5 Lesser known races you should try


As most runners do, I often think about the new races that I would like to try. Because of where I am located, most of mine that make my list tend to be on the East Coast.

The ones I chose are not super popular and some of them I may
never even run but it's always nice to keep a list of them in the back of my mind ( or now on this blog).

1. I love a good themed race and the OZ run in Kansas looks like it will fit the bill.
 The Downside: Well, It's in Kansas and really I have no other reason to visit Kansas.

2. Sipping mint juleps and wearing fancy hats are a must if I participate in the Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon Weekend.  I think this looks super fun. I don't like that it takes place in April but I DO like that if I run it I can finally meet up with Rebecca Jo!  Perhaps I really can put this on the list as a future race!

3. I never had any desire to try to get in the NYC marathon, but I have to admit running through Times Square sounds appealing. I got a taste of this while running past New York, New York, when we ran the Strip at night in Las Vegas. For this reason I would love to do the NYC Half Marathon.

The Downside is that this race is in March and the weather can be anything from rainy to windy, to snowing, and I really don't want to take a chance of running a race in miserable weather.

4. The Lehigh Valley Marathon. If I do another marathon anytime soon I may consider this one. This is the one all the Runner's World folks do. It is consider one of the flattest, fastest courses in PA.  This is a pretty small race and I'm sure I would be a back of the packer, but it might be a good chance to PR.
The Downside: This would mean I have to train for another Marathon.

5. The Women's Nike half marathon has been on my list for quite a while. On the East coast we had one in DC, then that stopped. We had one in Toronto, and then that stopped too. For 2016 the Nike race is coming to Atlanta.  As far as I know, the race date for Atlanta has not been announced yet but I would assume it will be sometime in the Fall.
Downside: No race date set makes it hard to plan a fall race (especially now since I already have 3 fall races planned).

Thoughts on any of these races? -M

We are linking up with the gals from the Friday 5.

39 comments:

  1. I've not done any. But the full Kentucky Derby marathon has been my goal choice when I hit up Kentucky. Mostly I just want to run on the official derby track lol.
    Now if Kansas has a Dorthy or Oz marathon I'd totally be up for that just cuz the name sounds fun. I'd want them to hand out shiny red heels instead of a race shirt though lol lo that would be awesomeness!
    I've wanted to do the Nike Women's marathon in San Fran purely to get the tiffany necklace:)
    Looks looks like I fun group of races you should do them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oops take that back. I did NYC marathon it was awesome. yes you would love the central park run!

      Delete
    2. Yes, I do believe the Oz run has a full marathon!

      Delete
    3. YESSSSSS - come to my world :) (Little side note - you dont actually run ON the derby track. you run on the infield - but the cool thing is they are usually running the derby horses on the track while you run inside Church hill Downs. Its so motivating to hear the power of the horses running by you while doing your own race)

      Delete
  2. Your first four are on my list - I've been wanting to do the Oz one once I heard they rotate the characters for the medals. Only downside, I heard it is usually tough weather out there this time of year.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I completely agree, I don't want to risk running a race in miserable weather. I've never done marathon weekend at Disney because I know January can be such a mixed bag for weather, and my luck it would be freezing rain. A race through Atlanta would be a fun one! That's one to keep an eye on!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's been cold at the start of a few disney races but I can't say any of them were miserable!

      Delete
  4. I both worked and ran Nike's half (worked the 1st year it was in DC, ran it the 2nd). It was a good race and I like both my necklace and the shirt I bought, but it was really pricey for just being a good race, not a great one.

    And I hear you on the weather - I'm always nervous about RNR DC. It's a crap shoot around here in the spring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yea, I really shy away from doing any races before April, unless of course they are in Florida.

      Delete
  5. I loved the NYC Marathon and doing the half would be a great option. The weather is never totally predictable for any race, but it would be worth it to wear a rain jacket to run in NYC. I also would love to do a Nike half and maybe Atlanta would be on my radar too depending on the dates.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, weather for any race is unpredictable but I have a feeling the odds of "not so great" weather are higher at that time of year. It's a shame it's not just a bit later in the season.

      Delete
  6. I did not realize that they no longer have the Nike half in DC, that's a bummer! I have had a few friends do the Lehigh Valley Marathons in a last ditch effort o qualify for Boston the following year. It is one of the last races of the season for the timeline. Thanks for sharing this list, Have a Great Week :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would also love to do the NYC half one day but March races are so tricky with the weather!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am looking for a fall marathon to PR and my heart was set on Harrisburg because it is soooo close and convenient BUT I like that Lehigh Valley is earlier in the fall and I could do most of my training in the summer. Time to decide...

