9.21.2014

Runners Tell All: Bucket List Edition

Bucket lists are my thang.  If anything even slightly piques my interest, you better believe that I'm googling the heck out of that thing as soon as I can get my hands on the internet.  (I know that's literally impossible, but for the post's sake, let's continue.) If I like what I see, POOF! it's on my bucket list.  Just like that.  If I physically wrote out my bucket list, it would span several miles. That's probably not even that much of an exaggeration.



When I saw the Runners Tell All link-up prompt for this month, I got excited.  Really excited.  Because like I said before, bucket lists are my thang.

So, without further ado, I present my race bucket list to you! (Warning: this may get very long. I'll try to contain myself, but no promises.)

1. Austin Half Marathon

Here
My Texas-dwelling, Austin-loving cousin has run this race for the past 3? 4? years and has absolutely loved it.  She keeps telling me to come down and run it with her, which I think would be so amazing. However, there is just one small problem to this race. It's held in February and the weather is slightly different in Michigan than in Texas.  I would have to train in knee-deep snow and freeze my ears off or on the treadmill (gasp!).  Either way, I think that I would endure the elements or the torture machine treadmill for the opportunity to run with my cousin! 

2. Disney Princess Half Marathon
here
Besides Hogwarts, running a Princess Half through Disney is as magical as it gets in my mind.  I've heard that this is a good beginners half marathon as there are lots of opportunities to stop for photo ops with the princesses. Sign me up! (and pay the registration fee for me too, while you're at it!) 

3. Hot Chocolate Run 15k (Chicago)
here
As everyone knows, themed races are fun. But using some simple math (Chicago+running+chocolate), the Hot Chocolate Run has the formula to beat them all.  I mean, its not every race where the food at the finish includes a chocolate fountain.


4. Great Turtle Trail Run Half Marathon
here
Things this race has going for it: 
1. It takes place on Mackinac Island, which as every Michigander knows, is pretty much the best. 
Umm, yeah. That's pretty much everything. Mackinac Island is amazing and if you're ever in Michigan in the summer, it's worth the trip. Amiright? 

5. BTN Big 10k

Living smack dab between MSU and UofM means that the B1G is a big thing around these parts. We take Saturday afternoon football seriously and there has been many a relationship ended over divided rivalries. (Actually, I made that up, but I'm sure it's happened!) Growing up a UofM fan, but anxiously anticipating my acceptance letter (I'm being optimistic!) from MSU, I definitely have a fair share of B1G in my blood.  And the fact that it's in Chicago? I'm there. 

6. Detroit Free Press Marathon Relay
here
One of my pet peeves is when people, especially people who have never been, hate on Detroit.  While it's true that there's a lot of things that need some fixing, Detroit has so, so much to offer.  One of these things is the annual marathon relay that accompanies the marathon and the half among some other shorter races.  I've wanted to run a marathon relay for a while and I'm hoping that next year will be the year as it will be the first year in a while that I'm not wrapped up in a cross country season.  Oh, and I'm just documenting it here that I call dibs on the leg that crosses the Ambassador Bridge from Detroit to Canada! 

7. Firenze Marathon
here
When I went to Europe this summer, I spent about a day in a half in Florence, Italy. And I left my heart there. Running a marathon through the medieval cobblestone streets and passing by my love, the Duomo, would be the experience of a lifetime.  And quite possibly the last experience of my lifetime considering that this is a full 26.2 miles! 

8. Athens Marathon
here
What better a marathon to run than the original marathon in Athens, Greece? Although, as I've been taught in world history, the runner of the first marathon who was a messenger died from exhaustion after he finished.  So maybe this isn't such a good idea? 

Writing about all these races has made me excited to get out there and go for one of them.  Link up with Beka and Amanda and share your running bucket list! Ready? Go! 


And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us . . . 
                                                                  - Hebrews 12:1
Love,
Allison

12 comments:

  1. I want to do all of these! Such a good list. I would LOVE to run in Athens. I went there in 2008, and it was the best thing ever to happen to my life. I need to go back to Mackinac and run that race! My family went there back in the day on vacation, and I remember loving it.

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    1. Athens was beautiful! I would absolutely love to go back. Ahh! I love that you know about Mackinac! It's such a cool place. Once again, thanks for hosting!

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  2. This made me want to go running, which is impressive because I just ate pizza and am laying very comfortably on the floor. You. Have. Talent. But, Disney Princess forreal! Let's go!

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    1. Go me! And yes, please! Let's do it for real for real one day!

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  3. The hot chocolate run looks SO fun!! And double yes for running in Europe!! I feel about Rome the way you describe feeling about Florence. Italy is such a wonderful place!! I'm headed that way in about a month. My honeymoon cruise leaves from Venice. We are cruising the Greek isles and will definitely be stopping in Athens. I didn't even think about that being the place where running got its start when I was making my list. That would make it a really special place for a race. Loved your list!!

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    1. Oh my gosh, your honeymoon sounds like an absolute dream! While I was in Europe, I took a Greek isle cruise too. If you haven't been before, be ready to never, ever want to come home. And Athens would be such a cool place to run just for that reason! And you get to finish inside of the Olympic Stadium!

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  4. There is a half marathon on Mackinac Island? Why didn't I know about this?! I want to do it! Oh, and I want to do a marathon relay. I've never done a relay before!

    Quick story: I volunteered to work at a water station during the Detroit Marathon last year. I had to get there at 5:30 in the morning to set up, and I brought a muffin for breakfast. At some point, I set down my muffin on the table to fill water cups, and when I looked up, a runner ran past me eating my muffin! So, just for the record, no matter what you might hear, the Detroit Marathon DOES NOT hand out free muffins...but it is awesome!

    Great list!

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    1. I know! It's not publicized very well -- but now you know! And a relay just sounds so cool! I've never done anything like that before, so it would be a very different experience.

      Oh my gosh, I read your story at the library and literally laughed out loud. It was definitely worth the few strange looks that I got. So, so funny!

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  5. Do Detroit next year! I am originally from Detroit, now living in MN by way of FL (crazy, right?), but am planning on running the Detroit full next year. I already bought my passport, and plan on registering as soon as it is physically possible. It will be my first, and I love that I'll be coming home to my roots!

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    1. I love finding fellow Mitten bloggers! Thanks for stoping by! And that's awesome & so exciting! How cool that that will be your first?

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  6. Yes to running in Athens! I always thought that would be spectacular. I'm glad you offered different view points on Detroit because it does get a bad rap all the time! I'm sure there is a lot of good there too people just don't know about it. Thanks for sharing your fun list with us on RTA!

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    1. Can you imagine running by the Acropolis? That would be amazing! Thanks for hosting!

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