan before I get into the depths of training for Chicago. I'm lucky to have two excellent options to work with, but I'm not sure which route to go:

Option A - A PT's office that is more specialized in dealing with runners and who I've worked with before. While they can probably help with the nagging issues, it's going to be harder to get an overall strength program and I'm probably going to need to figure out how to put a square peg in a round hole on some things.

Option B - Work with a PT without a ton of experience working with runners, but who I worked with for 5+ years as a personal trainer while he was in school. I know that he understands what works for me (mentally and physically) and can build a top notch strength program that will work for my overall fitness. However, I've never worked with him on specific injuries or things to specifically improve my running.

Since I'm completely stuck in the analysis paralysis, I'm going to crowdsource the decision

I'd lean toward option B. It sounds like it would be a more customized plan for what you need. The lack of experience with runners may not be an entirely bad thing, as they are not likely to make assumptions based on that other experience.

 

[jmasgat]

I say B. If you have someone who will do the comprehensive plan, then I would definitely go with that. You want something that you will consistently use to help you build overall strength, and any qualified PT would also be able to deal with specific imbalances/issues within that framework.

This is essentially what I have just done. Went to the PT who has dealt with my cervical disc issues and had him do a complete upper body set that works for me, with the emphasis on strengthening those muscles that will help with the neck. Then I asked him to do a lower body set that serves me as a runner, addressing some minor issues (cranky left hip and also a fairly new knee issue.)