I think it’s normal to dream about races you’d like to run someday–the really crazy, far, expensive, ones that make it unlikely you’ll ever participate in them. I’m not the only one that does this, am I? 😀
It’s “Free Friday” in the DC Trifecta world of Mar, Cynthia, and Courtney and today I’m sharing 5 Running Dreams That Probably Won’t Come True, lol!!
1. ) The World Majors
These marathons include Berlin, Tokyo, Boston, London, Chicago, and New York City. I’ve got one down (Chicago!) but the others are an expensive stretch. I love that running also allows me to travel and maybe throughout my entire lifetime, I might make these happen. I think it’s kinda funny though, that the toughest one is in the states–I’d have to qualify for Boston, jaja!!
2.) New York City Marathon
Speaking of the majors, one that’s in the states is NYC and while it’s not impossible that I would do this one, the impossible part is how I would want it to happen. My brother wants to do one marathon and the one marathon is this one. I’d love to do it with him. I’d love for my sister to do it too. And it’d be even awesomer if my husband could too. Yeah, there’s the impossible part. The likeliness of ALL of us making the lottery in the same year….not very good. But one can dream! 😀
3.) Disney Dopey Challenge
I’ve never been a crazy Disney person and with recent price increases, it’s even less likely that I’d do a Disney race, BUT, if I was to it would be the Dopey Challenge in Walt Disney World. The reason this is a unlikely dream is because this is the costliest of all the Disney races. You’re basically paying for 4 races– a 5k on Thursday, a 10k on Friday, a 1/2 marathon on Saturday, and a full marathon on Sunday. Final price: right around the $600-700 range!! That is NOT including price of park admission (which is insanity), NOT including air fare or hotel accommodations. Yeah, this race-cation could easily get you to the several thousand dollar range when all is said and done and for that amount, wouldn’t you want to do a World Major Marathon somewhere in Europe?? LOL
Bling from the Dopey Challenge–Source: RunDisney Mom
4.) Western States 100
I never say never, but it’s very unlikely that I’ll ever run a 100 miler but if the crazy in me was to ever come out the one I’d want to do is this one. Of course it’s not one you can simply sign up for, no, that would be too easy. You have to run a qualifying race and then enter the lottery. Double whammy. What makes the Western States 100 race so special is this prestige that comes with having qualified and been selected. It’s also the oldest 100 mile trail race and gives you life-time bragging rights if you complete it. Why does this sound so cool to me?
5.) Boston Marathon
If I was to devote my life to any of the races on the list, it would be this one. I think it’s easy to say that many runners dream of running this big race. At over an hour away from my qualifying time though, I’ve got a ways to go BUT I know that this one isn’t entirely an improbability. Recently, I’ve come across quite a few Instagrammers and bloggers who have shared their transformation stories of how they’ve become the runners they are now. Many started at or near what my current marathon PR and have bettered their times to comfortably below their BQ requirement.
This one’s possible ❤
–Do you have any running related dreams?
Thanks for hosting Mar, Cynthia, and Courtney!!
I would love to run the Dopey challenge one day as well! Boston is coming this April, super excited! Have a happy Friday!
Yay for Boston!!!! 🙂
re: NYC Marathon: Hmmm . . . maybe you guys need to pay people to do the 9 + 1 program for you . . .
What’s that?
It’s how most NYers get into NYC Marathon. It’s a program that New York Road Runners (the people who do NYCM) run, where you run 9 NYRR races and volunteer at one so that you can have a guaranteed entry at the following year’s marathon (you still need to pay the race fee for the marathon). We joke it’s so NYRR can make money hosting races at Central Park every week.
That’s actually a really good plan on their part, lol!!!
I actually really want to do the Dopey Challenge, just to see if I could make it, but the price is definitely an obstacle. Otherwise, I don’t have a lot of big running or race dreams. I just don’t have the focus or desire to qualify for Boston, and if I’m on a vacation in Europe, I’m eating and drinking and seeing the sights, not running a marathon, haha!
Rae – the key is to do the race on the first day or two of your vacay…and then do the eating, drinking and site seeing. 😉
Meh, too much work for me!
You said it! 🙂
We ran a 1/2 in Madrid and then enjoyed the rest of our trip. You could totally do both! 🙂
I just don’t know if I’d want the pressure of staying properly hydrated/fueled/rested while traveling. I’m lazy, hehe.
Ah, you run it early on in the vacation. Then the rest is reward 😀
What a great list. And I think you can totally run Boston, lady. Take it from me! My running dreams that will probably not come true include running a marathon on all seven continents (I just can’t figure out how to swing Antarctica on a teachers salary!) and participating in the Women’s Olympic Trials Marathon. Those are my pipe dreams right there 🙂
I wrote a post a while ago about a woman in our running group who did the 7 continents. It was so cool to hear her adventure.
All of these sound great. Although I honestly have no interest in running NYC. But the rest, yep! Rock also wants to do the Great Wall Marathon. Dreamer!
YES, that is def one to have on the bucket list!!!
