I took the entire week off from running.
My running is an important part of my routine. It centers me. More importantly, it gives me something to think about and focus on besides the daily grind of working, keeping the house marginally clean, TV, and watching the earth's plates shift in the painfully long amount of time that it takes Jack to get in and out of his car seat. I look forward to it every day, and in this past week, I have really missed those quiet hours pounding the pavement.
In the meantime, I've been plotting what's next for me. Now that the weather is nice, it is without a doubt Running Season, the most glorious time of year for us runners.
I am lucky to live in an area in which running is extremely popular. If I wanted to, I could probably find a race to run within a half hour drive every single weekend. Considering that would leave me pretty well broke, I've decided instead to run one race a month. Here's what's on the agenda:
- May 24: Wild 5 5K. I am so hardcore on this one that I have actually hired a babysitter to hang out with Jack while I run this race. I've never done this one before, but I'm eager to get a recent 5K time for training purposes, plus the t-shirt is technical fabric, so score!
- June 14: Race for the Cure 5K. Race for the Cure is always a big party, and is of course for a great cause. Better still, this race falls on Steve's and my 11th anniversary, and we're looking forward to running it together. For extra fun, Steve's workplace fields a team for this event, which we've joined.
- July 4: Firecracker 5K or 10K. It's the 4th of July, so I'll have the day off work, and what better to do than get in a race? I ran the 10K last year, and it was, as the brochure promised, "hilly and challenging." I'll probably do the 10K again this year.
- July 26: Bix 7. If you live in the Quad Cities like I do, you cannot consider yourself a runner and not run the Bix. I am working on recruiting BRFs to come to Davenport for this fun event.
- August: TBD. I don't know yet what I'll do in August. We'll see what strikes my fancy.
- September 28: Quad Cities Marathon. This will be my second marathon, and I'm going to tell you right now, Internet: I am getting a PR.
Marathon training officially starts on June 9. I'd really like to use a program that involves running more days than not, but I also know that there are three members of my family, not just one. So, I'm going to try out the FIRST to the Finish Line program. I will do intense runs on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, with cross training on Mondays, Fridays, and possibly Sundays.
6 comments:
Sounds like a good marathon plan. For me, some variation of the FIRST plan is the only thing I can do to balance everything else I need to do in a week. Don't have 5-6 days to commit to running!
Good for you! I wanted to do the Race for the Cure in DC but it's the same day as our Honored Teammate Picnic and that's one of the best things about the season... plus they asked me to speak, so I'll have to find a Sunday race to do. The other race I wanted to do, which is on a Sunday, happens to fall on Father's Day, so I'll be up in NJ for a graduation party and to see my father.
Sounds like a great summer! I'm looking forward to reading all of those race reports!
I wish the Bix wasn't on a Saturday. I was thinking it would be cool to fabricate some business so I'd be over there... hee hee. So dang hard to travel out of town on a weekend for a race with little ones.
Sounds like a great plan!!
Yea, I'm totally PR'ing my marathon this year. :)
Good luck darlin' - keep us posted on the training.
You may have some company in QC this year for the marathon. Just found out my main race (Twin Cities) on the same day is full as of today. Good luck on the Wild 5k.
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