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| Wendy & Jo on Opening Night (Yes, we do things besides running.) |
One of the great joys of running is racing. It's exciting to put a race on a calendar, make a race plan, and execute that race plan. Though I usually have no trouble finding an impetus to train, having a race on my horizon makes me even more excited about running. It also gives my training a focus as I prepare my body for the task at hand.
Here is a list of the races for which I've registered for 2014.
Shamrock Run
When? March 15
Where? Indy
Distance? 4 mi.
With Whom? Wendy and Amelia
Have you run this race before? Yes
How did you do? 2007, 46:07. (It was 5 mi. in 2007.) 2008, 36:22. 2010, 37:35. 2011, 33:19. 2012, 33:05. 2013, 32:48.
Are you actually racing this time? No
What's the goal? To have fun. Originally, I was going to try to PR (which would be about an 8-min./mi. pace), but with both Wendy and I healing from "injuries," we decided to make it a "run for fun" day. That will be no problem. This race is always a riot. It starts and finishes on Monument Circle, has registration at the Columbia Club, and features MANY costumed runners. Ed, Mom, and I have enjoyed attending this race nearly every year since 2007. Also, Wendy, Amelia, and I have some super fly green tops to wear.
500 Festival Training Series 15K
When? April 5
Where? Indy
Distance? 9.3 mi.
With Whom? Wendy
Have you run this race before? Yes
How did you do? 2012, 1:19:02.
Are you actually racing this time? Sort of
What's the goal? To run the whole race at half marathon race pace. One of my annual goals is to PR in the 500 Festival Mini (under 1:54:19, 8:43 pace), and another is to break 1:50 (an 8:23 pace). Those are both completely doable, but with the shin splint trouble I've been having, I haven't been able to train the way I'd like. This race will be a good chance for me to try to hold half marathon pace and see how it affects me.
Derby Festival miniMarathon
When? April 19
Where? Louisville
Distance? 13.1 mi.
With Whom? Wendy and Amelia
Have you run this race before? No
Are you actually racing? No
What's the goal? To cross the finish line with Amelia. This one is all about her. I'm just along for the ride!
500 Festival Mini Marathon
When? May 3
Where? Indy
Distance? 13.1 mi.
With Whom? Wendy
Have you run this race before? Yes
How did you do? 2007, 2:18:22. 2009, 2:15:39. 2010, 2:08:48. 2011, 2:15:16. 2013, 1:58:55.
Are you actually racing this time? Yes, that's the plan.
What's the goal? To PR (break 1:54:19) and to run 1:4x:xx. If my leg stabilizes well over the next few weeks, I will absolutely start training to reach these goals. If not, Wendy and I will just run it for fun. Mini Day is my favorite day of the year. You can't understand until you have experienced it yourself. It is two hours (or less) of solid energy and fun. Many people would add here, "...and you get to run a lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway." Instead, I add, "...and you have to run a lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway." :-)
BMS 5K
When? May 16
Where? Bedford
Distance? 3.1 mi.
With Whom? All the students at BMS
Have you run this race before? Yes
How did you do? 2008, 28:35. 2009, 27:48. 2013, 24:29.
Are you actually racing this time? Yes, that's the plan.
What's the goal? To watch my students succeed, and to beat my boss. BMS 5K Day is the best day of the school year. I love to watch my students push themselves to do their very best. It's inspiring. Many students are more successful than they ever imagined. I've run it three times and volunteered three times. This year, I plan to run. The BMS 5K is poorly positioned (right after the Mini), for me to be in good 5K shape, but I usually do well. Last year I beat my boss by 17 seconds. I'd like to smear him again, but I hear he's been training this year...
Monumental Mile
When? June 5
Where? Indy
Distance? 1 mi.
With Whom? Wendy and Amelia
Have you run this race before? No
What's the goal? To cross the finish line with Amelia. This one is all about her. I'm just along for the ride!
500 Festival Mini Marathon
When? May 3
Where? Indy
Distance? 13.1 mi.
With Whom? Wendy
Have you run this race before? Yes
How did you do? 2007, 2:18:22. 2009, 2:15:39. 2010, 2:08:48. 2011, 2:15:16. 2013, 1:58:55.
Are you actually racing this time? Yes, that's the plan.
What's the goal? To PR (break 1:54:19) and to run 1:4x:xx. If my leg stabilizes well over the next few weeks, I will absolutely start training to reach these goals. If not, Wendy and I will just run it for fun. Mini Day is my favorite day of the year. You can't understand until you have experienced it yourself. It is two hours (or less) of solid energy and fun. Many people would add here, "...and you get to run a lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway." Instead, I add, "...and you have to run a lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway." :-)
BMS 5K
When? May 16
Where? Bedford
Distance? 3.1 mi.
With Whom? All the students at BMS
Have you run this race before? Yes
How did you do? 2008, 28:35. 2009, 27:48. 2013, 24:29.
Are you actually racing this time? Yes, that's the plan.
What's the goal? To watch my students succeed, and to beat my boss. BMS 5K Day is the best day of the school year. I love to watch my students push themselves to do their very best. It's inspiring. Many students are more successful than they ever imagined. I've run it three times and volunteered three times. This year, I plan to run. The BMS 5K is poorly positioned (right after the Mini), for me to be in good 5K shape, but I usually do well. Last year I beat my boss by 17 seconds. I'd like to smear him again, but I hear he's been training this year...
