Do you like to plan ahead? Actually, more important question: Do you like crowds? Big ones?
Here are details on three upcoming races that I expect will attract more than 3,000 runners each in the last five months of 2009 -- followed by a list of half a dozen that should draw at least 1,000.
1. The Thunder Road Marathon, Saturday, Dec. 12. Starts and finishes uptown. This year's event will be the fifth iteration of Charlotte's new marathon, and it has grown significantly every year; in 2008, nearly 5,000 marathoners, half-marathoners and 5Kers crossed the finish line. D.C. Lucchesi of Run For Your Life says "about half of all the marathon and half-marathon participants are from out of town. That means they're sleeping, eating and shopping here, pouring a couple mil into the local economy in the weeks right before Christmas. Plus, the event has turned tens of thousands of dollars back into local charities." Link to the official site is here. Early-bird registration (through Aug. 31) is just $75 for the marathon, $50 for the half, and $25 for the 5K.
3. Komen Race for the Cure, Saturday, Oct. 3. In uptown Charlotte. This fundraiser for breast cancer research features a 5K competitive race, a 5K noncompetitive run/walk, and a 1-mile route. It is "a celebration of life where runners and walkers of all ages gather to honor survivors who are winning the battle against breast cancer and to remember those who have lost their lives to this devastating disease." In 2008, 1,500 people affixed chip timers to their shoes, and several thousand more ran or walked simply for the cause. Details are here. Register by Sept. 1 for $33 (competitive) or $28 (noncompetitive). Thereafter, it's $35 or $30.
Other biggies
5. Dowd YMCA Run, Saturday, Nov. 7. Traverses Dilworth neighborhoods. There's a 5K, but Charlotteans flock to this event because it offers one of the city's precious-few annual half-marathons. Almost 700 completed it last year. Official site: Click here.
7. Lungstrong 15K/5K, Saturday, Oct. 17. Traverses the Lake Norman area. Another case in which an uncommon distance is the draw -- more than 400 runners did the 5K last year ... more than 500 ran the 15K. Official site: Click here.
8. Yiasou Greek Festival 5K, Saturday, Aug. 29. Traverses Dilworth neighborhoods. Four words often get tossed around when Yiasou comes up: Charlotte's. Flattest. Annual. 5K. About 850 people crossed the finish line in '08. Official site: Click here.
9. Hopebuilders 5K, Saturday, Oct. 10. Traverses Myers Park area. Why this one? Worthy beneficiary (Levine Children's Hospital) and a peek at some of the city's most beautiful residential neighborhoods. # of 2008 finishers: 820.
Want to chime in about any of these? Or add your own favorites? The floor is now yours.
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8 comments:
All great races - thanks. If you have any pull with the race organizers on the Turkey Trot...I have a suggestion: seperate the walker and runner finish - last year was a royal cluster at the end (walkers side by side clogging the whole "sprint to the finish". Or maybe I just need to run faster?
I don't recommend the Komen race. There's too many people and too many people who don't usually run races. They don't know how to seed and you end up with walkers infront of you. Also the event is too much about the cause.
Thanks so much for the details though! Very helpful!
Thanks for this... you should post something like this every couple of weeks to keep people informed!
"The event is too much about the cause". Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that the point of this event?
I cannot remember not running or walking in some event that supports a cause. Every race on this list supports some cause. One of the great things about the Komen race is the involvement of walkers, runners, volunteers and neighborhod cheerleaders. If this person feels that strongly against about the Susan B.Komen cause, he or she may be one of the few people in this Country who has not been affected in some way by a person with breast cancer!
I agree with the comment about the Turkey Trot race. I have all but marked it off my list of races to do because of the finish. The finish needs to be separate from where all the food and drinks are. Once you began running up the hill to the finish, you had to dodge people crossing the street. There were no barriers or ropes holding people back or directing them to stay off the course.
Let me know when "too much about the cause" holds a no cause race. I would like to see how many people show up and offer support.
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