Races...we've got races...

Over the past two days, I've really been trying to fill up my summer dance card.  The past two years, I've run the half marathon and 10k at Simsbury, CT's annual Iron Horse races.  The first year, I wanted to do the half to gauge my readiness for a full the following October.  Last year, I ran the 10k in humidity straight out of the bayou, because mMiL said it was a great race.  The year before had been a crisp, warm day...last year, we had a thunderstorm.  To finish off the trifecta of races at the event, I decided to run the 5k this year.  Honestly, my only motivation for this race is to have all three color bibs on my bulletin board at the end of the school  year.  To top it off, the little girl will make her race debut in a 50m fun run.  She's been training for a few weeks now, and is really working with her strength coach and massage therapists to set a tremendous PR for a 3 year old.

In addition to this race, I signed up for my vacation race.  Since I've been married, we've been going to mooch off of my in-laws in their annual trip to the Cape.  That's been 6 summers so far.  I can't remember if I've run races in 4 or 5 of them.  To date, I've run two or 3 Brew Runs from The Woodshed on Rt. 6A in Brewster, MA.  I've also finished the Falmouth Road Race in what may have been my best race...ever.  Then, in a bizarro twist of calendar fates, the first weekend we're away was suddenly a week earlier (I'm assuming it's the first weekend in August, and something is screwy).  So, I signed up for a charming little race run from the Cape's "only" Irish Pub.  The course is interesting, going over rivers, through cranberry bogs, and in and out of woodlands.  It was a nice enough race, and though last year it was REALLY hot, I enjoyed it enough to sign up again.

I love the Brew Run, because it starts at 4 or 5 in the afternoon, and ends with a party.  Falmouth was more hectic, but just as festive...only like Manchester, I was taking part in the parade, and the people on the sidelines were the view.  There's nothing like running by lighthouses and windmills to create a unique running experience.  Some day, I hope to run both again.  Until then, I'm happy going to the Pub run...it's a good time.

With that being said, I'm scouring looking for a few more races to fill my summer dance card.  I don't want to travel more than half an hour.  I'm being picky, but there's tons to choose from.  If you've done any of the races listed during mid-June, July, or the end of August, let me know what you think.  Eventually, I'll figure it out.  Until then, I'll just keep chugging along...