Andrea Herrmann's Blog, page 3

Your Garmin Vs. The Certified Course Measurement: Why They May Not Match

If I had a dollar for every time someone posted a comment in a running or racing discussion board or on a race's Facebook page that their Garmin's mile measurement didn't match the certified course distance, I'd be a very rich person.  Or I'd spend all the money on race fees.  Either way, it's a common discussion point.

The short answer is: 99% of the time, no, your Garmin's registered distance will not match the distance of your certified course, regardless of the course distance.
No...

Race Review: Shamrock Half Marathon, Virgnia Beach, VA

This blog post is a flashback to my prior years completing the Shamrock Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  I most recently completed the 2013 race. 

The Shamrock Half is my all-time favorite half marathon for many reasons-- you really get the bang for your buck if you register early (I'll explain later), the course is beautiful, the crowds and spectators are very supportive, the post-race party on the beach is a lot of fun, and it's a beautiful place to visit at a time of y...

Race Tips: Tricks, Ideas and Hacks to Help Make Racing Easier

Here are my favorite ideas and practical tips for endurance athletes to help make race-day easier:

Confirm all your travel plans and race information the week before the race.  Make sure you have the right parking directions, bib pickup info, race start time, and hotel, plane and/or rental car pickup/dropoff dates.

Print any needed race waivers before you go to the race or packet pickup.

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Facebook Groups That Can Save Endurance Athletes Money

There are some great Facebook groups that runners, obstacle-course enthusiasts and endurance athletes can turn to for race discount codes, to find out about product giveaways, or to connect with other runners for housing or to share a hotel room.

1) Discount Codes for Races Facebook Group
This group is a place for athletes to post and request public discount savings codes for races and endurance events. The group does not allow members to post private codes that were set up exclusively for a cl...

Travel Hack: Five Items to Bring on Every Trip

There are five things I bring with me on every trip, whether I'm flying or driving.  I regularly use these items as travel hacks to help make my travels easier and to reduce costs.  These handy household items can be used again and again.

Check out these items I bring with me on every flight or road trip:

1. A Plastic Food Container

 A reusable, microwave-safe plastic container with a fitted lid has numerous uses on a trip!

On flights, it's my food storage container.  I bring...

Got the Winter Blues? Try These Indoor Races!

For many, the phrase "winter race" brings up thoughts of snow-covered roads, freezing temperatures, and multiple layers of clothing.   Some athletes resist signing up for these races until days before, fearing the event will be canceled by a winter storm.

Indoor races offer an opportunity to participate in race and triathlons year round without weather conditions affecting the course.  These events can help you train for a long distance event or maintain your fitness for spring...

Welcome Readers!

What is serial racing?  It's participating in road races or endurance events almost every week; traveling around the country for events; using events for training runs or rides for longer distance events; meeting old and new friends along the way; and enjoying every moment of it.

How many races have I done? Oh... a couple.
After twice completing the Half Fanatics "10 Moons/the Sun" challenge of 52 half marathons in 365 days, I put together my guide on how to plan and afford the racing sche...

Avoid Social Media Travel Scams

Many of my friends travel around the country for endurance events. We're always looking for a way to save on our trips.  

Recently, a friend of mine invited me to an event on Facebook.  The event's name was "American Airlines Trip Giveaway," and it touted that the airline was giving away a free round trip ticket to anywhere in the US in honor of the airline's anniversary.

Only, it wasn't from American Airlines. It was a fake event, set up by a fake page, to lure people into registeri...

8 Easy Ways to Save Money on Road Races

1) Define your race goals- "Why do you do this?"  
When I ask this question, I don't mean the sometimes sarcastic and judging question we occasionally get from non-athletes.  What I want you to think about is: what you want to get out of doing road races and endurance sports?

What do you enjoy about races the most?  What do you want to achieve?  Is your goal to BQ, to visit all 50 states, or do as many Disney races as you can?  Do you want to travel to places you'd...

Saving Money on RunDisney Events

As a kid, I loved traveling to Walt Disney World with my family.  I loved visiting the unique parks, taking in the the futuristic feel of EPCOT, and going on the classic rides in the Magic Kingdom.  

Today, when it comes to Disney... I am just a slightly older kid.  Now, in my "second childhood," I get to enjoy both visiting the parks and running through them as a regular participant in RunDisney races.   

I have completed multiple RunDisney events at Walt Disney W...