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Planning the 2026 Race Season: How We’re Choosing Our Runs

Updated: 4 hours ago

As the 2026 race season begins, many of us are asking the same question: Which races do I want to do this year? For new runners, this can feel overwhelming. When I first started, I had no idea where to find races, how to keep track of them, or that there were so many running communities, challenges, and goals to choose from.

Honestly, I didn’t even know half of what was out there.

Auburn Resolution Run 2026
Auburn Resolution Run 2026

How My Running Journey Started

My running journey really began in 2017 with RunDisney, along with a few local races. Back then, it felt simple. Fast forward eight years, and so much has changed. Many of the local races I used to run no longer exist, and RunDisney itself is changing too.

For those who don’t know, I live near Disneyland, and due to upcoming construction, RunDisney races at Disneyland will be on hold for a few years. That makes 2026 my last chance (for now) to earn my Disney Coast to Coast medal. Because of that, the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend in February is especially meaningful to us.

We’re still trying to get into Walt Disney World Springtime Surprise, but realistically, that may not happen this year—and that’s okay.

Our New Long-Term Running Goals

As our goals have evolved, so has our race planning. Our new focus includes:

  • 🏃‍♀️ Running a Half Marathon in Every State

  • 🎩 Training for Dopey Challenge 2027 (this will be my first full marathon)

  • 🏅 Eventually working toward a Marathon in Every State

  • 🌍 A long-term dream of qualifying for the Abbott World Marathon Majors (Abbott Six)

To support these goals, we joined Facebook and Instagram running groups, and since October, our eyes have been opened to just how many races are out there.

And let’s be honest—I’m a bling girl. The medals matter. A lot.My husband usually says, “That medal is cool… are we doing that one?” 😄

Finisher Medel for 2026
Finisher Medel for 2026

Trail Runs: A New Love

Living in a mountainous area means many of our local races are trail runs, which was an adjustment at first. But we’ve grown to love the challenge. Trail running has added variety, built strength, and honestly—it’s been easier on our joints.

Because of that, trail races are officially part of our 2026 plan.

Our 2026 Race Lineup

Below is our current race schedule for 2026. This list may change, but it’s our working plan. I’ll be adding links to each race as I share them on the blog and socials.



👉 We are currently registered for the races followed by the medal, and we’ll be registering for additional races gradually throughout the year.

How We’re Making It Work

Many of our out-of-state races are planned around vacations, and we’ll be using our travel trailer whenever possible to cut down on hotel costs. Most of these races are also within driving distance, which makes logistics easier—especially with fall obligations limiting long-distance travel.

Race choices were based on:

  • Proximity to home

  • Scheduling around family commitments

  • Medal design (because… yes)

  • And overall experience from past runners


How We Stay Organized With So Many Races

One thing I learned quickly once we started planning multiple races across different states is that organization is key. Without a system, it’s easy to forget race dates, registration openings, or even which races you’re already signed up for.

Using Race Raves to Track and Find Races

One of our favorite tools has been the Race Raves website. We use Race Raves for several reasons:

  • ✅ To keep track of the races we’ve already run

  • ✅ To store upcoming races all in one place

  • ✅ To discover races in other states as we work toward our half-marathon-in-every-state goal

  • ✅ To find local races close to home when we want something smaller or last-minute

Race Raves makes it easy to explore events by location, distance, terrain (trail vs. pavement), and time of year, which has been incredibly helpful when planning travel and training cycles.

Countdown Apps for Race Day & Registration Dates

We also use a countdown app on our phones to stay on top of important dates. This has been a game changer.

With the countdown app, we:

  • ⏰ Set race day countdowns so we know exactly how many days until each event

  • 📝 Add registration opening dates, especially for races that sell out quickly

  • 🔔 Get notifications and reminders, so nothing sneaks up on us

This has been especially helpful for RunDisney races, where timing is everything and missing a registration window can mean missing a race altogether.

Why This System Works for Us

Between Race Raves and our countdown app, we always know:

  • What races we’re running

  • What races we want to run

  • When we need to register

  • How much time we have to train

It keeps the stress level low and lets us focus on what really matters—training, staying healthy, and enjoying the journey.

If you’re new to running or starting to plan multiple races, I highly recommend finding an organization system that works for you. It doesn’t have to be fancy—just consistent.


Let’s Share Ideas

We’re incredibly excited about this year and the new places we’ll get to explore through running. If you’ve done a race you loved—or one with unforgettable bling—please share it in the comments. We’re always looking for inspiration for future years.

Running has opened doors we didn’t even know existed, and we can’t wait to keep building this journey.


Your journey begins the moment you decide you’re worth the effort.

We’ve got this—together.

See you at the next run. 🏃‍♀️✨🏅

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