DO YOUR HOMEWORK

Right about now, at the end of another calendar year, many of you are planning your racing schedule for 2016.

With more races to choose from than ever before, you can be very selective about the races you would like to run, so now is the time to do your homework.

At this time, I must repeat my mantra that, today, many people have the tendency to overrace. By racing too frequently, you 'water down' your performances, thus earning you a place in the chapter of my first book, Running Shorts, www.muldowneyrunning.net, amazon.com/author/joemuldowney, entitled, 'Excuses, Excuses.'

You know who I mean. The runner, who after you beat him or her reminds you that he would have finished ahead of you if not for the fact that he or she had run 15 races in the past three weeks!

Be selective.

First, my recommendation is to not schedule more than two marathons in a calendar year. The marathon does some deep tissue damage, so you can expect to remain less than racing fresh for a month or so after running a marathon.

Vary your race distances. Run 5Ks up to half marathons. Sometimes, local communities offer one and two mile races during the summer.

Few things in running frost me more than rip-off races. Over-the-top entry fees, for races that offer very little, and big cities that boost hotel prices when they know a race is in town. If I find a race where my entry fee is going toward a worthy charity or cause, I'm more likely to run that race than a race that is paying a race director a six-figure salary.

Review the race course before you enter. If you want to climb hills, find a race that suits your needs. However, if your training is going better than ever and you want to run a personal best time, look for a relatively flat course.

Check out weather trends. You may find an exotic island location that also features a marathon, but tropical heat and marathon running is usually not a good combination.

Support your local races. More often than not, those races support worthy local causes. At local races, you meet other runners like you, and often you can forge relationships and gain new training partners. Mega-races are fine, but local races are the backbone of road racing.

Finally, look at the race organization. Is the course well-marked? Is it accurate? Are the amenities what you are looking for in a race?

It;s definitely a 'buyer's market' out there. Thousands upon thousands of races exist, and they are looking for you to come and run.

Be smart. Be selective. But, most of all, do your homework.

BLACK FRIDAY RUN DEALS

If you've watched anything on television, opened your email, or turned on your computer since about the middle of October, you know that the traditional Black Friday shopping has been expanded to include the entire month of November.

Well, there is a place where you can take advantage of terrific Black Friday deals that will cover all of your running needs, you never have to leave the comfort of your home, AND, you actually have to wait until Black Friday to do it.

Visit www.blackfridayrundeals.com, look them up on Facebook on their Black Friday Run Deals page, of follow them on Twitter: @BFrundeals.

You will be able to take advantage of race discounts from everywhere, and you will also have the opportunity to get great deals on running products.

You won't get trampled at the door, and you won't wait in long lines.

So, visit Black Friday Run Deals, ON Black Friday.

You won't be disappointed!

LAW OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND

Remember the blog I wrote entitled, 'Race Inflation?' http://runningshorts09.blogspot.com/2015/07/race-inflation.html

Today I received this email from the Philadelphia Marathon.

Register for the GORE-TEX^® Philadelphia Half Marathon on Friday,
August 7th and enjoy an extra special FLASHback Friday price.

Half Marathon registrants will receive $30 OFF of their 2015
registration and take advantage of our June price of only $100.

Already registered? Share this special discount with a friend.

Register online from 12:00 PM TO 8:00 PM (EDT) ONLY on Friday,
August 7th,using the code PHM15AUG.

Let races know that their prices are way too high, and you WILL get results.

If we don't sign up for overpriced races, they will be forced to drop their prices!

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RACE INFLATION

No matter what our age or status in life may be, we are all impacted by the economic law of supply and demand.

Its simple. When there is an abundance of a good, product, or service, the price of the item drops. When there's a scarcity, prices rise. If there's turmoil in the Middle East, or an offshore oil rig is crippled by a storm, gasoline prices will rise. In the late '90s, when personal computers became the rage, scarcity of the product saw us paying $1000 or more for the bulky hulks. Today, with the abundance of computers out there, a sleek laptop or tablet can be purchased for around $200.

When I began my road racing career, over 39 years ago, we sometimes needed to travel two hours or more in order to enter a race. Today, there are more races than ever. On any given weekend I can find a dozen or more races within an hour of my home.

And marathons?

Marathons and half marathons abound. From September to the Christmas season, marathons are everywhere.

And...they're more expensive than ever!!!

No law of supply and demand here.

I will not disparage any particular marathon. And, let me add, I fully realize the amount of time, labor, city services, and liability incurred when a town or city decides to host a marathon, Finally, I also understand that a loaf of bread doesn't cost a nickel any more, so my age doesn't cloud my judgement.

A couple of weeks ago, I was prepared to sign up for one of my favorite marathons, held in November. When I visited the website, I was astounded to find out that the entry fee stood at $150!

Ok, that's $150 for the entry fee. In most cities, hotels are more than happy to gouge runners, so I'm looking at a minimum of $200 a night to stay in the city. Throw in parking costs and meals, and you're looking at a weekend that will set you back nearly $1000.

It has become outrageous.

I refuse to do it anymore.

Let me add that, in addition to your overpriced entry fee, major races charge anywhere from $500 to $1500 for each of those booths you pass at the race expo. And don't forget corporate sponsorship. Somebody is making a lot of money off the backs (and the legs) of runners.

I AM going to single out two marathons that, in my experience, are high-quality events, remain very runner-friendly, and charge fair entry fees to their participants.

After my big-city race sticker shock, I turned to the site of my very first marathon, which will celebrate its 43rd running this November, the Harrisburg Marathon. A flat, fast race, which runs through Pennsylvania's capital city, along the Susquehanna River, this race attracts about 1500 runners, and is superbly managed. You can stay at local hotels and motels for a fraction of the cost of big-city lodging, and, if you register before August 31, you'll pay only $70 for your entry fee.

The date of the 43rd annual Harrisburg Marathon is Sunday, November 8. for more information, go to: http://ymcarun.com/

On Saturday, March 5, 2016, the 19th annual Myrtle Beach Marathon will be held.

I have several biases when it come to this race.

First, I love the Myrtle Beach/Grand Strand region. Next, the course is flat, fast, and the race is extremely well-organized. There are great ocean views, excellent crowd support, and a terrific post-race party.

Finally, you owe it to yourself to go to the Grand Strand Running Club's booth at the expo/packet pick up. You will meet friendly, supportive fellow runners. They even provide a clothing drop for all runners along the course.

The entry fee is a modest $85, if you register soon, and, unlike many other places, area hotels are very happy to host runners, at ridiculously low rates, even for oceanfront.

The race website is:http://mbmarathon.com

Do your homework. Stop paying ridiculous entry fees for hyped-up, big-city races. Seek out established, smaller, more local events, and you can beat race inflation.

Feel free to share your stories of great, economical races, as well as rip-off races, and I'll include your accounts in a future blog.