Hey everyone! Today I was going to write a post about the fact that it was Friday and talk about 5 random things like I always do. BUT I’m feeling adventurous and I decided that instead of just writing a blog post on my own over here I should join up with other bloggers who are basically writing the same thing! So I’m officially hopping on the linkup bandwagon here and joining 3 of my favorite bloggers Eat Pray Run DC, Mar on the Run, and You Signed Up For What?! for their weekly Friday Five post! Yay first one ever!
This week they’ve even got a topic for us: Five Places I’d Like to Run. I’ve actually been thinking about this a lot lately since I’m trying to make a race bucket list and I’m really excited to share my answers and learn where other bloggers would like to run as well!
1. Fairbanks, AK on the summer solstice. Fairbanks is really far from Seward even though we’re in the same state (it’s 9 hours away), but at the top of my running bucket list is the Midnight Sun Run, a 10k that takes place at 10:00 pm! It’s really light out here at 10:00 pm so I can only imagine how much lighter it is all the way up there! The sun truly doesn’t set up in Fairbanks on the summer solstice, so that would be an amazing time to be there!
2. Big Sur, CA. Andrew and I got to drive part of the PCH when we were in California last summer, and I absolutely loved the views between LA and Santa Barbara. But I’ve always wanted to drive along Big Sur, and you know what’s even better than driving it? Running it! You get more time to stare at the scenery that way 🙂 There is the Big Sur International Marathon, but since I don’t know if I’ll ever be marathon ready I’m glad to know that there are shorter options as well. I mean, look at that course!
3. New England in the fall. This is the most non-specific place ever, but I’d love to do a race anywhere in New England in the fall. There is nothing like pretty fall trees to make me want to run outside all day! The Mount Desert Island Marathon/Half Marathon takes place in my favorite place on earth (Acadia National Park) and it’s in the fall so it looks like that just took a spot on my race bucket list!
4. The Golden Gate Bridge. It might seem like I have some sort of Cali obsession going on, but who wouldn’t want to run across one of the most iconic bridges in the country? I’m sure I wouldn’t get tired because I would be so excited! It looks like there are quite a few races that cross the bridge so my chances of actually running this someday are pretty high!
I found this picture on Google but I’d love to actually recreate this someday!
5. Charlestown, SC. My aunt lives in Charlestown and I seriously love how beautiful the city is! I think it’s my favorite place in the south. I really want to do a race there someday, but knowing how bad I am at dealing with heat and humidity it would probably have to be a winter/early spring/late fall race! I love all the old buildings, the palm trees, and especially how flat it is 🙂
Of course, my favorite places to run are Ridley Creek State Park back in PA and the waterfront trail here in Seward, AK. Both of them have amazing views, tons of wildlife, and lots of happy running memories. If you’re ever in Philly or Seward you should check them out! I’d like to run in both of those places every day, but unfortunately I probably won’t get to run in RCSP again for a long time.
You never forget your first running trail love…
…but hey, the new one is pretty awesome too.
There you have it – my very first Friday Five Linkup! I’m excited to join you guys for as many Fridays as possible!
If you could go for a run anywhere, where would you choose? Do we share some bucket list races?
Mom in the Mtns 
Great places! Big Sur is on my list too although I totally spaced it on my Friday 5 😦 I’ve done the Golden Gate Bridge and it is AWESOME, so beautiful, one of my favorite places to run.
I am so jealous you ran the Golden Gate Bridge! I can’t wait to do that someday!
My sister has run Big Sur twice nd me zero ( I was registered to run this year but had to drop out due to an injury).
I have walked through Charleston, SC. Does that count?
Both you paths are beautiful!
Ooooh I’m jealous of your sister! Did she say it was hard? Hopefully you’ll get to do it soon! And I totally count walking through it 🙂 That’s how I decided that I want to run it someday!
ooh Alaska forgot about that one! I ran in S.C. this past fall and it was beautiful. Hope you get there! #FridayFive
Most people don’t think of Alaska as a good place to run because it’s cold all winter, but in the summer it’s the perfect running weather! I hate humidity so I’m pretty excited about it 🙂
Big Sur is a big one on my list!!
Same here! We should all try to run it one day!
Thanks for joining us!!! Happy to have you. I love New England, and in the fall especially it is simply a beautiful place to run!
