A have a dilemma I need to share and discuss. Hopefully my readers can give me some advice.
I ran the inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Raleigh last April on my Birthday. It was an amazing event, running a marathon on my birthday was such a huge treat! I didn’t sign up to run the event again until about six months ago. When I signed up I had a big decision to make, but at the time it seemed pretty simple. Here were my considerations …..
-temperatures in mid-April can vary widely here. Last year temps were too warm for a marathon.
-the full course was killer with hills. Killer!
-aid stations were lacking on the full course.
I decided based on the above bullet points to sign up, but run the Half this time around. I wanted to support a Rock ‘n’ Roll event here in my hometown, but the thought of trying to tackle the same full course again was something I just didn’t want to do. I was happy with my decision to run the Half.
Then, about a month after I signed up, Rock ‘n’ Roll announced (I’m assuming based on runner feedback from last year) a new marathon course. An easier/flatter course. Taking all things with a grain of salt because regardless of a change in course, Raleigh is hilly everywhere. The new elevation chart does look better. They’ve also announced more water/aid stations. After all that getting my mind whirling, they posted a challenge.
For returning runners, if you run the course faster this year than last, you get a special shirt. A challenge, my friend? Have they issued a challenge? Thrown down the gauntlet? I believe they have. Only one problem. I signed up for the Half.
But now I want to run the Full! I think that if I decide to run Full, I won’t make the change until at the expo. I would have to pay the change fees, but with a new course it may be worth it. Waiting until the expo to potentially change races would also let me make a last minute decision based on how the weather looks.
What do you think about my dilemma? Have you ever changed races at the last minute? Ever upgraded or downgraded races at an expo?
Running Wild 
Marathon! Win the shirt!! You can do it!!! 🙂
It’s so tempting.
Sounds like you want to do the full to me!
I think it will really depend on the weather. If it looks too warm or rainy, I am going to stick with the Half.
RnR will certainly gauge you for the transfer fees. However, I’d probably suck it up and do the full if the weather is cooperating and you feel up to running an additional 13.1 miles. I always try to register as late as possible on events that don’t sell out on account of weather / health / training issues. I am willing to suck up the “penalty” for registering late. Good luck, whatever you decide to do.
Thanks! Weather outlook is warm, so not sure what I will do. Expo day seems like a good day to decide.
I’d be careful about waiting until the last minute to register for the full, only because if you know well in advance that you’ll be running the full you can do a better job of preparing. Spontaneity can be fun but deciding you’ll be running 26.2 vs. 13.1 on race-day might be a little too much.
I just ran a Full last weekend, so I am already in top training mode. It wouldn’t be a stretch. Going to play the waiting game though, and watch the weather.
I’d stick with the half….just from what i’ve heard about the course last year. Yes, different course, but still….can’t change that much around Raleigh and eliminate the hills, can they?
No, you can’t take away the hills of Raleigh. I do like a challenge. We’ll see.
If you run the half you’re already half way to the full;);) you’ll be doing one or both if you think about it;);)?? Lol