Getting my year in order
Seeing as 2011 is just about history (and don’t let the door hit you, year), it’s high time I start laying out my race schedule for 2012. Right now I am pretty solid on what my events will be through the first six months or so. It’s the second half of the year that has yet to be determined.
Without further ado, here’s what I’ve got on tap for 2012;
- February–Arizona 1/2 marathon. This will be nothing more than a benchmark race for me to see where my fitness level is. Probably I’ll discover where my fitness level is not, truth be told. The road back to normal racing speed is a long one! But it will be great to get a gauge of where I am.
- April–Boston! Again, far from a PR effort, this year’s Boston is all about the celebration of being healthy for me.
- May–Cleveland 1/2 marathon–Easy way to combine family with a race. It also might be a place/time where I can try to see what I can do.
- June–Chesapeake Bay Swim–I find out the week of Jan. 4 whether or not this bad boy is on my schedule. 4.4 miles in the bay. Yikes!
- July–Potentially a sprint tri–I will certainly have the swim miles in and can get into good enough shape on the bike as well to handle a sprint.
- After that???? This is where the year gets murky for me. I’m trying to decide on my fall marathon. My friends all want to do NYC because we can all still use our 1/2 marathon times to usurp the lottery and get in (beginning in 2013 those standards get VERY tough). I just don’t have the desire to do this one, though. Maybe it’s the size? Not sure, but I’m looking for another. Once I have a fall marathon picked out, I’ll add in a 1/2 to complement it.
So that’s a look at the year ahead. I’m pretty excited to get back into racing. This past year was very empty without it in my life.
Do you have your 2012 schedule set yet?
The calendar looks awesome. Especially that February part!!
Emz recently posted.."Roc Boys" – Jay Z & Kanye West
Well… my schedule… hmm… homeschooling, driving my kid to his activities and classes…
volunteer work… housework (that can wait till 2013, I guess)…
But seriously. I don’t have anything set yet. I would like to do some trail runs, there are a couple I am drooling over but being scared of at the same time, so I have not signed up yet. I am very, very tempted to do JMT again. Then there is Tahoe Rim Trail… but JMT was so, so beautiful… and then there is High Sierra Loop… but I loved JMT.
Now you can see how my mind works. I just hope that I will do something before the 2012 is over.
Now your plan… I am totally impressed.
Ewa recently posted..Joy
Great first half! Yes, I have an in for NYC too, and it just doesn’t appeal to me (and I’m from NY!). Why not MCM or Richmond? Looking forward to seeing you running and healthy in 2012!!
Dash recently posted..I am F-I-E-R-C-E. 2011 Year End Recap.
Carlsbad Marathon in less than 4 weeks (eek!), possibly Lost Dutchman 1/2 in Feb., possibly Pasadena Marathon in May and possibly Philadelphia Marathon in November.
Emphasis on “possibly.”
Allison Johnson recently posted..All Time High!
So happy you are feeling good again! I hear ya on a rough 2011. I am ready to put it behind me although it will stay in my mind always as what to avoid and what not to do!
Angie Bee recently posted..Patagonia Downtown Loft Parka Review
How about a trail marathon in September? Laima and I will be racing in The North Face Endurance Challenge in Wisconsin!
Kovas recently posted..Château Carbonnieux
Your year is shaping up nicely! How about MCM in October? I hear all the cool kids are doing that one.
Teamarcia recently posted..Gosh Where Do I Start?
Love that you are scheduling races. You have come a long way to get here and I can’t wait to see how it all pans out for you.
4.4 miles? That is awesome. I hope you get in to this event b/c I would love to read the race report. English Channel or Miami to Cuba after that?
I want to do NYC because its home but what I learned from Vegas is that a Fall marathon or December marathon is not for me after a long triathlon season. I think that I need to figure out how to schedule 2013 properly to incorporate an IM and a 70.3 plus a marathon.
I guess it will all boil down to how I feel after the IMs this year.
Jason @ Cook Train Eat Race recently posted..Two For Tuesday – Black Bean Version
Awesome! Looks like a great year ahead for you!
Wendy recently posted..2012
I have heard great things about the CLE race!!
My major races (thus far) are:
Jan- Houston Marathon
March- Arnold Classic 5k pump and run
June- Leadville Trail Marathon
August- Pikes Peak Double
November – NYCM
I’ve been chasing New York for years, I’m super excited to have qualified!
