So in my goals post, I said that I wanted to find a way to keep a fitness base so I could still run races when I wanted to. Racing is the reason I started running in the first place 10+ years ago, and it's still one of the things that keeps me lacing up my shoes today.



Plus during the winter months, having a race on my calendar is usually what helps give me that final push out the door on extra cold days.

I've already thrown down entry fees for a couple of races this year, and I'm eyeballing a few more. Races with stars below are ones where I've actually paid the money to sign up.

Pacers DC Race Pass* - Pacers, one of the local running companies that puts on some of the best races in the area (if you've been reading for a while, you've heard me go on and on about their greatness in other posts), offered a super sweet holiday special on some of their DC races. For $100, I signed up for five races on their 2016 calendar:

• February - First Down 5K - A race I've never done before!

• March - St. Pat's Day 5K and 10K - I did the St. Pat's Day Double last year in miserable sleet and freezing rain. Let's hope the weather is better this year.

• November - Veterans Day 10K - Another race I've never done before.

• December - Jingle All the Way 5K - An annual favorite (2014, 2015).

Here are the other races I'm registered for or thinking about for 2016.

February

Love the Run Your With* - I love this race and have done it several times mainly because instead of yet another race shirt, you get a sweet fleece blanket as the swag. Also, it's another Pacers race.



April
Cherry Blossom 10 Miler* - My coworkers and I got into the lottery this year. I think this will be the first time I've done this race since 2011. (It's also the first time I entered the lottery since 2011).

Parkway Classic 10 Miler - My friend Emily is signed up for this and mentioned it to me the other day. I'm still thinking about it, but I will have a solid 10 mile base just coming off Cherry Blossom, so I might sign up.

June
Baltimore 10 - This race is usually really hot and miserable temperature-wise, but it's so well run and you get some pretty awesome swag. Still on the fence.

July
Seashore Striders Five Miler - Assuming my family is on our beach vacation the same week we usually are, I'll most definitely be running this five miler at the shore. It's become an annual tradition, and two years ago I won an age group award.



August
Annapolis 10 Miler - This race falls on the morning of my 30th birthday. Part of me thinks running a race would be an awesome way to celebrate, part of me thinks this will be a terrible, terrible idea. Part of me wants to tell all my friends this is how I want to celebrate so they should start training now. Internets do you have an opinion?

For now, I'm not planning too many races in the fall besides the 10K and the 5K I'm already registered for. It's going to be my last semester of grad. school and I know I will be busy with my Capstone project, so I don't want to overwhelm myself. If it works in my schedule though, I would like to try to fit in the MCM10K.

So there you have it. My thoughts and plans for racing in 2016. DC friends, are there any races I should definitely consider adding to my calendar? Also, it might be fun to get a destination race on the calendar, anyone have some good suggestions?