You all know I love to race. I had no idea just how crazy my race schedule would be when I started this blog. After all, I just wanted to train for and run the 2008 Marine Corps Marathon.
But somewhere along the way, I got bitten by the race bug and started setting all sorts of weird goals for myself: racing in all 50 states (now changed to a half marathon in all 50 states), 13 half marathons in 2013, reaching Venus with Half Fanatics (done by running 13 half marathons in 79 days), 14 half marathons in 2014 (oops, did 17!), 5 half marathons in five days, 6 half marathons in 6 days…
Yeah, I’m a little bit race crazy. Luckily I have a husband who loves to travel, I’ve gotten a few free races thanks to this blog, and I have learned a few tricks to save money. One of the resources I’ve used is a book called Serial Racing: Planning For And Affording A Lifetime Of Endurance Events
Serial Racing is a great book for helping you plan and afford your racing. It offers a number of tips for figuring out your year based on YOUR wants and needs. We all have different goals and I’ve learned that I need to choose races based on what I want to accomplish and take into account the other people in my family. Doing a race because “all the cool kids are doing it” has bitten me in the butt more than once.
Once you’ve figured out your plan, Serial Racing can help you stretch your race dollars. It offers suggestions on cheap/free races, how to get the best rate for the races you want to run, how to save on race fees (this particular tip saved me way more than this book cost!), how to save money if you are traveling, passive ways to make money to fund your race addiction…
I feel like I am a pretty savvy traveler and good at finding deals/saving money, but even with all of my experience, I found some really useful tidbits in this book. Even if you aren’t planning to travel to race in the coming year, there are things that you can do to help your race budgeting. Trust me, you’ll save way more than the $9.99 you’d spend by buying it on Amazon!
And because I want to help save you even more money, here are some CyberMonday deals that happened across my desk:
ZOOMA – You know I love ZOOMA Annapolis! I’m also hopeful that I can run Cape Cod this year.
Flying Pirate Half Marathon – I had a blast with my RBFs at Flying Pirate a few years ago.. I wish I could run it every.single.year.
Skirt Sports (affiliate link) – Great sales going on AND free shipping. I may have bought myself a Christmas present…
And if you are local, Pacers is bundling some of their races: Arlington deal and DC deal
Disclaimer: I was given the book as a free review copy, but all opinions are my own. Post also include an affiliate links.
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Serial racing? Who knew? Sounds like a disease! BTW, if you’re an amateur, then what am I with my measly 6 races this year?
Sounds like a great resource. Because we all need to race more, right? It’s a sickness.
Oh, that book sounds good! A lot of my races were racecations this year, I could have used that!
I had not heard of that book before-you can probably now write your own book!
Wow! you are really getting an early start on planning your 2016 events. Good for you! Hope you have a fabulous year.
Sounds like a really helpful book! I’ve got just two race planned for next year – still trying to figure out the family schedule/boys’ sports commitments.
That book sounds really cool! I still think I’m crazy for doing the Dopey Challenge. If I get through that I alive, I may take on more serial race challenges.