by Mead Binhammer, GRP Trail Athlete

November can be a dreary time of year in New England. The snow flurries aren’t yet flying, but the grass isn’t growing, either. The leaves are gone from the trees, colder weather begins to encompass the region (albeit slowly this year), and the end of daylight`avings time brings with it a descent into the darkest months of the year. Suddenly, it can be infinitely more difficult to motivate yourself to get out the door, and into the pitch-black darkness, for that 5:30pm after-work run.  

This time of year, however, can be a great time to plan out your race calendar for the upcoming season. For many of us, our current racing period is coming to a close (perhaps with the exception of that ultra-competitive turkey trot) and we can take stock of what we’ve accomplished, and where we’d like to improve. Many race and lottery registrations are starting to open, as well, meaning it’s a great time to begin mulling over what your priority race efforts might be for the year to come. 

Here are some tips for setting up your race calendar: 

1. Categorize your races – We can only get the most out of ourselves so many times in each season, so categorizing races, and deciding what to prioritize, is imperative. To avoid over-exerting oneself, and risking injury in doing so, I typically think of my races in tiers. An “A” race is a key goal of the season, that brings the highest level of motivation and receives a dedicated training block to prepare for a top performance. Depending on the distance, between training, tapering, racing, and recovering, there is only room in the calendar for 2-3 “A” races per year. 

   A “B” race is a second-tier race, one that you might want to do well in, but could use as either a training race for your “A” race goal, or an opportunity to gain race experience without as much pressure. A “B” race often doesn’t receive its own dedicated training block (or taper), but instead can be a motivator for a hard effort on tired legs. 

   A “C” race is the lowest priority race on the calendar, as far as performance goes, but it can also be a motivator to explore. For me, a “C” race effort might be an aesthetic, mountainous route I want to prioritize running, or a race in a location I don’t often get to run in. It could also be an early or late season fitness test, with the caveat that the goal is to finish, be healthy, and set yourself up for the next goal – moderating your intensity is key! 

2. Be conservative in your registration fervor – As you look at the calendar of race options, consider how much time you will need to train for your races, and how much recovery you will need afterwards. It can be tempting, particularly this time of year, to get excited by an abundance of races, and end up over-registering and under-performing. Instead, I recommend thinking critically about how you set up your schedule and blocking out portions of the calendar leading up to your “A” races. 

   Depending on the distance, an “A” race might require a 12-week training block beforehand, and a week or two of recovery afterwards. During the training block, you might schedule a “B” race as a tune-up, say 3-4 weeks out from the “A” race effort, but the priority should be preparing for your main race event. I recommend registering for “A” races now, and then, once you begin training to prepare for them, start filling out the calendar with tune-up and fun “B” and “C” races, to keep motivation high. 

3. Leave time for fun! – As you begin filling out the calendar with “A” races and their associated training blocks, it can be easy to fill up your whole summer racing season, without leaving any room for flexibility. Though this might be motivating for some runners, I prefer to leave some “breaks” between training blocks to focus on the other running (and non-running) adventures that are important to me. Whether running a Pemi Loop, spending a weekend backpacking on the Long Trail or paddling the Missisquoi, or just enjoying a guilt-free vacation at the beach, scheduling time for personal adventures and relaxation is key to longevity in the sport, and to getting the most out of yourself on those hardest days of training. 

Race Recommendations from GRP Trail

So, now you’re on UltraSignup, scrolling through race options to fill out your 2025 calendar. You’re being smart, thinking about which races to prioritize, but you aren’t familiar with all the events, and aren’t sure what to register for. Not to worry! GRP Trail Runners have been active in the Northeast racing scene this past year, and provide the following recommendations: 

Catamount Ultra & Trapp Mountain Marathon – Both races, hosted by Ironwood Adventure Works, take place on the trails of the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe. June’s Catamount Ultra features a 25k and 50k option, while the Mountain Marathon in October features both a 13.1 mile and 26.2-mile race. These are terrific races for trail runners of all abilities, running primarily on gradual, double-track trails through beautiful forests and fields in the shadow of Mount Mansfield. The community spirit, complete with food, tunes, and von Trapp beer at the finish, is what really makes these races special. 

“Catamount Ultra is a great earlier-season race with lots of long downhills to balance out the climbing,” says GRP-Trail Athlete (and podium finisher at both races) Sophia Etienne, who also noted that the Trapp Mountain Marathon hosts, “one of the most beautiful fall backdrops in Vermont. The vibes are fun, the food is delicious, and if you do the full marathon, you’ll have the support of all the folks running the half!” 

White Mountain Endurance Series – The White Mountain Endurance Series consists of four mountainous, multi-distance races in the White Mountains of New Hampshire: Chocorua Mountain Race, Baldface Scramble, Jigger Johnson, and the Kilkenny Ridge Race. These races all feature technical terrain, steep ascents and descents and beautiful views and ridgelines in the Whites. They require mountain experience, as many of the races traverse remote locations. The races feature a multitude of distances, from a 100-mile option at Jigger Johnson, to shorter options, such as the 23k race at Chocorua. The four shorter-distance races comprise the White Mountain Endurance Cup, a year-long competition with cumulative results for each of the race events. 

GRP-Trail Athlete (and 2024 podium finisher at Chocorua) Nigel Bates remarks, “with a low-key vibe but a high-quality field of competitors, Chocorua was a fun race to kick off the season.” In the future, Nigel hopes that “the WME Cup continues to attract top runners from across the country and shine a spotlight on the superb technical trails that the Whites have to offer!” 

Goshen Gallop – The Goshen Gallop is a historic 10k and 5k trail race at the Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center in Goshen each July. This dog-friendly, community-focused event, now in its 47th year, takes you through the trails and dirt roads of Blueberry Hill and the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area. A hilly but moderate course, this is a great race for everyone from trail speedsters to runners who are just getting off the pavement. 

Britta Clark, GRP-Trail Athlete and race director, says that, “the Goshen Gallop is a classic, grassroots New England Trail Race, powered by a love of trails and being outside with friends.” Noting the community spirit of the event, Britta remarks that, “the volunteers, the neighbor who rings the starting line bell, and 10-time Gallop participants mixed in with first timers” make the day feel extra special.