I want to run the Paris Marathon. And Boston, obviously Luckily, there are many ways to get into the big marathons without qualifying/lotto’ing in, as you know from last year’s Chicago!
Charity for NYC would be a lot for all us. I think I would want to run Boston by qualifying. Not that there’s anything wrong running it through charity, but I think part of the appeal for me is the challenge of BQing 🙂
I wouldn’t call these “dreams” but more like “goals.” It’s good to have something to work towards.
I found out about the world marathons after Chicago and with one down why not put it on my bucket list? Boston was the first marathon on my bucket list, which I didn’t take seriously until I started training for Chicago. I thought it was just a wish, but I think it can happen.
Could you run for charity for any of these? That would be one way too get all your family to NYC if they have it.
I don’t know that I would call them goals. I feel like goals you actively pursue and I’m definitely not going out of my way to make any of these happen any time soon, lol!!
You totally have Boston.
Charity for NYC is crazy. I think the minimum is $3000, I believe. And times that by 4….
Boston is definitely doable for you, NO DOUBT. Go get it, Hellyyyyyy!!!
❤
Oh, I feel you! In theory I’d love to do Dopey, but realistically I know it’s way beyond what I REALLY want to train for and put myself through. And I’d love to do Boston, but only if I could truly qualify, and I just don’t think I’m ever going to be that adept at running marathons (no matter how hard I train) to qualify. Maybe I’ll qualify when I’m 80…that’ll be easier!
Don’t give up!!! I also feel like the marathon doesn’t like me and I just can’t run one well or to what I think I’m capable of. It’s so frustrating, lol!!!
I don’t think you should give up on running Disney. Perhaps maybe just doing one race. Disney races are crazy early and for that reason alone I have no desire to do the Dopey challenge…haha
LOL, they are pretty early ajaja!! I’m not sure which one I’d do if I just chose one. Maybe just the full at walt disney world…
It’s great to have running race dreams. There are many runners who have earned a qualifying time for Boston with hard work and dedication to a good training plan. Running all the marathon majors before I turn 65 is my big goal. At the moment, I have completed two, qualifying for Boston in 2014 and running it and NYC (also qualifying so it made entry easy) in 2015. This year I am running London in April and hope to do Chicago in the fall. I started running at 57, so I am making up for lost time!
Wow!!! You are well underway! That’s so awesome!!
Those are great running dreams! I’d love to do Big Sur and the Marine Corps Marathon one day. I’d love to run Boston too, Marathon Monday is one of my absolute favorite days of the year, but I’d have to take a good 10 minutes off my PR (which is from 2.5 years and 1 baby ago :)) and that seems way out of reach at the moment.
10 minutes?? Girl, you got that!!!!
LOL, it makes more sense for me to say I’d have to shave off 40 minutes from my most recent (Chicago) marathon!! It sounded deceptively easier the way I worded it 🙂
Hey, at one point you were that close so that means you’ve got it in you!!! 🙂
Great list! I’m planning on entering the lottery for Chicago. I also would want to the Dopey Challenge but it’s sooo expensive.
Chicago was so much fun! You’ll love it! I ran that one through charity b/c my husband made the lottery but I didn’t.
The Disney prices are ridiculous! I kind of just stared at the new price structure and just laughed. Boston would be amazing but I am never getting close to a qualifying time and am horrible at fundraising. Great list!
Right?? Disney is cray but the sad thing is that people will pay for it 😦
My #1 running dream is to take care of myself so I can run for the rest of my life!! 🙂 I hope it happens.
YES!!!!!
“If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough…” 🙂 I have no strong desire to run another marathon but it’s great to dream about the big ones!
ummmm, i thought we were all doing St. George!?!! ❤
lol, I never committed to that! We’ll see, but I’m old now…
Oh stop!!!! I’ll see you in Utah ❤
I wold love to run Boston but my qual time is 3:25 which feels so far away when my current PR is 3:59. Also, London but lottery is almost impossible for oversees applications. Other dream races would include a full IronMan…not the Kona one (I would never qualify) but a full 140.6. Gonna have to improve my swimming a bit though 🙂
You are A LOT closer than me for BQing! You can do it! And I would love to do a full Ironman too–I shoulda put it on my list! 🙂 Swimming is so hard for me as well 😦 lol!
It is quite alright to dream and you never know some of them just may come true!
Either one coming true would be awesome 😀
The Disney races don’t do it for me at all – I just can’t see the appeal. The majors – I would love to run London. Maybe someday if I ever move back to Ireland. And Western States – yes! Have you seen This Is Your Day or Unbreakable – both great movies following a bunch of runners doing the race in different years.
I haven’t seen those movies but thanks for sharing because I’ll def look them up!
Boston is definitely one of my dreams. I’m from the Boston area, so it means that much more because of that!! I’m about 33 minutes away from qualifying this year, which is definitely in reach, but I swore no marathons this year! I would also LOVE to do Dopey. I’ve never really wanted to do a Disney race, but this one has me very intrigued!
I think you totally got Boston! You are so dedicated and really, 33 minutes is doable and if anyone can, it’s you. ❤