Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Looking ahead to another racing season in Montana.

I have finally registered for my first two races of the year.   The Shamrock Run on March 18th is the race here that kicks off the racing season.  It is a 5k and is a pretty easy out and back race.  It is fun as this race as it is fun to see all the local racers again and some people wear fun costumes. 

In April I have Peaks to Prairie Adventure Race in which I am doing the 9.3 mile run leg.  We haven't officially registered yet, but hopefully will soon.  This will be my first year doing Peaks to Prairie and I am so excited!

I also registered for the Womens Run 5 mile on May 12, which is the biggest race in Montana and it is all women!  They also have a two mile race and over 9,000 registered in 2011.  Last year there were 374 women in my age group alone.  I could add here that I won my age group and got 8th overall out of 2582 (only 7 seconds away from 4th), but that would be bragging.  I love this race and all the energy that does with it.  Most of the races I do are pretty small and are only a couple hundred participants vs thousands.

There are a couple other 5k races I am looking at in March, April and May. I did a lot of them last year and am thinking about not doing quite so many this year.  Let's face it 5k races can be brutal.  In comparison to the carefully paced half marathon they are a crazy sprint to the end.

  My first 10k of the year will be in June and a half marathon in July.  August will bring another 10k, possibly a 5 mile race, but that race may also be the weekend of Hood to Coast.  In that case I will not be doing the 5 mile run.  It is one of my favorite races, but I think I am okay with skipping it to do Hood To Coast!

September will bring about another half marathon.  The Montana Half Marathon.  It is my favorite one.  The weather is usually perfect and the course is fast!  There is also another really fun all women's run in September that I love doing and is really growing.

I keep toying with doing a marathon.  There is a great marathon in Missoula that is supposed to be a good one for first timers.   It is in July, which means it could be HOT and I hate running in HOT weather.  I have told myself I will do one when both kids are in school and I can do my long run while they are in school.  If that is the case I have another year and a half before I do one.  Hmm.  What to do.

That said I am curious about how my first 5k is going to go.  I have not been doing very much speedwork.  I have a great mileage base, but have been a little lacking on the intervals.  I have some planned for today.  I am feeling not very good today.  My daughter was sick Monday and my son and husband are feeling sick today.  Ugh.

Today is also Ash Wednesday.  Trying to decide what I should give up for Lent.  Pretty sure it won't be my coffee.  I think I may give up candy and (gasp) cake for Lent.  

22 comments:

  1. HOw fun! I have nothing much planned past Boston. I guess I'm doing the first Rock n' Roll in POrtland. I really hope to get on another HTC team and I get a free entry into the Las Vegas RnR if I want it but that costs money to get there. I'm excited to see you race all of these. You just keep getting better. And I'm not Catholic (not that I ahve to be to participate in lent) but I really have considered giving up facebook (my personal one) for lent...would just be pretty freeing I think. Okay, the kids are calling. Glad I made it here today!

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  2. Wow, great schedule! I'm not sure I can go along with giving up cake for lent. Candy would be a better choice:)

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  3. love how all your races are coming together! and jealous of HTC! that will be a blast!

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  4. Candy AND cake?? You are a strong woman :). I could do candy, I think. Maybe!
    Looks like a great race schedule! I am so amazed by 5k runners- I definitely think they are much harder than half marathons.

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  5. Love your race schedule. I am jealous to of you get to do the HTC. I think it would be so fun to do that one and the Ragner Relay.

    I could give up cake and candy, but I couldnt give up my Cappunico that I have everyday. It is like your coffee. NO WAY HOSA

    I am at work and cant get my email. I read your comment on the Expo. OH MY GOODNESS I was laughing so hard. Love the name of your last steer. I know we have had a few of those shitheads to

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  6. Sounds like you have a great schedule coming up and I have a feeling it is going to be an AWESOME year for you!!

    I am always reminded of why I am so glad I am not catholic this time of year. ha! I did give up chocolate in 2012 and am still going 100% strong. :)

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  7. I've fallen off the speed work wagon, too. I actually start back up tomorrow evening at the local school track. We dumped a bunch of money into spring and summer races recently. I haven't signed up for anything in summer or fall yet. I'm not sure I'm ready to do so.

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  8. Wow--9,000 people is 1/2 your state, isn't it? ; )

    A July marathon could be rough, I think. Any good fall ones you could do instead?

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  9. Such a fun year of races you have planned! I love the first races of the season you get to see everyone from the previous years and then it's funny how you see their faces over and over throught the year.

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  10. First place!! I think you should brag about that! That sounds like a good race schedule to me. I think I might give up coffee creamer (not coffee either) for lent. I have been trying to cut it out for awhile and what better time right? Plus I ran out of it so I already got off to a good start today :) Hope you aren't sick. That is what we are dealing with at our house.

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  11. You SHOULD brag, Miss Speedy! So excited your racing season starts soon. It's going to be a great year for you.

    I'm giving up sweets--so candy and cake are out for me too. I really should give up cheese as well, but one thing at a time.....

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  12. Sounds like a great schedule! With all of the double digit runs you do already, I bet you would be able to train for a marathon pretty easily and that you would do super well! :)

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  13. You have a fun race schedule shaping up! I am waiting to hear you say that you are ready to go for a full :) You will do well. I totally understand waiting until all are in school though.

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  14. Sounds like you have a great schedule of races lined up for this year! And I'm sure you'll kick butt in all of them :)

    A marathon in july could be brutal, but you could have some great weather.

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  15. sounds like a packed schedule! good luck with the sweets! i had some coffee this afternoon to help with the caffeine deficiency.

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  16. Candy and cake are exactly what I should be giving up too. Here's to a great racing season. I bet you'll rock that 5k.

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  17. Oh I hope you feel better soon... look at that jam packed race schedule - good for you! I always love reading about your races and seeing your fun pics!

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  18. I can't race for crap in the heat either, sounds like you have a good race schedule planned!!

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  19. Looks like a busy and run race schedule!! (and you totally SHOULD brag!!!) Good for you!

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  20. You are going to have a lot of great races this year!! I'm headed to MT this summer...but, unfortunately for me, not anywhere near you.

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  21. I would seriously love to run the Montana Half someday! I can't wait to hear all about that one. :)

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  22. Looks like you have a lot of fun races in Montana on your schedule. A marathon in July sounds harsh even if it is Montana.

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