I was excited to see the topic for this week’s Friday Five Linkup and tweaked it a little bit to be 5 Races on my Bucket list.
Disney Princess Half
How have I never done a Disney race? My kids have been there over 10 times and I’ve never run there. When they were younger I thought it was logistically challenging so I am going to need to get on that now they are teenagers. Bonus the medals are cute too!
The Nation’s Tri
Ok so confession-I am terrified to swim in The Potomac River which is why I’ve never signed up for this race. Living in the DC area, it’s obviously a great choice for me. The bike and run course are flat. I need to get over that fear and get my butt into that river! Look at that view!
Napa Valley
There are a ton of races in Napa in Sonoma and they look like so much fun. Napa is beautiful and I love visiting there. Running through the vineyards would be incredible. I am pretty sure I could convince my wine loving husband to come along.
Runner’s World Half
I see pictures each year of this race and the scenery looks breathtaking. The trees are a spectacular orange and red reminding me that fall is such a beautiful time to run through the Pennsylvania countryside. They always have great seminars and speakers lined up to make it a full weekend experience.
Hershey Park Half
If I am going to run a half, I might as well run for chocolate right?!
Linking up with Courtney, Mar & Cynthia
Have you done any of these races? What’s on your bucket list? Think I should take the plunge for the Nation’s Tri?
Such fun races!! I haven’t done any of these, but anything in Napa and I am there. 🙂
Would love to do the Runner’s World 1/2 also – I have heard great things about that weekend.
My bucket list is long, but I would like to run the Berlin Marathon and I haven’t done NYC so would like to do that. Also Big Sur!
You should definitely do the National Tri!! Goodness knows you’ve been swimming enough! ;0
NYC would be on my list too as I know they have a lot of half races. I may just take the plunge this year w Nations
These races look so fun! It’s been a full year since I raced now. Honestly I can wrap my head around running again. I’m so scared of another stress fracture. Maybe I’ll do it when I’m ready one day. For now, I want to focus on strength and balancing weak areas.
I had a stress fracture last year too. It took a long time for me to trust my body again and I was so scared it would happen again. I feel you.
All these races look fun. Napa Valley and the RW Half sound awesome!
So many races so little time….
I was going to do the Hershey Half with Caitlin last year but we didn’t have the $$ when it was time to sign up. I would love to run Big Sur, or some of the Cali races, and do a triathlon, for sure!
Hershey does sound fun doesn’t it?! Maybe next year for both us?
I would love to do the Runner’s World Half as well. Big Sur is definitely on my bucket list though!!
We might have to do a road trip next year for the RW it is not too far for us!
What a great and unique list! I have done the Princess race and highly recommend it. Disney just has a way to make everything magical.
I would be terrified of swimming in the Potomac too… yikes!!!
I would LOVE to do Napa, Hershey’s or especially the Runners World!
You should definitely run a Disney race! I’m so glad that I chose to make the Disney World Half my first half marathon, and my husband and I are planning on running the Wine and Dine Half Marathon in November. I’d love to add Princess to my race calendar in the next year or two.
I did the Princess Half last year. It was fun, but SO crowded. I was bumping elbows the entire time. I also started waaaay in the back because I’m slow – so maybe that was the problem?
Turns out I have nothing but 10k’s on my bucket list. I’m coming back from injury and if I can do a 5k comfortably, I can switch my focus on a 10k.
I hear you I am coming back from an injury too and haven’t been able to run much myself but a girl can dream! Hang in there
YES to the Hershey Half! I will definitely run for chocolate. 🙂
I know doesn’t that sound like fun! Maybe next year
I want to do a Disney Half too and the Hershey Half sounds pretty intriguing! I like your style!!
Thanks! The Hershey half sounds great doesn’t it?
Apparently, we have the same bucket. Ha. Seriously, I would love ALL of these races. I have done the WDW half a couple of times, but not Princess. And a Napa Valley race? Oh, yes! I looked into that for this year thinking we were travelling to CA, but it looks like AZ instead.
