Summer isn't normally a time I'm looking to pack my calendar with races. It's hot and humid, and most days I'd rather be relaxing at my friend's pool sipping a margarita than out running any sort of race.


This is where I prefer to spend my summer days. With Tracy...on a raft

But lately, I've been getting tons and tons of emails about all these really fun-sounding 5Ks in and around DC this summer, and I'm finding myself wanting to sign up for all of them. (Email marketing at its finest I suppose.)

It doesn't help that a lot of my friends and coworkers have been encouraging me by telling me which races they are signing up for. If a friend's doing a race, there's a good chance I will want to do it too because then it's not just racing for the sake of racing. It's racing to hang out with friends, and social running is obviously the best kind!

Plus, after a brutal semester of struggling to find time to train for a long-distance race, mixing things up with short stuff might be just the mental break I need before I dive into training for my fall half marathon. (My coworker Emily and I signed up for this totally fun-sounding women's half just outside DC in September.)

Here's a quick look at some of the 5Ks I'm considering this summer: (Note I haven't actually registered for any of these yet, waiting until after this weekend's Nike half to pull the trigger.)

• DC Pride Run - June 7th - A Friday evening race through a cemetery sounds fun


• Lawyers Have Heart 5K - June 8th - The 5K is new this year. I did the 10K last year.


• Women's Distance Festival - June 30th - This was my cousin's first race two years ago and I told her I'd do it with her again. Note: in Columbia, MD, not DC


• Biggest Loser Run/Walk DC - July 14 - Might actually do the 10K here depending on the course


• Run for the Ribbon 5K - July 20 - Rehoboth Beach, DE - Racing on vacation FTW


• YMCA 5 Mile Run - July 21 - Rehoboth Beach, DE - Did this race last year while on vacation and really liked it. Plus the tech tee was awesome and you got a medal.


• 9/11 Memorial 5K - Sept. 7 - An evening race that's become a bit of a tradition with friends.

Clearly I've got a gap in my schedule for August races, so I might be looking to pick something up there.

DC friends, if you're running these or any others let me know! I'm apparently all about the 5Ks this summer.