Happy Holidays everyone! I love a great Holiday Race-It doesn’t matter if it’s Valentine’s Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving or Christmas. You will usually find me running numerous holiday races every year. Why Sign up for a holiday Race?
Destress-
The holidays can be pretty stressful and having an excuse a reason to get out of the house first thing in the morning can help relieve some of the family stress. Just saying.
Get moving-
The holidays are filled with lots of extra food and drink opportunity. Getting out and getting moving early in the day assures that you will get your workout in before the day gets away from you.
More relaxed-
Holiday themed races tend to be more relaxed and more for fun. They can be opportunities to just run without the pressure of a time goal. Lots of more casual runners tend to sign up for them.
Family Fun-
Holiday races are also a great way to get the whole family involved in exercising and running. Because they are usually more relaxed, family members may be more willing to tag along in the fun.
Charitable-
Many holiday races have a charity that is tied to them or involve bringing a donated food item or toy. What a great way to help those who are less fortunate.
Holiday races-love them or leave them? Do tell!
Linking up today with
Friday Five- Fairytales & Fitness, Running on Happy.
Fit n Fashionable Friday-Nicole
How about an excuse to run when everyone else is all, why are you going running? Well, I signed up for it…. And then you get all the trappings, and the fun!
Couldn’t agree more!
I think these races (like Turkey Trots) are a great way to break away from the hustle and bustle of holiday prep. Plus the costumes put a smile on your face…
The costumes do put a smile on your face and remind you of what the holidays are all about
Don’t have time for them! I have so much left to do before next weekend. Ack!
You need to de stress my friend!
I enjoy the festive atmosphere at holiday races! I did two this year and would do more only. If they were local.
Yes they have to be convenient or the de stress factor doesn’t really work well 🙂
I swear, these holiday races I’ve been doing are the only thing keeping me sane! 😉
OMG I’m in the process of choosing a holiday race right now and I agree! The “get moving” reason resonates with me the most. It’s like a secret weapon that helps you stay accountable with your health/fitness during the holidays.
Yes exactly!! Happy holidays
How much fun! I need to do this! Wish I could get my family involved.
It’s a lot of fun when they join in!
I would love to do a holiday race but we don’t have many (maybe one, early in December) around here. I could use that de-stressing help!
We all can for sure!
Thanks for the reminder! I want to find a New Years Eve race!
Those are great too! We are doing a new year’s day run
Running holiday themed races are always a lot of fun! I’m sad that I didn’t have time to run one this year. Hopefully in 2017!
Definitely! I also just signed up for the For the love 10K in February kind of a Valentine’s race you should come
I missed our Santa fun run this year and am so disappointed that I did. I might just go out and run in a santa outfit for the fun of it one of these days 🙂
Oh you definitely should 🙂
I do love them….. They tend to draw out more people and everyone is happy and having fun… they are more relaxed and more fun.
Yes definitely!
That is one of the reasons I do like holiday races bc they are less competitive and just for fun.
They are really a lot of fun and a great way to get into the spirit
Very good reasons, Deborah! I have never run a holiday race but I have done training runs around Christmas time where we deck out in festive clothes. One tme I even tied jingle bells to my shoes. My runner friends really liked that… 😉
I love jingle bells on the shoes! Fun
I love seeing what everyone dresses up like at holiday and themed races! I did one for fun but I got competitive and ran it faster than I should lol
Well that can certainly happen!
Oh yes!! Can we say Costumes? I would run any holiday races just for the costumes !!
I need to find a winter holiday race!!
It’s fun to get all decked out sometimes and get into the spirit
I love holiday races. My favorite was doing the Thanksgiving Half in Atlanta each year. Maybe one day I’ll get back to that! For now, I’d digging 5Ks.
I love the Thanksgiving races too people are so fun and goofy with their costumes
I wish there was a holiday race near me! There’s a Christmas day parkrun where I live, but I’m actually at home with family for the day itself! Will have to make do with loops of the countryside near their house…not too shabby!
Yes that works too! Have a great weekend
I feel that exercise in the middle of all the hustle and bustle is the best way to empty your mind and get recharged.
It really is!
I have done a few holiday races and I agree, they are more laid back and fun.
