“What is your favorite distance?” – ask ten runners and you will probably get ten different answers. Some of us are experts in just one distance, some of us prefer two or more, and the rest just like a variety of distances. Joanna, of  Yummie Running is asking us this very personal question in the Runners’ Lounge today:

What is your favorite race?  Do you live for the marathons or crave a 5k?

Would you rather race in the morning, afternoon, or at night?

Do you like big races with tons of people and encouraging crowds or do you prefer the smaller hometown races?

Personally I like the marathon the best. Not only is it the challenge of the race itself, it’s all about the training and discipline that comes with preparing for a 26.2 miles running event. There are the early morning long runs with like minded people who all have the same goal: crossing the finish line upright and maybe within a certain set time goal. There are the many days where you run twice a day in order to get your mileage of the day in, the weekly speed workouts on the track, the evening spent at home eating pasta and turning in early so you feel refreshed for the long run. Buying new running shoes five weeks before race day. The elated feeling after the last long run, knowing that the worst is really behind you and feeling confident once again that yes, you can do this! The taper weeks, where training gets just a little easier, the pressure just a little less but the intensity remains the same. The final day of rest, the final meal full of carbs (I don’t care what anybody says but I love them!), talking with friends about the race strategy. Then race day: getting up way before sun rise, trekking to the start line with all those pre race jitters and lining up, knowing that all the runners around you worked just as hard as you did to get here. And once the race is run, once the 26.2 miles are behind you and you cross the finish line, the ultimate reward of achievement! I love it! All of it! And the bigger the race the better, especially when the race does not take place in your home town. Since chances are you know very few people, if any, cheering strangers are the best motivation to push yourself along and the more strangers line up along the route the better.  I also love the idea of having 10s of thousands of runners along for the ride run! There is just something about being in a sea of people who are as passionate about running as you are.

I do prefer races that start early. You can bet that come race day I will be waking up before the crack of dawn anyway so I might as well get to the start line, run the race, and enjoy the afterglow for the rest of the day. The only race I ever run in the evening is the Nite Moves 5k, which also happens to be one of my favorite events. At Nite Moves it is all about the atmosphere. The same people show up every Wednesday night and try to beat their time form the previous week. It is “only” a 5k but a fairly difficult course that goes uphill for the first half. Afterwards there is food and beer from local restaurants and breweries, accompanied by live music from local bands, and everyone has a good time. When I lived in Santa Barbara I ran Nite Moves every other week and helped out with timing on alternate weeks I did not run. But no matter if I was in my running gear or street clothes I always looked forward to Wednesday nights in the summer.

Although my favorite distance is the marathon, my all time most favorite race is actually only 13.1 miles long and takes you from the famous Santa Barbara Friendship Dolphins Fountain at the edge of Stearns Wharf, past the “Queen of the Missions” and up Gibraltar Road to an elevation of 3996 feet and the majestic views at La Cumbre Peak. From the finish line you can capture the panaramic layout of the city, SB Channels and the Channel Islands and you can see where you started from 13.1 miles earlier. Pier-to-Peak has been mentioned on this blog numerous times. It takes place every year on the Sunday before Labor Day and is about the most fun as you can have running up a hill. A steep hill (Lance Armstrong uses this road to train for the Tour. Just sayin’!)! If you take it serious you are doomed, not to mention that you would miss out on all the fun realizing how ridiculous it really is what you are doing. Add to that the fact that the famously year round temperate climate of Santa Barbara usually gets hit by a heat wave on Labor Day Weekend, which just makes it all the more joyful. I am always happy running but I never smile and laugh as much during a race as I do running up to the peak. Maybe next year you will join me!

Today’s Running Tip: Incorporate races into your training!

Races that are shorter than your target race are a great way to get into the groove of racing, whether you are a beginner, training for your very first race, or a seasoned runner. Just as long as you use the race as a training run and don’t try to run for the win, injuring yourself in the process. If you are a beginner it will give you a glimpse into race day and what you can expect, from the pre race atmosphere to part-a-potty lines (believe me when I say it is good to experience this once before your big race so you can plan accordingly!), to race preparation in general. For more seasoned runners, races are always good for measuring your performance and fitness level before the big day.