Help Wanted: Picking Races

Three random things before I get to the races...

1.) What is the difference between using fresh herbs vs. dried herbs?  I never know, or if I can substitute one for another in a recipe or if that will sacrifice the flavor.  Or how about sea salt vs. salt?  Or Stevia vs. sugar?v What's the difference there?  Anything, anyone?

2.) Speaking of Stevia I won a Stevia giveaway from Jennifer at A Knack For Nutrition!  First thing I'm going to do with it is try to make some sweet toasted almonds, like my spicy toasted almonds... can't wait!

3.) Let's just say I want one of these....

I found this on pintrest and am in love with it! 

Workout

3.65 mile run 

Tomorrow I'm hoping I can go get a membership from the YMCA so I can do some classes and lift weights since I cannot lift and do classes at the university for free this summer and I really have not been in a gym since I've been running outside and using my apartment "gym" for the past two weeks.  Bummer dude! 

Eats

Rice cake with peanut butter 

Red roasted pepper hummus wrap with yellow & red peppers, spinach and ranch

Cottage cheese

Veggie chips 

Cake Ball 

Hazelnut Kahlua (16 oz)

Mc Caffrey's Irish Coffee House

This was my first time to this coffee shop and it was awesome!  The service (owner) was very friendly and made sure everything was just the way I liked it.  And everything was home baked daily, I need to figure out how to make Cake Balls!

Dinner at Tequilas:

2 margaritas (2 for 1, can't say no to that!)

Chips & salsa

2 enchilada and burrito combo 

POTENTIAL RACES

I have been needing to find a race for myself, to get my motivation to train and run back to the level it was at.   Tonight I did a little research and here are the possible races that I have found... 

WYSP 5 O'Clock 5K

This is one that I will be doing for sure, it is a fundraising event for a program called WYSP.  WYSP is a FREE sports, education, leadership camp for children ages 10-16.  This is a phenomenal program that used to be nation wide, but funding has been cut since those year, now it is run solely based on donations,sponsorships and fundraising opportunities like this!

RCU 10K Classic

I have never run this one before, nor have I done a 10K, I thought a middle distance run in my hometown would be fun.  

Leinenkugel's Pure Water 1/2 Marathon

Lucky us, the home of Leinenkugel's is just down the road from my hometown!  Why not get a good run in and have some beer at the end?!

Maple Leaf 1/2 Marathon

Another YMCA sponsored event comin' at you! This one is held in La Crosse, there is a possibility that one of my friends might be running it as well so it may be on the "must run" list.  

Rock 'N' Roll New Orleans Marathon

This is the one I am most excited about because I have heard wonderful things about the Rock 'N' Roll Marathon Series and because it is in New Orleans and I love that city!  Oh yeah, and it would be my first full marathon!

All of these races are "funds/job pending", especially the Rock 'N' Roll one, since it is the most expensive one.    I wish I had all the money in the world right now to enter into tons of races, but I do not :(  So if you have any opinions about any of these races let me know!  Or if you are running one of these let me know that too!  That way if I have to pick and choose I can pick the best ones!  Thanks for the help guys!