Thanks! I agree, there is nothing like pretty leaves on the trees!
All solid places to run I’d say! Alaska is def on my list of places to go/run one day as well
Yay that’s awesome! You will love it!
All those places look fabulous to run! I’d really love to run in Cali too!
Yeah I had no idea how much I wanted to run in Cali until I wrote this post! I also want to do a Disneyland race sometime, possibly Tink?
All great looking choices. Big Sur got my interest after seeing a lot about it this year. Alaska is an option I hadn’t considered, but looks like it would be awesome.
Great first Friday Five!
Yes it is! You should try to run up here sometime! If you like cool summer weather and pretty mountain views it’s a pretty awesome time 🙂
I once got lost while on a run in Charleston, SC — such a gorgeous city. I didn’t even really mind getting lost 🙂 Thanks for linking up!
Thanks! Yeah it’s so pretty, I would love to get lost there!
Hey Kristen,
Today is my first #FridayFive as well! I live about 30 miles from San Francisco, but I haven’t done a race that crosses the bridge yet! I should put that on the list!
I did a half marathon near Charleston (Palmetto Bluff, SC) in early March & the weather was perfect at that time! We were lucky, though, because it was super hot the weekend before!
Oh I’m so jealous you live so close to San Francisco! You should totally do a bridge run so I can read your recap 🙂 Hmmm I should look into that race!
I’ll check out which runs cross the bridge and find one to add to my list!
Today was also my first link up with the DC Trifecta for Friday Five, too. Great list! It would be super cool to run across the Golden Gate Bridge. I’ll need to add that to my list. Looks like you have some beautiful scenery on your current trails 🙂
Thanks! I try to run in pretty places, I feel like I enjoy running more. Running in my old neighborhood in PA was so boring because it was so ugly!
I live in Charleston! Please come visit! I will tell you all of the bestest places to run- give you race recommendations and all! (It is still a bit toasty late fall– winter or EARLY spring is best– we have a loooonnnggg summer).
The Bridge Run is a huge 10K across the Cooper River bridge in April- definitely one of the most iconic races, although Kiawah 1/2 & Marathon in December is really pretty.
Yay that’s awesome that you live there! What cool-weather race would you recommend I put on my bucket list? Kiawah sounds like it might be cooler since it’s in December!
Big Sur is on my running bucket list too 🙂
I also want to do the Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach. I think a beach race on the easy coast just wouldn’t compare to one on the west (CA always has perfect weather)!
Helly also did one of my bucket list items – the R2R2R.
Yes! I so want to do the R2R2R too! And I agree that running on the west coast would probably be more pretty and less humid. I guess that’s why I have so many Cali races on my list!
Big Sur & somewhere in New England and definitely both on my list. I’d like to do Wineglass someday. Great list!
It sounds like everyone wants to do Big Sur! I feel like that might be a crazy registration process now that I know how many people want to do it!
Big Sur is also on my list! Glad you linked up- they are fun. I’ll be posting and linking up again next week 🙂
Awesome! I will be joining next week as well! It’s fun getting a new blog topic each week that I don’t have to think about 🙂
Charleston is also on my bucket list. I’ve been there once, but wasn’t there nearly long enough to do the city justice. I would love to get back there and run through the city!
Same here! I went when I was in college and I didn’t run back then, so I’m dying to go back now!
Wow, great list!!! I will mull some of these over to try and make them happen for myself someday too that I haven’t thought about before like Big Sur.
And I loooove New England in the fall, college and grad school were spent in Massachusetts!
Thanks! Yeah Big Sur was on everyone’s list! I am so jealous you went to college in New England, it’s so pretty up there in the fall! PA gets pretty too but not like that!
You picked some great running spots! And your new running trail seems pretty fantastic! What a view of the mountains you have! 🙂
Thanks! Yeah I am in love with those mountains, as long as I don’t have to run up them!
Wow that first bridge took my breath away! Would be really exciting to run there.
I’ve been at the Golden Gate…with a car that is. 😦
I know! It must be an incredible race! And hey, I think doing it a car is a good first step 🙂 I’m sure it was just as beautiful as running it!
My 5 would be: Marathons in NYC, Chicago, Paris, London, & the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim hike.
I definitely want to do the Chicago marathon someday so I totally agree with you! And Rim to Rim to Rim looks amazing as well!