Great lets go together!
I would run for wine any day. There’s a Loudoun County wine half that I think happens in May or June each year. I’m not sure if you’ve done that one, but that may be an even easier/closer way for you to get some wine after a race! Hershey would also be fun.
I haven’t done that Loudon race but have heard mixed things about their race management. Hershey yes!!
Love your list. I have to approve a Disney race choice. That’s the race (Princess) that will get my wife to run. I did not know about that tri. I may need to do that sprint version (doing my first this year) just to say I did it. RW is on my list too. I may try and do it this year since my Disney race in October got dropped. And can’t go wrong with chocolate and running. Then you get to go to Hershey Park after (or if you prefer, there is outlet shopping next door too). Grew up having season passes to Hershey, so love the park.
Shopping, chocolate and running! Sold!!
OMG. People actually swim in the Potomac? I guess it’s better than swimming in the Anacostia, but I agree with you–that’s a little scary.
These are great bucket list races! Running in Napa or Sonoma is also on my list. It’s so beautiful there, plus WINE.
I know seriously!!
I haven’t done any of those races but they all sound great! I definitely want to do a Disney race at some point just for the experience. Napa Sonoma would be cool too, would love to do a run through the vineyards!
I know that sounds delightful! Let’s do it!
Everyone should do a Disney race atleast once! 🙂 I would wine to run thru wine country as well! Maybe 2016????? Great list! Cape cod is only on my bucket list and of course, DC!
2016 sounds great! Would be so much fun to do a race together sometime 🙂
Great list! I would love to run a race in Napa and I keep saying I’ll get a Disney race done at some point – they look like so much fun!
I know the Disney sounds good in theory but lots of logistics involved. Napa yes for sure one day.
I hear great things about the Disney race and Napa Valley? Oh I would definitely want to go to that.
awesome! We should do it. I’ve not done any races in Baltimore either so maybe I can pop over and do one with you sometime.
That would be FUN!! I’ll keep my eye out. I am such an impromptu racer meaning I tend to join races last minute because someone asked me. LOL! If all else fails we always have the BRF!
Ok I will try to look out for some and give you a heads up!
My 2 races I want to run for sure: Big Sur Marathon and the Goofy Challenge 🙂
The Goofy sounds just crazy!
I would love to run Napa!! I’m all about running for wine!
I know wouldn’t that be fun! It’s so pretty there.
The Runners World half is less then an hour from me! I can be a sign holder for you!
If I can just get back to running any sort of distance that would be fabulous! I will let you know.
I also have never done a Disney race but would love to do one at some point! The medals are so cute and what better way to celebrate a race than by touring the parks??
I would also love to do the Runners World Half – or really any of the races during their running festival. All the events surrounding the weekend sound like so much fun 🙂
I know the Runner’s World sounds so great! I hope I get to go it some time
Great list! Let me know when you decide to go run a race in Wine OCuntry. I will join you. I ahve always wanted to do the RW Half too but I have NEVER wanted to do a Disney race. Never say never…
Ha you got it! I will keep you posted. I need to get rid of these little injuries before I sign up for something else.
You MUST run Disney!! They do a great job!! I would love to run the Princess Half Marathon! Dressing up is so much fun!
It certainly looks like a ton of fun! Maybe next year 🙂
I’m tempted to sign up for Nations after reading Cynthia’s post (if it works with my marathon training – I would only do the sprint one). Runners World PA and MA are also on my list 🙂
I am totally freaked about swimming in the Potomac but maybe you two can convince me 🙂
Princess weekend is great! As you probably know we are here again for the fifth yr in a row. So much fun. You should definitely do the Nation’s tri…I’d love to do one some day.
I know you are both there I was thinking of you when I wrote it. Come do the tri with me!
