The show is about to start
Plus 15 winter half marathons that won't break the bank
The holiday weekend is almost here, but first I must apologize for getting this to you guys a day late. I try to be like clockwork with the newsletter, but sometimes life just gets away from you. And this week, it did.
That said, we’re coming up on what is my favorite time of the year to run — the September-October-November (and even into December) season is the absolute best, in my opinion, and there’s tons of races coming up here in my hometown of Atlanta that I hope to try this fall.
If you’ve been running on a treadmill thanks to the ungodly heat that’s blanketed much of the country this summer, you can finally get outside. And if you run at 5:30 or 6:00 a.m. like I do, the humidity is about to begin fading away and be replaced by some cooler, crisper temperatures.
I call it “the show,” in the sense that it’s “showtime” — time to pick things up from lazy summer runs and kick your training into gear, so you can be ready for race day. (And for the inevitable slowdown that happens right around Thanksgiving week!)
Since we’re heading into the Labor Day weekend, I’m going to keep it short and sign off here — if you have a race coming up this weekend, let me know about it! I’d love to hear how it went. And if you’re about to start training for a goal race this fall, tell me more about that too.
Until next week, I hope you guys have an amazing weekend and get some great running in — enjoy your time off and I’ll see you next week.
Your friend,
— Terrell
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15 Winter Half Marathons That Won’t Break the Bank
Scenic half marathons from Texas to California, and from Florida to New York — and places in between — with cheap-to-reasonable registration fees in winter 2018 and 2019.
Catalina Island Half Marathon
With gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean, rugged terrain and lots of elevation change on this beautiful island off the coast of Los Angeles — all of which means this is tough one! — this half marathon unfolds along a route that organizers say is “the hardest race you will ever love!”
Runs in November 2018 — details here.
Mammoth Half Marathon
You’ll start this stunningly picturesque race through Northern California’s High Sierras at about 9,000 feet above sea level, and follow a route that runs along a combination of trails and mountain roads through some of the most beautiful scenery in America, and coincidentally the place where many of the nation’s elite runners train.
Runs in June — details here.
Snoqualmie Valley Half Marathon
Get ready for an out-and-back route along scenic riverside trails here in this small town — Carnation, Wash., is just 1.1 square miles in size and home to just over 1,700 souls — framed by the foothills of the Cascade Mountains as well as the waters of the Snoqualmie and Tolt Rivers.
You’ll run portions of the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, a 32-mile-long former railroad that’s been converted into a running, walking and cycling trail.
Runs in June 2019 — details here.
Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon
A land filled with forests, rail trails, lakeside stretches and plentiful waterfalls — that’s what awaits runners here in Upstate New York at this race, which makes its annual summertime running along a course organizers describe as “one of the fastest and most scenic half marathons you’ll ever run. Period.”
Runs in June — details here.
Squaw Valley Half Marathon
Most runners who arrive on the morning of this early summer race — they aren’t accustomed to Squaw Valley’s winter-like weather in summer — come dressed in a singlet and shorts, and they often can see their breath — the temperature at start time commonly hovers around 40 degrees.
“Rest assured, Tahoe’s stunning snow-capped peaks made participants quickly forget how cold it really was,” one runner wrote of the 2016 race. “When you’re running in what looks like a postcard, nothing else matters.”
Runs in June 2019 — details here.
The North Face Endurance Challenge
Set to take place in the stunningly gorgeous — as well as hilly and challenging — Golden Gate National Recreation Area just across the bridge from San Francisco, this race weekend offers a variety of distances, from a full marathon, 50-mile and 50K on Saturday to the half marathon, 10K and 5K on Sunday.
Runs in November 2018 — details here.
In Case You Missed It
21 Bucket List Half Marathons for Fall
Looking for a race you’ll never forget? Try one of these half marathons across the U.S., from New York’s Adirondack Mountains to the towering mesas of Utah’s Monument Valley.
The 9 Best Running Shorts for Everything From Light Jogs to Marathons
— It’s always amazing to me how tiny differences in things like the kinds of fabric used in running clothing, or how it’s designed, can make a huge difference in how chafed I’ll feel at the end of a run. Here, New York Magazine takes a look at what the author says are some of the best shorts out there right now.
Want to Be Healthier? Pick Up the Pace of Your Walk
“Walking more is better than walking less. But don’t fall into the trap of thinking that any languid stroll provides a big health boost. Keep out of the ‘slow’ zone. Make sure you’re putting some effort into your walk.”
— Great suggestions by former Runner’s World legend Amby Burfoot on the benefits you’ll get from putting a little extra “oomph” into your walking routine. Especially relevant now that walking is more and more popular at races.
Ricky Gates is Running Every Street in San Francisco
“It’s become increasingly popular to get on an airplane and fly halfway around the world for a running experience,” Gates says. “But I would argue that most people don’t know their own backyard all that well.”
— Gates, he of Instagram fame for all the places he’s trekked around the world, is turning his attention to a quest to run every single mile of the city he calls home. It’s been done before by a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, who took 7 years to walk between 1,500 and 2,000 miles throughout the city. Will be fascinating to follow Gates on this journey.