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On the first Saturday in May each year, Esther Short Park is filled with the sounds of happy people, families and dogs. It is the most amazing sight to see more than 800 dogs happy to be with their people as they head out for a 5k run or 3-mile walk.

I remember a time when I was a younger and doing a lot of road races, when you simply planned out your racing calendar on the fly as you went through the year. For better or worse, those days are over. Now we’re planning, developing, mulling over, and plopping down big bucks on those race calendars.

The beginning of a new year brings with it plenty of promise and possibility by hitting our internal reset button. While a plan to start anew simmers just beneath the surface, a little inspiration might be the jumpstart you need. Whether you’re looking for the ultimate bike race, ultra marathon or triathlon, we’ve compiled a list of races both old and new that promise to test your mettle for the year ahead.

I am a runner—a senior runner. I have been running since I joined the track team at Roosevelt Junior High School—nearly 60 years ago! I never won any races, but I remember very well the good feelings and self-esteem I enjoyed after a hard workout or race.

After 19 years of racing, my wife knows that road-tripping to an ultra is just another “vacation that’s not really a vacation.” However, there are a few races that happen to fall in the summer months with venues that can be fun for the whole family.

Show up at the start line of any road or trail run, triathlon, or cycling race these days and it is clear women are no longer a minority in the racing scene.