I really want to run the Runner’s World half! Still considering it this year, but I haven’t really worked a lot on my fall race schedule yet.
Also Hershey, because, well… Chocolate! 😉
I know chocolate!! I’d love to do them both too.
I’ve done the WDW half in January–did it in 2011. It was a bucket list race, it was fun, but would I do another? Probably not. I think everyone should do one Disney race tho, just for the spectacle!
Yes it seems logistically challenging for sure!
I have completed two Disney races. Wine and Dine and the Marathon Weekend Half. My personal opinion is that the night races are better. They aren’t in a hurry to shoo everyone out of there so they can open the park – after party is great. Wine and Dine coincides with the Food Festival at Epcot. The Marathon Weekend race, not nearly as fun after having done Wine and Dine first. Nation’s Tri – didn’t like it. I’ve done two big city races – Nation’s and Philly TriRock. Both gross river swims with time trial starts (lots of standing around and no warmup in the water). Not my favorite. I’m excited that one of my Bucket List races is this year – I got into Alcatraz! If I ever get back into marathons I would like to do Grandmas and Big Sur.
I did the she rox in Philly a few years ago wasn’t my fave either. I imagine the night races are cooler. Alcatraz wow fun! and scary!!
i refuse to swim in the potomac. you know that half the time they have to cancel the swim bc of gross stuff overflowing in there? yuck! i’m sure it’d be fine but i just can’t bring myself to do it! 🙂
Yes I do know all about it!! That’s the reason why I am afraid to do it. I think there are dead bodies in there 🙂
I did the Nation’s tri this past December, but unfortunately the swim portion of the race was canceled due to run off in the river after a big storm the night before, it was super disappointing to have that happen but the rest of the race was great. If you want to get used to swimming in the Potomac there is an open water swim group called wave one swimming that hosts open water swims almost every Thursday in the summer/early fall, they meet at National Harbor. I went to a swim before the race this year and it really helped to build my confidence.
Thanks for the info! I did not know about that one. That is a great idea I just may do it. Thanks!
That Race in Napa looks amazing! I love wine, so that’s right up my alley!
It is gorgeous there and I think it would be easy to convince my wine loving husband!
They all sound like great races! I would love to one day run the Chicago Marathon, NYC Marathon, MCM, and some Disney race. I tend to run the same races every year but try to at least throw in one new one.
It’s definitely fun to run in new places each year. It’s a great way to see a city. I’d love to do one of the half races in NYC.
Go big or go home, right? I would go for the tri!
On my bucket list – WDW Marathon (just checked that off) and a Ragnar Relay. Any one will do.
Oh you have to do a Ragnar! They are so much fun. We did DC last fall and I am doing Cape Cod in May. Now just have to get this plantar issue to heal so I can start training.
You should totally to the Nation’s tri 😉 and I support any race if there’s chocolate involved! Happy weekend!!
I think every race should have chocolate!
I really want to do a Disney race, and any race with chocolate sounds like a winner to me 🙂
I totally agree! No better reason to run than for chocolate or shoes maybe 🙂
I love your picks! I’ve been kind of jealous of all the people I’ve seen on IG this weekend at the Princess Half. I did a Disney race last year and it was an absolute blast! I definitely want to do another one soon! As for the Napa Valley run, that sounds amazing and beautiful! I was looking at doing a similar one awhile back! 🙂
I know I keep seeing the picks as well may have to go for that one!
These all look like fantastic races. You definitely need to do Nation’s Tri and the Disney Princess Half. I did a triathlon in DC while I was there for a work thing. I thought it was Nation’s Tri, but it was actually the Dextro Energy Triathlon that took place there in 2009. We did swim in the Potomac and while it was not my favorite swim, it definitely falls into the category of something that you can say that you did. The bike and run were incredible.
My first marathon was at Disney. I haven’t done the Princess Half, but it looks fun and Disney usually does a really good job with its races.
I know I need to get over the fear of the Potomac!!