Monumental Mile
When? June 5
Where? Indy
Distance? 1 mi.
With Whom? Wendy and Amelia
Have you run this race before? No
Are you actually racing? Yes
What's the goal? To run a mile as fast as I can. This is a "kick-off" event for the Monumental Marathon, to be held on Nov. 1. They are promoting it by saying, "If you can run a mile, you can run a marathon in five months!" Smart. However, they are also encouraging seasoned distance runners to race a hard mile by advertising the course as flat and fast with minimal turns. I've never run a race this short, but I'm intrigued by the challenge. It seems a little silly to drive a 150-mi. round trip to run one mile, but being part of an inaugural event is fun.
Red Eye Relay
When? July 19-20
Where? Bloomington
Distance? 100 mi. relay
With Whom? Wendy, Tim, and others
Have you run this race before? Yes
How did you do? 2013, 14:21:01, 103.92 mi. with Team Embrace The Chaos
Are you actually racing this time? Sort of
What's the goal? To have a blast running while staying up all night. The premise of the Red Eye Relay is simple: seven-member teams run 21 sections totaling (slightly more than) 100 miles as fast as they can in the dark, sticky night on the back roads of Monroe County. We start at 5:00 P.M. Each member runs three legs. Last year, I ran a total of 12.4 miles in my three legs. Of course, we want to do the best we can, but the primary goal is to have fun. That's easy to do at such a fun event. I should also note that the Red Eye Relay is sponsored by Upland Brewery. :-)
Bedford Half Marathon
When? October 4
Where? Bedford
Distance? 13.1 mi.
With Whom? Solo, though I'll find buddies.
Have you run this race before? No
Are you actually racing? No
What's the goal? To run a mile as fast as I can. This is a "kick-off" event for the Monumental Marathon, to be held on Nov. 1. They are promoting it by saying, "If you can run a mile, you can run a marathon in five months!" Smart. However, they are also encouraging seasoned distance runners to race a hard mile by advertising the course as flat and fast with minimal turns. I've never run a race this short, but I'm intrigued by the challenge. It seems a little silly to drive a 150-mi. round trip to run one mile, but being part of an inaugural event is fun.
Red Eye Relay
When? July 19-20
Where? Bloomington
Distance? 100 mi. relay
With Whom? Wendy, Tim, and others
Have you run this race before? Yes
How did you do? 2013, 14:21:01, 103.92 mi. with Team Embrace The Chaos
Are you actually racing this time? Sort of
What's the goal? To have a blast running while staying up all night. The premise of the Red Eye Relay is simple: seven-member teams run 21 sections totaling (slightly more than) 100 miles as fast as they can in the dark, sticky night on the back roads of Monroe County. We start at 5:00 P.M. Each member runs three legs. Last year, I ran a total of 12.4 miles in my three legs. Of course, we want to do the best we can, but the primary goal is to have fun. That's easy to do at such a fun event. I should also note that the Red Eye Relay is sponsored by Upland Brewery. :-)
Bedford Half Marathon
When? October 4
Where? Bedford
Distance? 13.1 mi.
With Whom? Solo, though I'll find buddies.
Have you run this race before? No
Are you actually racing? No
What's the goal? To participate in my hometown's inaugural half marathon. Wendy is going to race this one as an elite, and I'm going to run it as a pace run. I won't actually race, but it'll be faster than a typical training long run. There are so many people that are going to do the Bedford Half as their first half marathons. I'm so excited for all of them! It will be a great fall day.
Monumental Marathon
When? November 1
Where? Indy
Distance? 26.2 mi.
With Whom? Wendy
Have you run this race before? Yes
How did you do? 2012, 1:54:19 (half). 2013, 5:26:56 (full).
Are you actually racing? Yes
Monumental Marathon
When? November 1
Where? Indy
Distance? 26.2 mi.
With Whom? Wendy
Have you run this race before? Yes
How did you do? 2012, 1:54:19 (half). 2013, 5:26:56 (full).
Are you actually racing? Yes
What's the goal? To run the whole thing without passing out, and finish under 4:30. I was prepared to do just that in November 2013, and I was thwarted by a bad day (see blog post). Training for this race will include many highway runs and oh-dark-thirty runs, all with Wendy. Monumental is THE race of 2014 for me. All the others will be fun, but they are merely stepping stones to this race. All roads lead to Monumental!
Those are the races for which I'm registered in 2014. (Technically, I'm not registered for Red Eye, but Wendy will register us as soon as the window opens.) I'm sure I'll run some other races this year, too, like the Limestone 5K (July), and the Give Thanks 4-Miler (November, duh). Last year, I raced 102.9 miles. If all goes well, I'll probably race about the same mileage this year. Hooray, 2014!
Those are the races for which I'm registered in 2014. (Technically, I'm not registered for Red Eye, but Wendy will register us as soon as the window opens.) I'm sure I'll run some other races this year, too, like the Limestone 5K (July), and the Give Thanks 4-Miler (November, duh). Last year, I raced 102.9 miles. If all goes well, I'll probably race about the same mileage this year. Hooray, 2014!
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