Why I am running the Honor Run half marathon

Some runners are in it for the thrill of races, meeting friends old and new, and enjoying the camaraderie from packet pickup to the post-race party.

While I enjoy the social benefits of running and races, I am motivated by improving my performance, meeting new challenges and doing epic s---.

So for me, I don’t focus on signing up for a bulk of races — eight to 10 a year — and almost never do I race on back-to-back weekends. In fact, the only time I have done so was during a trip out west when I was fortunate to be able to run the Leadville Marathon and the Sinks Canyon Rough and Tumble on consecutive weekends. And the second event, an 11-miler, came about because I won a free race entry from a podcast.

As I looked toward the fall running calendar, I knew that I had the Indianapolis Monumental locked in but I was also looking for other options at the end of the year. While I did not target the Honor Run Half Marathon, it spoke to me.

And it convinced me that it as worth doing — the weekend after the Monumental.

Join me at the Honor Run by using code BIBRAVE10 for $10 off. Don’t delay: There is another price increase at the end of the month. Sign up here.

(Disclaimer: I received a free entry to this race as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro ambassador, and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!)

Honoring veterans

There are options for runners of all walks (runs?) to choose from: the half marathon, two-person half marathon relay, a 5K run-walk and a kids one-mile race. All race participants will receive a race T-shirt, a custom finisher’s medal, and post-race food and drinks. There also is plenty of free parking at the nearby Florence Mall.

Need more persuasion? Here are the some more reasons I am breaking tradition and running this race:

1. Its Veterans Day Weekend and it’s a good excuse to help a good cause, one that sends northern Kentucky veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam to see their memorials on the Honor Flight Tri-State.

2. It will be my first half marathon of the year and a good test on how my fitness is, a week after the marathon in Indianapolis.

3. America has seen its share of vitriol in the past year. I’ll be glad to have a reprieve, if only for a 2-hour race, from the constant bombardment of political corruption, hateful rants and social media antagonists. It will be reassuring to come together with fellow Americans — whites, blacks, northerners, southerners, straight people and gays — in a patriotic race with plenty of red, white and blue flags flying.

4. It gives me a good excuse to wear my American flag compression socks from Swiftwick.

I’m not the only one who is excited about supporting veterans at this race. From Twitter:

• Nicole (@Bonktothefinish): So excited to be racing a half this fall in KY @HonorRunHalf #bibchat #bibravepro #honorrunhalf

• Megan (@MeganBrooke591): Registering for a race is such an exciting feeling! Especially when you love what it supports! @HonorRunHalf

What are you waiting for? Come out to support our veterans with Nicole, Megan, me and other runners this Veterans Day Weekend.