I'm planning to run my first race next year. I haven't run in years and have never done anything longer than a 5K. I'm hoping to run a 10K or half this time.
In terms of crowds (before, during, and after race), weather, and difficulty...which race would you say is the best choice for a newbie?
Do races sell out? How far in advance should I register?
Thanks!
Unfortunately, there’s not one single answer to all your questions. I’ll go ahead and say up front that the best race weekend for you is the theme that you find most appealing. Here are my best answers to your specific questions:
Crowd levels (lowest to highest):
Princess (PR) < Wine & Dine (W&D) < Star Wars (SWj. Marathon Weekend (MW) is a wild card and could pretty much fall anywhere in there depending on its proximity to New Year’s
Weather (coolest to warmest):
Can vary wildly, but in general. MW < PR < W&D = SW
Course difficulty:
There’s no appreciable difference in course difficulty between the weekends. Especially as some weekends use the same courses as each other.
Best overall choice for a newbie:
The theme that you like best.
Do races sell out/how far in advance to register:
Some do, some don’t. It can vary from year to year. The best bet is always to register as early as possible, preferably on the opening day of registration to ensure that you get the races that you want.
Good luck. There really are no wrong choices. Hope this helps!