Looking ahead -- 2012 race schedule

Last November, I wrote a post looking ahead at races I wanted to do in the next year.  Out of the races I posted about, I only ended up doing three of them: the LaCrosse Marathon, the Tour de Donut, and the Berryman Adventure Race.  That's OK, though, because it was very much a work in progress, and I managed to fit in a race or two (or twenty-two) in 2011.

This year, I think there are fewer races on the list to begin with, but I'm sure it'll fill up as the year progresses.  I want to leave myself plenty of room in the schedule for fun things that pop up, and I want to do a better job of training for events this year.  After the marathon in May, the rest of my year was basically an exercise in keeping my fitness level at a point where I could finish what I started rather than excel.  Honestly, I can't see that changing hugely, but I do think I owe it to myself to give me a better chance of doing well.

Also honestly, there are a few items on the list that are ridiculously ambitious, two of which I never would have thought I'd sign up for.  Clearly, "go big" is once again going to be a theme.

February 25 - Castlewood Cup 15K trail race - I did this race last year and loved it.  Castlewood is a great place to run, and Big River Running puts on a fantastic race. 

March 24-25 - Land Between the Lakes 24-hour adventure race - If it works out to do this race, it'll be my first 24-hour race.  I've heard great things about it, and I love the area.  Stay tuned, and keep your fingers crossed for me.

March 31 - Tracks n Treads offroad duathlon - My club puts on this race, and I've wanted to do it for the past two years, but my schedule hasn't allowed for it.  Well, that's not completely true.  Last year my schedule didn't allow for it.  In 2010 my mountain biking ability prevented it; I'm not much better on the bike, but I've quit letting that kind of thing stop me.

April 21 - Double Chubb 50K - Yeah, I don't know what the hell I'm thinking here, either.  I was talking with a friend about doing a marathon, and all the sudden I found myself deciding on this instead.  What goes worse together than grad school and training for a 50K? Oh, right, grad school, working full time, parenting, and training for a 50K.

May 20 -Carlyle Lake Olympic tri - a triathlon was one of my un-met goals last year, unless you count the private half-ironman; I'd like to do an official one, and the Olympic distances are ones I'm capable of doing without additional training, so I can train to put it all together and hopefully do better than just get through it without dying.

June 2 - Dirty Kanza I don't know why I want to do it, but I do. In fact, the first time I read about it, the race report was such that I knew there was no way I'd ever attempt it. See?

The next reports (Luke's, Bob's, and Wendy's which I can't find on her blog) were even worse. And my friends are badasses. I'm like the bratty little sister they let tag along. And I don't have the right bike. But hey, if I waited to have the "right" equipment for everything I'd have spent a lot more time on the couch. You do what you can with what you have, and what's the worst that can happen?

Ok, ok, the worst would be dying of heatstroke in the Flint Hills, but the worst that's likely to happen is having to call my husband (who I'm currently negotiating with to secure his crew services) to come and pick me up. I can live with that.

Also in June, I'm hoping to make it to California to watch my son's team play volleyball in a tournament in the Anaheim area.  My husband has gone the past two years; I figure it's my turn. :)  We'll see how that plays out.




July - Tour de Donut -  what's not to love about a race that combines cycling with donut eating? Well, maybe eating 9 donuts and still coming up short. 

August - ??

September - Berryman Adventure 12 hour - My brother and I are planning to team up again for Berryman and hopefully this time finish BEFORE the time cut-off.  Disqualification or not, though, it would be hard to top the first expecience.  Well, maybe if I could actually ride my bike this next time.

October - ??

November - ??

December 1 - Castlewood 8-Hour Adventure Race
December 8 - Pere Marquette Endurance Trail Run

I'm unfortunately missing what looks to be an epic bike race (non-race) in May because it conflicts with my 8 year old's First Communion.  There'll be other races, though, and there are just some things that you can't miss.  I'm a mom first.

There's a lot of open space in there after June 2, and I'm hoping that a good portion of summer/fall will be taken up by mountain bike and cyclocross races (because I need something else to be bad at).  Looking ahead at the coming year, I'm excited and terrified all at once.  It's going to be quite a ride.