Country Race, City Race?

Yup you heard it here first (ok...not first).
Yesterday was blog-eriffic!   Besides that early morning trot with Sarah and Pam that she so eloquently described here, I went on a blog date to Yogurtland last night with Skinny Runner, RunEatRepeat, 365AwesomeDays, and the HungryRunnerGirl.

Pic may or may not be from our meetup 

OUAL is seriously missing out on some action here.  I mean wedding?  Psshaw.  Clearly she should just get married in Ohio later and come out to Yogurtland.  

It was an amazing time!  We sat at Yogurtland for 2 and a half hours and somehow managed to avoid filling up our cups again.   The only thing missing was my favorite Key Lime flavor that I am hoping that they didn't discontinue!  

I honestly think all these girls are even funnier / cooler / more awesome in person than in their blogs.   I don't wanna take up anymore blog space gushing about my blog-date-topia but as someone who has moved too much as an adult and thus doesn't have a ton of friends in the OC  (at least I tell myself that's why) meeting y'all is MUCH APPRECIATED! 

Sorry I didn't take any pics!  You can see some on HungryRunnerGirl's blog

Tomorrow morning, I'm running a 5k!  I think.

This race is one of those 'meet up and run a 5k once a month'.  I think it's a race?  I paid race fees like it's a race.
I emailed the race director to find out if there would be mile markers and if the course would be marked (they are not shutting down the boardwalk for it) and got no reply yet.
Hopefully that's not an ominous sign. 

Can't complain about the race location...

So that could mean I paid $30 to run down a public sidewalk by myself.  EITHER WAY I AM GONNA RACE THE HECK OUTA THAT PUBLIC SIDEWALK!  

I haven't run a tiny race in forever.  Fontana Days 13.1 felt semi small although it wasn't, and I did get pretty lonely on those middle miles.   Crowds really do it for me.  It's a tough call between smaller races and bigger ones for me!  So I made this very helpful checklist!

Big Race "Pros"
1) Crowds to cheer ya on
2) Water / Gu / Gatorade stops
3)  Possible pace groups
4)  Sometimes you get to see all the famous fancy pants runners!
5) You're pretty sure you won't get lost / run the wrong distance, etc. 
6) Tech shirt?

Small Race "Pros"
1) Price
2) You don't have to get there 10 hours in advance
3) Opportunity to feel like a rock star.  Age group placing anyone?
4)  Some ridiculous activity usually happens.  Like a weird warmup routine before the race start.  Or a horse crosses the road right in front of you.  
5)  Bathrooms.  Ok this is not a given!  Anywhere!
6) It doesn't take 10 minutes to actually cross the start line

So...do you like the big races or the small ones?
I think I need big races for long distances.  How people are able to run 50 person marathons is still kinda beyond me.  


Anything funny ever happen to you during a small race?  Has the course ever been way different than you expected?