Understanding Seasonal Race

The best runners in the world take a seasonal approach to their racing year. For example, they’ll focus on cross-country races in the winter, road races in the spring, and then shorter track races in the summer. In the fall, they might run more road races or take a break from racing. Top marathoners aim for one or two peak marathons a year, using shorter races at other times of the year as part of their buildup to their next marathon. When I raced marathons, I usually made a spring marathon, such as the Boston Marathon in April, one focus. When I recovered from that, I’d run shorter races as I built back up to a fall marathon, such as the New York City Marathon. Many recreational runners could benefit from this approach, but the current racing calendar can make it tough. It’s so darned enticing! As running has become more popular, races have proliferated like Star Trek TV series—it seems that no matter where you look, you see one. Still, in parts of the country that have definite seasons, at least a bit of logic remains in what races are offered when. After all, a marathon is tough enough by itself. You don’t need a hot summer day to add your work.
Here’s when some of the most popular races are most often held:

• Although 5K road races are held pretty much year round, you might do better in them in warmer months, because it can be tough to get going quickly when it’s cold.
• Although 8K to 10K road races are also held year round, their popularity peaks in spring and fall because even 10K can get too long in hot weather.
• Because runners build toward marathons and concentrate on longer runs in the cooler months, 10-milers and half-marathons are mostly held in the fall and winter.
• Marathons are mostly held in the fall, with the spring being the second most popular time. Summer is out of the question in many places.