Ill probably fit in a fast fall marathon so I can just enjoy New York, possibly a fast half in the Soring as well. I just started working with a coach so he may have some ideas once we meet in Jan to “officially” set goals for 2012
Andrea Hill recently posted..Ginger Peanut Tofu Salad
That looks like a fun and exciting schedule.
Hope we have good weather here in Phoenix for you in Feb. That should be a fast coarse.
Missy recently posted..I’m number, um…I’m a genius…I think
That schedule is looking awesome girl. So happy for you. 2013 is going to be your year.
I have most of my 2012 planned but a couple of races are still sort of *maybes* . I always end up with grand plans early in the year and then change everything up so by the time Fall rolls around, who knows…
Excited about your schedule!
Karen W recently posted..Crawling back on the wagon…
Oh my gosh, you should totally do NYC because this is the last year to use reasonable half marathon times haha. I am going to try to get below a 1:37 in the next few months (perhaps at Shamrock) because I’d love to do NYC without the annoyance of the lottery.
And OH WOW the Chesapeake Bay swim of 4.4 miles sounds insane, you are such a machine!! I grew up driving across that bridge multiple times every year on my way to my family’s house in Bethany Beach, DE from our home in Arlington VA! I really hope your name gets picked from the lottery.
Katherine @ Neon Blonde Runner recently posted..Virtual 10k + Date Night at Stella’s
I’ve also been feeling empty due to my lack of racing this year! I’m thinking of trying my first sprint tri, just need to work on the swimming part. And get a bike. Basically all I can do right now is run (and that’s still a little iffy!) haha
Kara recently posted..Seven on Sunday Holiday Edition
Super exited for you! How nice it must be to fill up that calendar. Looking forward to reading all your RR.
Only thing I have on the books so far is Eugene full marathon this spring. Although I’ve thought about the Ariziona half (have a good friend there) That’s quite trek for you always across the country!
It is great that you are back on track to be putting a schedule together! You have some nice races planned. You have a couple of months to decide before committing to NYC but if lots of plusses to going: use that half qualifier and the running friends are going. If I return to the States in October, I will sign up for NYC too.
In 2012, I will continue my running tourism:
April: Rock n’ Roll Half in Edinburg, Scotland
May: Geneva UNICEF Half, Geneva, Switzerland
June: Santa Claus Half, Roveniemi, Finland
That’s as far as I’ve gone with registrations but will likely do the Stockholm Half in September. If we don’t return to MD in October, I’ll look for other European halfs in the fall.
Hope the MD winter is mild so you can get the miles in for the AZ half and Boston.
Mick
Looks like a great schedule so far! I’m debating on a couple of things this week as entry fees go up on a lot of races Jan. 1. I’m still very much undecided though.
David H. recently posted..The day after
I’m still working out my plan for the year….but I do know my husband is tired of marathon miles on weekends, so he’s asked me not to train for another until the fall. That clarifies things a little!
Your year is looking great. Shake those cobwebs out, right? You’re going to have so much fun.
Terzah recently posted..Finals Week
Some of us are talking about Memphis on Dec 1st. Looks like a fun race.
Jeff recently posted..Stuff …
Very exciting to map out the year (or even just part of it). I’ll “see” you in Boston too – I’ll be the one w/ the running clothes, a ponytail, and sh*t eating grin on my face because I’ll be so happy to be there!
Oh, and the grammar snob in me absolutely LOVES when I see the word “complement” spelled correctly. You rock!
Lisa recently posted..Time is on my side…..yes, it is
I want you to get into that Bay Swim so I can follow you in that adventure!
So excited to hear about the Chesapeake Bay Swim!! I hope you get in!
Kim recently posted..2011: Fitness Year in Review
So exciting! I can’t wait to find out if you win the lottery for the Swim! This seems like such a fun set of races, as well. Arizona in February seems pretty genius.
Raquelita recently posted..Let the Half-Marathon Training Begin
Love your schedule. I think its good to not plan too far ahead.
I have spring penciled. a couple 50ks, a 50 miler and then the 100. Of course I have to get into them all! I will have a couple shorter small races that I like to do along the way. After that we’ll see what the summer holds.
First I’ll celebrate the New Year. Enjoy yours!
shelly recently posted..Our Holiday
are you doing the ims arizona race in february? im doing the full there.
i love a full race calendar to look forward to!
