When deciding on my race calendar, the decision of new vs. old races is a factor in my choices. I love the familiarity of the races I try to run annually, but I also love the allure of something different. How do you choose?
The Pros of Old Races
In many ways, I’m a creature of habit. I find comfort in the familiar and the things I know.
When I find a race I love, especially one that is local and of a manageable distance (5K or 10K), I am very likely to stick with it, year in and year out. The course is routine. I know the vibe and the quality of experience. Having been there before, I can compete with my past performances and judge the level of my fitness (or lack thereof). Silly as it may be, I love a good streak.
The Cons of Old Races
With all that, there are some downfalls to running the same race on repeat. Once you get used to a certain level of experience, it can be a huge disappointment if the quality slips in any way. Changes, even for good reasons, feel a little more dramatic. When you get used to things a certain way, it is hard to accept modifications.
Additionally, it can get boring to adhere to the same schedule year after year. Sometimes, mixing it up keeps things fresh.
The Pros of New Races
Trying something new is always fun. New events mix things up and keep you on your toes. It’s exciting to try a different course, maybe even in a different city, and see how other places run their events. New races mean new swag, new challenges, and new vibes. All that can lead to more adrenaline and have a positive effect on your race.
This year, I am thinking of running the Wine and Chocolate Run for the first time. It’s never been convenient, and I hate the idea of a night race, but… wine and chocolate, am I right?
The Cons of New Races
New things are unfamiliar, and for some, unfamiliar can be scary. When you register for a new race, you don’t know exactly what to expect. Most likely, you won’t see faces you know at the start line, and the whole vibe will be different. While not dealbreakers, these cons can add a little extra stress to race morning, and cloud the overall experience.
Do you prefer old races or new ones?
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This is a great question, Jenn!
If I repeat races, then it’s because they have a special vibe or have a unique feature. This weekend I’m doing the Jungfrau Marathon for the 4th time and I do it because of the beautiful scenery.
The following week, I’m doing a completely new race because I want to get to know that particular area of Switzerland.
A wine and chocolate race – sign me up!! Enjoy it, Jenn!
If I am going to travel for a race I like to pick something new and different, preferably in a new location. However, for local races I will do a mix of old and news ones. Its nice to try something new but also helpful to run something I’m familiar with.
Both. For the reasons you mentioned.
If I loved the race and it’s convenient that I run it again. It’s nice to know where to park.
But if you don’t try new ones you don’t know if the race is worth repeating. So I do. Sometimes I love it and sometimes I’m one and done.
Usually if I travel I don’t repeat a big race.
Chocolate and wine? Yes.
there are a few races that I love to run every year in my area. I also have a bucket list of new races to run
You have a good point about old races- if they change something it can be upsetting. We do the same Turkey Trot every year and one year they announced at the start that unfortunately there was some construction on the route, and because of that the course was slightly short, and oh yes because of the construction there was an enormous puddle blocking the entire road at the turnaround… WHAT? This isn’t supposed to be like that! Ha ha… somehow we survived, but it was disconcerting at first.
I guess a mix of old and new is my preference- other than the Turkey Trot I’m not really attached to many specific races.
Because I was trying to run a half in every state, with the exception of one race they were all new to me!
That said I also had a lot of local races I did run year in, year out.
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I always have a mix of old and new. I feel a certain loyalty to the favorite races, so I repeat them without thinking twice. And, it’s always fun to find a new race, especially if we’re traveling.
I don’t race a lot but when I do I tend to do races I’ve done before. Though the one race I’ve done this year was a new to me race. But I’ll probably do it again next year! 🙂
I like doing a combination of both. I really have enjoyed some repeat races, like running CIM a second time – and I really want to do that race again. I like marathons to be familiar.