They certainly can be! Happy holidays
How fun! I don’t know of any holiday races around here but I guess I’ll have to look harder since I enjoy winter running (as long as the temps and wind aren’t too bad).
Yep all good reasons! I usually try to get a couple of family members to join me for the local Jingle Bell run – always fun!
It is! Have a great weekend friend
I love holiday races! They’re so festive and they feel like part of the holiday season for me now 🙂
Definitely! hope to “run” into you at one of them this year
Yes. These are all great reasons! I never pick a holiday race as a goal race, though. I want them to stay fun, light, and not have that added pressure this time of year.
Yes exactly!
LOVE them!!! I think holiday races are fun, and (like you said) usually support a great charitable cause. I think it’s fun to dress in costume (without going too overboard) and just have fun with friends. An especially fun race I haev done many times is the Red Flannel Run (Des Moines), it’s usually near Valentine’s Day, and most of the runners are dressed in red flannel in some capacity (LOTS of runners in pj’s LOL).
I love the flannel idea! They have some crazy underwear run here in February bc that makes a lot of sense right? LOL
I think holiday races are fun! I think the biggest reason I don’t sign up for them more often is because the weather this time of year is so unpredictable. Ive done a Jingle bell 5k twice and it was so much fun (even though it was freezing!)
It is certainly unpredictable! I guess that’s part of the fun
I totally, 100% agree with all of this. I need a race to work toward right now. I missed my 5K last weekend because of my migraine and now all my motivation is out the window. Maybe because it’s been in the negative digits here…
oh bummer! I hope you are feeling better. It’s hard to be motivated when it’s this cold hang in
Holidays are such a good time to work towards a race! Need to start making that a tradition!
It’s a definitely a great way to beat some of the stress!
Great reasons! The big holiday races around here took place in early December, so I missed out due to vacation. The next one is on NYE, but I promised myself I would take some time off. There’s always next year.
Yes indeed next year will be here before you know it!
I’ve only done one holiday race – on Thanksgiving a few years ago -and it was so much fun!
They really are!
Love them! Turkey and Santa holiday races are tradition for Chad and I.
They are so much fun have a great weekend Jill
I do love them! and I love when you see entire families out running together 🙂 Happy holidays and keep running!
Yes I love the family aspect as well. Happy holidays friend!
Yes! Holiday races are such fun and there are so many for great causes. I love the idea that it gets you out the door and moving before holiday craziness kicks in!
Yes absolutely! Happy Holidays
I’d love to do a holiday race if my holidays weren’t consist of me trying to stay indoors from the snow haha
Well yes there is that! stay warm friend
Great reasons…I sure do miss running!
I hope to be back soon 🙂
I know you will! 🙂
Holiday races are so fun! I wish I had family members that run, so we could all do it together!
My family are not runners either but I can usually get them to do one race a year.
Great article!! I can see holiday races being a really good way to destress, get moving and have fun with your friends and family!!
exactly!
Look like lots of fun befoe and after the race haha! I’m sure you are very fit! I’m a fitness freak – or just like keeping fit! thanks for sharing and have a great week ahead!
xo Yvonne
http://www.aproposh.com
I wish we had more holiday races in France. There are only one or 2. The race season really drops off mid November and doesn’t pick up again before March. I do have 2 races in February but they are smaller and I didn’t have much of a choice.
Have a great holiday !
You will just have to come back to the states more to run them!
I would agree with all these reasons, but today I did a hot chocolate run and it was so hot and humid it sucked……therefore I may or may not sign up for a holiday race again…….
I saw you IG pic we have had such chilly weather here. The grass is always greener!
A holiday race definitely sounds like a lot of fun – and the perfect race to start with if you were new to racing as you could easily rope in a friend or family member 😉
Yes indeed roping a family member in is the best part!
Holiday races look fun but it’s been a while since I’ve run one. Won’t be doing one anytime soon though!
They can be lots of fun!
I love this list! I would love to sign up for a holiday race but it’s a little two cold for me to run in Chicago 🙁
I guess it is this week!
I didn’t end up running the holiday themed race in my town this December bc I had other obligations – so bummed I missed it! I love any race where I can be festive and wear a costume or fun socks 🙂
It sure is fun!