Sounds like a great 2012 schedule! I hope that you are able to run Boston this year! I mainly just hope that you are healthy all throughout 2012. I don’t want you to get injured again due to too much mileage. (But I’m assuming that you have thought about all of this over with coaches and others)
And cheers to you for inspiring all the running blogging community with your 5 question post a while back, seems like every blog I read has those 5 questions on it.
Nelly recently posted..Shoutouts of the year
Love that you’re looking forward to celebration of being healthy! Such a great attitude. And now I’m off to look for some races…
Jo @ simplehappyhealthy recently posted..12 Miles!
Looks like a great year planned! Right now I only have a marathon in March in Atlanta…but after that who knows?!
Vanessa @ Gourmet Runner recently posted..Like Gordon Ramsey…Minus the Cursing
LOVE your plan!! There’s such a great mix of races in there =) I think you should definitely do NYC at least once – and since you can get in now, you might as well do it! You don’t want to plan to do it in a few years and then get stuck with the lottery!! I am definitely biased b/c I am from NYC, but it really is a great race!! Plus I’m doing it this year (I think) – it’ll be fun =)
Michele @ nycrunningmama recently posted..Having “me” time does not make me a bad mother
Great to see you planning races! That 4.4 swim sounds amazing – really hope you get in!
I still playing with my race schedule – definitely doing RnR DC and Boston’s Run to Remember – can’t wait!
Michelle @ Running with Attitude recently posted..Plugging back in
We do have several nice races here in CALIFORNIA
and nice weather in CALIFORNIA
where you can be sure to run in shorts like you like to do here in CALIFORNIA
just saying….
oh and I live here in CALIFORNIA…and I have a bed for guest
Caroline recently posted..Post Christmas….
Trying to figure out how to PAY for my year, but some races are pretty set in my mind (and will be registered for in the next two weeks as early bird pricing ends 1/15). Still deciding between two my sis invited me to do with her in July in WI (her husband suggested I drive the 16 hour round trip twice in two weeks to do both – umm…no). Want to shoot for a late season Oly and need to find one, but most of the ones in MO don’t have dates posted and I can only guess based on last year’s dates. I’m not all that interested in running only races, but will do some local 5K’s (maybe a 10) in the fall/early winter. They cost a lot less and have minimal/no travel – definitely up this beginner’s alley.
Christina recently posted..MMNW Holiday Victory
You’ve got a great start to your schedule already. I’ve got a few ideas, but nothing solid yet. The biggest issue I’m running into (other than money…always money) is schedule conflicts between what I want to do and big things for my kids.
There’s lots of cool stuff out there, though, and it won’t kill me to miss a few races. I know I’d be sadder to miss out on the boys’ events.
Kate recently posted..A very merry Christmas
You’ve got a big year ahead. 2012 is going to be YOUR year!
Char recently posted..A Boxing Day Conversation
You are way ahead of me in the decision making. Right now, my goal is Boston (we think) and all races before then are lead-ups to Bean-town. After that, I’d love to run a fall marathon – just for fun.
You can always come North to try something different.
Cynthia O’H. recently posted..Racing and de-Racing: Boxing Day Ten Miler
It’s funny, NYC has never appealed to me either – too big, too much fanfare, too many logistics. I vote for you to sign up for Philly instead
Abby @ Have Dental Floss, WIll Travel recently posted..Joyeux Noël, Eh?
I love the 2011 don’t let the door hit you. Ha ha. My feelings exactly! Looks like you are going to have an awesome 2012!
i really can’t read any more posts about people’s race plans, I seriously want to sign up for everything. I am having crazy race envy
Amanda – RunToTheFinish recently posted..Food Journal: 30 Day Challenge
I don’t have my 2012 plans ironed out yet, but I too am pretty excited to get back to running and racing!
Laura recently posted..That’s me on the couch
You have great plans for 2012 Zippy, look forward to read all about it here.
I decided a few weeks ago I won’t make goals for 2012, this also includes races. I look forward 3 months and plan races then. So far I’ve got my races planned till April. Because I’m only doing 5K or 10K races I don’t have to plan that far ahead.
Fran recently posted..Goals 2012
I love baseline races, especially when you surprise yourself by PR’ing anyway. Can’t wait to see what this season has in store for you. You’ve earned a good one!
amy recently posted..Year In Review: 2011