Wednesday, October 1, 2014

2015: A Race Odyssey

Wow, I had a great run today!  It feels like forever since I felt this good throughout an entire run.  The weather was a cool, overcast 65 degrees a little after noon.  I ran my local 8 mile loop which I hadn't done since...April (Wow!  Cray cray!)?!  There were no dead animals on the road (Yes, this is what I worry about during some of my runs, especially in spring and autumn when the squirrels seem to be fatter and slower), there was no pressure for me to return home immediately, and I even ran into a racing buddy (Hi Liz!).  It also helped that I had some of Pete's famous linguini alle vongole for dinner last night.  Perfect pre-run meal.  I wasn't particularly fast, but I enjoyed every step.  This was exactly the type of workout I needed to get my arse back in gear.

Speaking of getting back in gear...  I'm thinking ahead to my marathon for 2015.  When I checked the calendar, I discovered that the New York City Marathon falls on my birthday, November 1st, All Saints Day (A shout out to all my fellow saints out there!  What's up, holy people?) .  What a perfect day to finally run this race!  Of course, I would enter through the lottery again and my chances are still pretty slim, but you got to be in it to win it, right?

So I thought my mind was made up about this until I just happened to come across Short, Round, & Fast's recent blog post about running the St. George Marathon  this weekend in Utah on almost no training.  I think he'll do great because he has already run it a few times in the past and he's fast.  The fact that he didn't really train?  Well, it might hurt towards the end.  Maybe a lot.  I remember hearing about this race on the Runner's World message boards a while back.  It made an impression because one, the poster said this was one of the faster races in the country.  It is basically down hill.  Like a lot.  Like 2,500 feet.  And two, it is in Utah.  Right after college, a girlfriend and I drove across country via Route 80 (A shout out to all the corn fields out there!  What's up, kernel Sanders?!  I know you can hear me 'cause you're all ears...  okay, I'll stop).  Every state we drove through was beautiful and unique (yes, even Iowa), but Colorado and Utah were my favorites.  Fresh air, clean cities, friendly people, and some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world.  Having an opportunity to run a marathon in one of these places would be a dream.  I checked out the web site and there also is a lottery which doesn't open until the spring.   The best part about possibly doing St. George is my friend, The Petite Pacer, would like to do it with me as her first ever marathon!   I know, awesome!

What about New York City, Aimée?  Is the A.D.D. that bad?  Yes, I was getting to that.  So if finances and logistics work out, I will apply to St. George as my A goal.  If finances are better than expected, I will also apply to NYC (This race ain't cheap, you know).  I hope I get into at least one of them.  The marathon gods can't hate me that much.  And if I get into both?  October is going to be an interesting month.  Bring it!

From the St. George Marathon home page.
Voted:  Most organized race.
I guess that's important.

NYC Marathon,
probably less organized.


8 miles in 1:07:10, an 8:24 pace.


11 comments:

  1. Hey, I know that linguini! Great fuel for a run.

    So unfair that you still haven't run your blog's namesake marathon. I'm glad you had a great run today. Fall is a runner's gift.

    Also glad you had no dead animal encounters today. I've driven by the same dead skunk on the Hutch every day this week.

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    1. I remember you guys sampled the famous linguini! Fall is indeed a runner's gift, but all the seasons have their pluses.

      Dead animals are not fun, especially if you accidentally step on one >shiver<

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  2. Funny. Just telling a couple of running friends this weekend how I almost step on a dead racoon or opossum on every long run, but always manage to just miss with some awkward, last second jump step. That's a long way to travel for a race. I'm running my first this Fall (knock on wood), and I'm eying Mohawk Hudson River for next Fall, assuming my wife continues to countenance my obsession. I got quite the look this morning when I told her that I need to start getting up at 4:45 on Wednesday mornings to get a mid-week ten miler in before work. :)

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    1. Which marathon are you doing this fall? Congrats on taking the plunge! I am in awe of you guys who get out there before the crack of dawn. It's just not in me. I definitely recommend Mohawk Hudson River. I ran that last year. If you haven't already, check out my review:(http://sheisoutrunning.blogspot.com/2013/10/mohawk-hudson-river-marathon-review.html) My only word of advice is to pass on the official pasta dinner at the hotel and eat at a nice Italian restaurant.


      I think if you're hitting the pavement at 5am, you're more likely to run into the live raccoons and possums than the dead ones. Just as gross but twice as scary! Yikes!

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    2. Philadelphia on 11/23. Would have done Mohawk Hudson River, but I had a scheduling conflict. My early morning runs are on the treadmill. Don't like running outside in the dark. I only hit the streets on the weekends, unless I have an excuse to get out of work early.

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    3. Philly was my first, too. Great course. Enjoy!! Best thing about your first is a guaranteed PR :) !

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  4. I'm not even joking, St. George is my goal marathon next year! If I get in, I plan to run it without looking at my watch, and just going for the biggest PR ever. I really hope that I get in.

    Good luck to you with the lotteries! (I applied to NYC twice, but quit after not getting in. I still want to do it in the future, but it's not near the top of my list right now. Too many other good ones)!!

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    1. That would be cool if we both got into St. George! Do you know how difficult it is to get in? I think the field is around 7600, but I'm not sure how many applications they receive each year. I also got rejected twice (not consecutively) from NYC in the past. I'm kind of relying on good luck and fate since it's on my birthday this year. We shall see....

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