December 7, 2011

2012 Race Plans

With 2012 quickly approaching, it seems that race plans for the next several months to year have already been finalized by many people in the blogging/running community.

Today is December 7. I'm not planning my next race until February 25. That is 79 days away. I'm very excited about this.

I'm raced out. I hate the fact that I raced this year because I had to. Of the 9 races I ran to gain guaranteed entry into the New York City Marathon, there were only 2 that I actually wanted to run...and then 4 other races that I actually wanted to run making a grand total of 13 (and one that was cancelled) races this year which doesn't seem like that many until you factor in the fact that between October 1 and December 2 I ran 3 half-marathons, 1 full marathon, a 5k and a 15k.

Yea. I don't want to do that again.

My goal for 2012 is to slow down. I want to race because I want to race...not because I have to. I want to wake up excited on Race Day, not tired and dreading having to get out of bed because I just did this last week. I'm not trying to get guaranteed entry into the 2013 NYC Marathon, so I'm all set with having to pay to run circles in Central Park for awhile.

So what's on my Race Calendar for 2012? First up:


The Cowtown Half-Marathon - I'll be making my way back to DFW to run in my first Texas race! I've roped (or should I say lasso'd) my 17-year-old sister to run the 5k with me the day before as part of the Cowtown Challenge! I'm a sucker for race bling and if you run any 2 events during race weekend, you get a pretty sweet medal and getting my little sister to run in her first race with me will be that much more awesome. Added bonus, The Cowtown falls perfectly in line with my training for my spring marathon (see below.)

Next up is the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run in DC of course! For those of you who are somewhat new to this blog, you can read about how I didn't run the Cherry Blossom last year here. My fabulous DC friends and I have registered for the lottery as a group so here's to crossing my fingers I get in!


It wouldn't be spring without my annual trip to Boston for the Boston Marathon festivities, complete with a 5k PR and Course PR that I'll be aiming to crush this year with the help of my favorite LL Bean chaperone. I'm trying to convince a certain Pilot to take the trip to Boston with me this year for a weekend full of blogging, running, cowbell waving girls all descending on a city to cheer on one of the greatest marathons in the world.


In case you haven't noticed, I'm a big fan of international travel. Having spent my entire summer traveling through Europe and South Asia, I think it's only appropriate that I go international for my third marathon. Enter Spain. After being rejected from the London Marathon lottery (how rude!), I started looking into other international spring marathons and Ally (aka Mrs. Hugh Jackman) and I, tempted by the race discount given to us by Rock 'n' Roll at the Marine Marathon expo, caved and are now planning my 2nd trip to Spain. It'll be my first Rock 'n' Roll race so I'm pretty excited! 


And of course, the whole reason why I ran so many races this year was for the New York City Marathon which I'll be running on November 4. I'd like to run a mid-summer half to keep me in shape between training cycles and I'll probably run an early fall half as part of training for NYC but outside of that, that's it - my 2012 race schedule. 

My 2012 Running/Racing Goals are to stay injury free, strength and cross train at least twice a week, run a sub-4 marathon and a sub 1:50 half-marathon.  I was great about listening to my body this year but next year, I'd like to be better. I'd also like to run a training cycle without black toenails...I think switching out of my Nikes may help with that...I'm also signed up for a triathlon that I deferred from last year. We'll see how that goes though since the idea of riding a bike anywhere on the island of Manhattan terrifies me. 

So that's what I've got planned! What about you? Are you making it a goal to race next year? Whether it's your first 5k or your 11th marathon, let me know what and where you'll be racing!

6 comments:

  1. that looks like a fantastic schedule! and races abroad are so, so, SO much fun!

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  2. Cherry Blossom 10-miler here we come! And Madrid, how exciting!!!!

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  3. I hope to do a marathon in late april/early may as well as the RnR USA Half in May -- mostly hoping I'll get well enough to do those! I'd also love to run the mini 10K in June and Boilermaker in July! I always throw in some other club points races in there, too.

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  4. Busy year ahead of you! I can't wait for the course to be announced for Madrid. Should be a really fun race! But I would say include some hills in your training if possible. :(

    I've already signed up for 3 of my 9 races for 9+1, I have a feeling I'm going to need a break from races after 2012 lol.

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  5. I wanted to say thanks! I started reading your blog earlier this year. I had a baby in July and my husband deployed a few weeks later. You have inspired me to begin running. I've completed 2 5k's so far and have one planned every month until my husband returns. Thank you for your inspiration!

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  6. All I know so far is that I'll be running my first half in DC March 17th through Rock N Roll! So excited/nervous and I can't wait :)

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