Races For The Season

      The Pittsburgh Marathon was my first official race of the season.  I always like to wait till after that race before I start trying to figure out what other races I will run during the season.  Yesterday I sat down and went under a few sites and found some of my favorite races that I will be running this season, or at least intend too.  Normally I will use active.com or runhigh.com as my main sources for races.  Although there are a few other sites out there that list many races over the state.
        So here is a little breakdown of some of the races I will be doing.

No official date set- The Beer Mile:  This is technically not a race. In April I came across the video of a man who set the new world record for the beer mile.  Let me explain what exactly this is.  You go to a track and chug a beer then start running your four laps, after each lap you chug a beer.  So it's 4 beers for 4 laps.  The record is 4:57.  I have no plans of attempting to even come close to that time but I will record it for everyone's viewing pleasure.  

JUNE 5- Gateway Track Mile:  This is always held on a Thursday in June at the Gateway Middle School.  It is just a mile run on a track. There is no charge.  They usually run 4 heats based on predicted times.  Refreshments are provided and the winners of each heat get homemade fudge which is really good. I do this race every year, and it is a awesome race to see where your mile time is if you plan on running the Liberty Mile later in the summer.  The people who hold this event are known as the Tuesday Night Run Group and train at the school every Tuesday night and let me tell you there is some legit runners in the group.  Previous Pittsburgh Marathon winners, Olympic qualifiers and other world class runners.  So don't think there wont be any competition.

JUNE 7- Verona 5k run and walk:  I am not familiar with this race but I do know Verona pretty good and I am going to guess and say this will probably be a fast course.  The main road in Verona is primarily flat and I would expect an out and back type course.  This is one race I can say I have never ran before but would like too.

JUNE 15- Man Up Fathers Day 5k or 10k:  This race takes place on the north shore of Pittsburgh.  A fairly fast course for both races, you can expect to get a good time.  Also the 10k is less crowded than the Great Race later in the season. So if you are looking to PR this may be a race you think about.

JUNE 21- Oakmont 5k: This is a race I have ran a few times and a race that I really enjoy.  It is an out and back course through the streets of Oakmont and Verona. All flat and a really fast course. It's also a money race. So they usually get some good runners and the winning time is usually a face time. I will say though I have not seen to many ladies take advantage of this course.  I don't know if it is that low key or people just shy away from it.  So fast ladies this may be a race you can win.

JULY 19- Stampede In The Park 5k run and 1 mile fun run: This 5k is a bit on the harder side compared to most 5k's.  If you are familiar with Boyce Park then you know it is a lot of hills. This race has been around for a while and brings out a good number of runners. Plum High School runners usually are there in numbers and use this race as a warm up before their cross country season gets on the way. 

JULY 26- Turtle Trot 5k: This race is where I got my PR for a 5k. The course is all flat and is a very fast course.  This is another money race and brings out some good local runners.  The good thing about it though is it is not a very crowded race.  And once again except for the Tuesday Night run group the ladies do not show up for this race. So again if you are a lady this race could be your for the taking.  But don't expect an easy win, Tammy Slusser who once won PGH Marathon can still move for her age and usually still runs sub 20 minutes.

AUGUST 1- Liberty Ave. Mile: This is probably my favorite race of the season. A 1 mile race right down Liberty Avenue.  There are different heats for this race as well. It starts with the fun run. This is for people who go slower than 6 minutes. Then they do the corporate race. Runners who are running for some corporation and form a team.  Then the sub-elite, runners who can run below a 6 minute mile. You must be able to provide proof to get into that heat. Then they run the woman and men's elite race.  I am not sure what the time is for woman but for men you must be able to run a sub 4 mile to even get into that heat.  This race is always on a Friday night at 7:00 so it makes it exciting to be running at night with people cheering you on.

AUGUST 23- Run Around The Square:  This is considered to be the biggest neighborhood race in Pittsburgh. It sells out every year.  This could be because it is a great course, with both road running and trail running mixed together. The course is not easy but I wouldn't call it hard. It is a course that will challenge you is that best way I can put it.  Another reason it may sell out is when you finish in the lower Frick Park field, kegs of beer will be waiting for you. D's six pack and hotdog shop is a major sponsor and always have free beer and hotdogs at the finish.  It's the perfect race for all you drinkers. I have ran this race since I was in high school and it always has a good amount of above average local runners.

SEPTEMBER 14- Erie Marathon and Half Marathon:  I have never ran this race before but I am told that it is a very fast and flat course.  I checked the map and it runs around Presque Isle twice for the marathon and once for the half.  I will be running the half here and will be hoping to get a PR.

SEPTEMBER 28- Great Race:  If you are from Pittsburgh then you probably have ran in this 10K race. I consider the course to be easy, but over crowded. I have a love hate relationship with this race. I love the course but I hate how hard it is to move and I always think the start is a cluster. With that being said though the crowds are good, the expo is ok and runners from all over come to run it.

OCTOBER 19- Columbus Marathon:  I am calling this race my Redemption Race. I will be looking forward to this race all summer.   I will be running the full in hopes of getting my time I know I am capable of. Also one of my good friends will be running his first half here and I will be there for it.  I have never ran this race before but I do know it is considered one of the fastest courses in the country.  It is a Boston qualifier as well, so they get a lot of runners hoping to take advantage of the fast course.  This race is my ultimate goal for the season.

Any other races that you are running that you think may be a good one I should do?
Are you running in any of these races?