As you might have noticed, my proposed race schedule (sidebar, right) is QUITE ambitious, especially considering results from previous years/seasons. Here it is, in full (as of now):
*note - the asteriks represent races I'm already registered for.
HMRRC Winter Series 10K* - 1/9 [Training Run] [Race Report]
As a new member of the Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club (HMRRC), my $15 yearly membership entitles me to participate in a bunch of free races throughout the year. There is a series of 5 winter races that seem to give me a great opportunity to get my ass outdoors, off the treadmill and give my calves a real workout. The first one is this weekend, and I'm thinking about getting out there and just using it as an opportunity for a training run (no dreams of PRs b/c those aspirations could lead to injury).
The second outdoor training run made possible by the good folks at HMRRC. Again, it's free since I'm a member of the running club. These runs are invaluable ways for me to get more outdoor, long-distance experience in these cold winter months that would otherwise have me dragging ass on a treadmill somewhere. CANCELED on account of cold temps and a budding over-use injury.
The last race in the series of FREE winter races put on by the HMRRC that I'll be participating in. Not to put too much pressure on myself, but this run should go a long way in judging the overall success of my training to date. I haven't experienced an Albany February yet, but if it's anything like January then I'm in for a real treat. CANCELED on account of a revised (more conservative) training plan.
TBM Spring Series Race #1 (cat5 bitches!)* - 3/19 [First Bike Race!]
MY FIRST ROAD BIKE RACE!! And damnit, am I excited! From what I understand of the cycling category system, my lack of competing in any bike race has me at an unofficial cat6 rating. And, just by competing in a road race, ANY road race, promotes me immediately to a cat5! So, unless I am unlucky enough to end up in one of those wildly-popular and reputable cat4/5 bike-wrecks, I am just a few short months away from earning official status as a Cat5 Donkey! The course itself is flat and fast, and only 18 miles long. Perfect! This race will provide me the proper motivation to not slack off with the cycling cross-training that I will be doing in preparation for my next, and more important race...
National Half Marathon* - 3/26 ['A' Race]
This will be my first half marathon EVER, and also my first "A" race of the season. Lots of pressure, eh? It's also a great chance to return to DC! Look for my training plan in the coming days. Until then, think positive thoughts about me achieving an 8:00min/mile average come race day. (This would be a GREAT pace for me!)
31st Annual St. Peter's Keys Run 10K - 4/17
A great, local 10k that I can hopefully use to take advantage of the fitness I have acquired from my half-marathon. As it stands, I've already broken my 10k PB by over a minute during training runs leading up to the half marathon (above) so I really want to do this race. We shall see!
This will be my first race after the half marathon. I hope to resume light run-training 1-2 weeks after the race and see if I can't finagle my long-distance fitness into some short, speedy success. Also, I should be able to recruit a handful of my friends from Boston to run this with. At this point, I'm sure I will be looking forward to running less and FASTER. CANCELED on account of a scheduling conflict.
Another FIRST for me (assuming I do it)! I've never done a duathlon, and the distances seem very good. Tough, but good. I also feel like I will have given myself enough time to make a full recovery from the beating my legs will inevitably take. The plan would be that I then can use the fitness I've acquired, and then focus on more speed-work leading into late-spring. CANCELED on account of a scheduling conflict.
Hudson Crossing Sprint Tri* - 6/12 ['A' Race]
ANOTHER FIRST!! After the half-marathon, in an effort to make sure I give myself enough time to recover, I plan to start back up with swimming. This will also cure my workout bug and keep me from thinking I've healed well before I actually have. I also look forward again to really dialing into some more speed-related races, AND GETTING BACK TO TRIATHLON! Wohoo!
Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race - 6/18
This would be purely for fun. Of course, only as fun as biking directly up hill with no warm-up can be! :) Still, it sounds like a shit-ton of fun and would add another summit to my Adirondack belt. There's another bike "race" up Mt. Washington which would be cool to do sometime, but jesus that costs like $300, which seems a bit steep to me.
Boyne City Independence Day Run 10K - 7/4
Another purely fun-run. At this time of year I always find myself vacationing in northern Michigan near Traverse City, and I like nothing more on vacation than eating, sleeping and exercising entirely at my leisure. Last year I brought my bike, went for three rides, three runs and a handful of open-water swims. I also ate my brains out. This year will at least give me a nice goal-race to look forward to... maybe. Or, I'll just do my regularly scheduled swim/bike/run/eat/sleep/DRINK routine.
Warrior Dash!* - 08/13
I'm wildly excited about doing this race. It just looks incredibly fun, exciting and I can only imagine the energy level of all of those participating will be like nothing I've ever experienced. Plus, there's a whole large group of us doing the race so it will make for a great, drunken adventure. DEFINITELY AN "A" RACE!
NY Capital Region Road Race - 8/20
I'm unsure about this one, but I'd love to do this bike-race since it's literally right down the street from where I live. It's also the biggest bike race in my area and it would be great to be a part of it. I have high ambitions to participate (race?.. heh, am I to that level on a bike?) in as many local bike-races as possible to build up some experience. It'd be great to make cat4, but I hear you have to do 10 races in order to achieve that... and that seems HIGHLY unlikely given my current race schedule. Never-the-less, this would prove to be great motivation for adequate cross-training during the lead up to the year's ultimate A race!..
Berlin Marathon* - 9/25 ['A' Race]
I'm calling this an "A" race, but in reality it's a huge vacation planned around a huge race. My first-and-only marathon was a huge flop, so if I'm able to pull this one off w/o injury then it's already a wild success. Any time goals I have will come much further down the road, obviously, based on how training is going. I look forward to celebrating any success with the opening of Oktoberfest, the day of the race!
Troy YMCA Monster Dash 5K - 10/29
After a minimum of two weeks (hopefully three weeks) of recovery, I hope to launch back in to see if I can pick up a few late-season PRs with some short, quick races. I did this one last year and it was a good bit of fun. Good people, good course (albeit a bit hilly) and some unfinished business with a dude who pushes a stroller while running.
Detroit Turkey Trot 10K - 11/24
I'll either be in Michigan or Pennsylvania. This is the Michigan race. If I'm in Pennsylvania, I'm sure I can find some kind of Turkey-related 5K or 10K to compete in. The goal would be to hit another late-season PR since the earlier part of the season will be more about preparation for halfs and full marathons. Gobble gobble!
Albany Last Run 5K - 12/17
Again, slated to be the swan-song of my season, this cozy little 5K will be the victory lap of what I hope to be a very successful, injury-free season. Fingers crossed!!
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