A New Race to the Calendar

I have a select few races that I do every year...or at least try to. I train throughout the winter and the races start in the spring.  March to be exact.  The first on the list is always the Seattle St. Paddy's Day race.  This is a 4 mile race with A LOT of Irish spirit...I even dress up and I'm not Irish.  

A few weeks later in April I enjoy running the 5-mile Tulip Run.  This race is completely opposite of the St. Paddy's race.  The race has a few hundred people, it's out in the middle of nowhere and the course winds through muddy trails.  It's quite peaceful actually. 

In May, always the first Sunday in May, we take a trip to Spokane to partake in Bloomsday (about an 8-mile race).  If you haven't experienced Bloomsday, I suggest you do.  It used to be the largest timed race in the world (I don't know if it still is) with around 50,000 participants and it is a blast!  I love the atmosphere of this race...the people warming up before hand, the crowd squeezing together to stay warm, the mad rush to cross the starting line (yes, the starting line), the spectators that line the streets, the costumes, the finishers t-shirt, the post race activities....it's all around a fun race experience. However, the first time you compete in Bloomsday, I suggest you don't get your hopes up on meeting your goal time...the crowd is tough.  However, after the first year, your previous year's time qualifies you for a different color-coded-starting-position.  The second year you participate is when you set your goals and go for it! 

Finally, in June (the last Saturday in June) is the Seattle Rock & Roll half and marathon race.  I've competed in this race twice now and without question will continue to keep this race on the calendar.  However, I will only compete in the half (13.1 miles)....marathon runners are crazy...although, I am slightly intrigued.  The before the race adventure and post race party is not that fun, but the course of the race is awesome...especially if running with other friends.  

This year I added a new race to the calendar and will continue to partake in this race every year.  The Seattle Seafair 5K.  This race, by far, has the best pre and post celebrations.  The course itself is awesome!  The race starts at the Space Needle, heads south on 4th to Seneca, north on the top layer of the viaduct where we end up back at the Space Needle.  The course through 4th is lined with thousands of spectators waiting for the torchlight parade, but they eagerly cheer the runners on.  It's really a great feeling.  In addition, there's always the race shirt and with most 5K's the race shirt is a T-shirt; however, the Seafair Race provides tech shirts by Brooks.  Absolutely worth the race, in my opinion!

I was encouraged to do the Seafair Race from a teacher friend, who the past couple of years has inspired me to always strive to be a better teacher.  I enjoyed the tables to be turned as throughout the race I felt like I was able to inspire her and enjoy our time together on a summer day.  Thanks, Carolyn.  

Here are a couple of pics from that day...