    ReplyDelete
  9. I haven't done any of those races. There's just so many good races to do! Once I knock Big Sur off my bucket list, I'll have to reevaluate my must do list!

    ReplyDelete
  10. The Oz Run is in a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. KC is the city of fountains. We have more fountains than any city on Earth except for Rome. The Oz Run is a great race and the medals are fabulous. Another great Kansas race for those who need to check Kansas off their 50 States list - Running with the Cows. Amazing crowd support and a free pot-luck dinner at the end. And if you have a thing for the Wizard of Oz....there is the Wicked Half in Wamego, Kansas.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love it! The Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon is supposed to be fantastic! Another one in that area is the Urban Bourbon Half (in October so a little less rainy) and it is probably my all time favorite race!
    I want to run a Nike race, but they put off announcing a date for so long that it's pretty much impossible to plan!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I hope Nike doesn't set an early Fall date because early fall in the south isn't exactly fall. Just like March weather in the northeast isn't really spring.

    ReplyDelete
  13. We often do smaller, lesser known races because Mr. Judy doesn't like crowds (although since I started at RnR Vegas, we've done the big ones, too!). I'm not familiar with most of those races. I always rely on reviews to see if other runners have enjoyed a race (and sometimes word of mouth, too).

    We are getting to the point where we're almost out of the races we can drive to, which is scary, as I can't see us flying to 3 halfs a year but you never know. I've never been to KY, but I do love horses! Never been to the Derby, but I have been to the Preakness & the Stakes.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I did the Nike DC the first year it was here fun race and I'd love to do it again but San Fran is just too hilly I think. Fun race list! I am looking at the Hershey half in October have you all done it??

    ReplyDelete
  15. The NYC half is definitely on my list! And I'd love to do one of the Nike Womens races. Atlanta could work well since my in-laws live there? But they make it so hard by not announcing the dates further in advance :(

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm actually shocked that Nike hasn't announced a date yet for their Atlanta race. So many runners have to plan their calendars out months and seasons in advance. I wonder how well Nike will do in Atlanta with making such a late announcement for the date of their race.

    ReplyDelete
  17. dying to do the Kentucky Derby half! and Nike Atlanta is on my radar as well. I just wish they had a date. I don't have any plans for fall/winter so I can be flexible.

    ReplyDelete
  18. YYYEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! Come to the Ky Derby race. It actually was in Runners Magazine as 1 of the top 10 half marathons in the US. It really is a fun week around here. That same morning, there is a Hot Air balloon race & more times than not, the balloons are flying over head of the runners - super cool.
    (Am I selling it any better?) haha

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh I forgot Nike is going to Atlanta - I did it here in DC and would MAYBE do Atlanta if it was cheaper! :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. OMG Nike is going to ATL??? I MUST

    ReplyDelete
  21. I don't understand why Nike doesn't announce dates sooner. I remember how mad people on Facebook got when it took them forever to announce Toronto's date (and that it was only a 10k... or 15k?). Anyway, if it's a "destination" for me I like to know about it at least 6 months in advance.

    ReplyDelete
  22. The Lehigh Half sounds really cool! and I love the idea of running in NYC!

    I always forget the middle states.. the Kentucky run sounds super fun. But really, somebody says race and I start thinking... can I run that?

    ReplyDelete
  23. These sound like great options... except NY in the early spring. Ugh. Running in cold & Wind would not be appealing. Then again, it could be the most gorgeous spring day of the year !

    ReplyDelete
  24. oh, I would like to do the Nike half, but dang! Atlanta gets hot!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I've done the Kentucky Derby Half Marathon, and yes I had a mint julep after :-) It's a good race. I live in Indiana, so of course the Indy Mini is a must do! This year will be my 19th time running that one!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I want to do the NYC half, I entered the the lottery twice and I was never chosen. I have the worse luck.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I haven't heard of any of those races! The Air Force marathon and the Marine Corp marathon are both on my list!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I would love to do any or all of those. I think they stopped the Nike Women's in San Francisco. A bummer because it was also on my "someday" list.

    ReplyDelete
  29. The Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon sounds really fun! I haven't been to Kentucky but I've heard it's beautiful. I've always wanted to run a race in New York as well and have been considering the Brooklyn Half Marathon for a while.

    ReplyDelete

Fairytales and Fitness is a personal blog authored and edited by us, Meranda and Lacey. The thoughts expressed here represent only our own and are not meant to be taken as professional advice. Please note that our thoughts and opinions change from time to time. We consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind in an ever changing society. Any thoughts and opinions expressed within our out-of-date posts may not be the same, nor even similar, to those we may express today. Some links may contain affiliate links. Some links are just to pages we'd like to share.