Before I get to number one, here are some races that would have made the list if my list was longer. In no particular order, 5 km races.
Dahlgren Rescue Squad – King George, VA, 1995, 1997 to 1999, best time 21:08 in 1995, my first podium finish and first course measured for USATF certification.
Firecracker – Reedville, VA, 2021, 26:15, beach flat course, on Saturday closest to July 4. Same day as the town’s parade and fireworks.
Big Easy – New Orleans, LA, 2019, 26:56, out and back in Audubon Park.
Lawyers Have A Heart – Washington, DC, 1997, 20:26, fast course from Georgetown Harbor with a downhill finish.
Deuce Braswell Run Against Teen Violence – Spotsylvania, VA, 2011, 2012, 2021, best time 25:11 in 2011, stadium finish, good race for a good cause.
Fahass Chocolate – Fredericksburg, VA, 2020, 26:07, loop course using Heritage Trail. They never gave in to COVID.
Shamrock – Fredericksburg, VA, 2005, 23:13, one-time only kick-off race to Coldwell Banker Elite Grand Prix. Replaced the Shamrock 4 Mile at the insistence of City officials to keep off Washington Avenue.
Lisa Lassandrello – Memphis, TN, 2013, 2014, best time 25:20 in 2013, hosted by Memphis Runners, in the area for WSOP in Tunica, ran mile splits of 8:12, 8:13, 8:13, and 0:41, finished in the money later that night.
Losing to Live – Annandale, VA, 2021, 27:57. We timed this race from 2009 to 2019. Hosted by Pastor Steve Reynolds, author of Bod For God, his weight loss program has lost tons yearly.
Grand Slamrock – Fredericksburg, VA, 2022, 28:42, finished inside the stadium with a big screen view.
Over the years, I’ve run 146 different races and finished some of them multiple times. To some, this is not a large number of various events. Over the years, I’ve had some memorable races and have been able to rank my favorite races. If I couldn’t visualize the course and remember how I felt, I moved a race down my rankings.
Other races on my list
#6 Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon
Honorable Mention: Races 10 miles or longer