EN emailed me last week with his weekend long runs between now and the Brooklyn Half. I too plot out my workouts, but have rarely have things ever gone according to plan. However, I find that being answerable to this blog is one of the greatest motivators for follow-through I’ve ever come across. So, in the spirit of sharing, and stick-to-itiveness, here are the long (& long-ish) runs I’m planning between now and April 26th.
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2/23-24 POCONOS – 8 miles
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3/1-2 NYC – 8 miles
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3/8-9 NYC – 10 miles
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3/15 CENTRAL PARK spectator – USA Men’s Championships 8000m, featuring Alan Webb
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3/16 NYC – 8 miles
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3/22-23 NYC – 10 miles
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3/29-30 SALT LAKE CITY – 8 miles
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4/5-6 CENTRAL PARK – More 1/2
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4/12-13 NYC – 12 miles
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4/19-20 BOSTON spectator – Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials
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4/26 NYC – Brooklyn 1/2
Now that I’ve laid this out weekend by weekend, I can see that the next two months hold some pretty exciting running moments for me. I can’t wait to have the chance to watch Alan Webb compete in Central Park for the Men’s 8000 title. It is going to be pretty exciting, to see the American record holder for the mile do his thing. Soon after that I’ll be in Salt Lake City, UT, for a reunion with my FJVC community members. Some of these women are amazing athletes, and I hope to have the chance to run with them while we’re all together, even if I’ll be the slowest of the pack.
April 6th is the More Marathon and Half-Marathon in Central Park, and there is some talk of running it as an action bachelorette party for my friend DR, with whom I ran the 2007 Arizona Marathon. Either that, or I may volunteer at the race, since the new guaranteed-entry regulations for the 2009 NYC Marathon include 9 qualifying NYRR races, plus one volunteer event. I had a feeling they would change the qualifications this year, since entries to and participation in the NYC Marathon has sharply increased over the last few years. Personally, I think it’s cool. I’m happy to volunteer at a race, it’s a great opportunity to give back to my running community, and a different way to maintain my motivation in this sport. Anyway, no matter which way I choose to participate in the More event, I know it will be moving, since there’s something special about a women-only race.
And, ever since the Olympic Trials here in Central Park, I’ve slated a trip to Boston to watch the women’s trials, as well. I cannot wait to see these women in action; I’ll stay to watch the Boston Marathon on Monday. Sounds to me like the perfect taper weekend before the Brooklyn Half.
What long runs and races are you all planning on between now and April 26th?
Pigtails Flying 
When in April & May would the ‘rick 10K’ be???
Well, on April 5th I will be doing the Meteor 10K on the campus of the University of Michigan-Dearborn. The Meteor 10K is held the day before the Martian Marathon and Half Marathon, and if I wasn’t concentrating on the Marine Corps Historic Half as my next Big Race (May 18) I would be doing the Martian Half. I could probably go the distance without too much trouble if I kept my pace down but I don’t want to risk doing something unpleasant that would jeopardize my goal of finishing in under 2 hours at the Marine Corps race. The Meteor 10K will be my first ever 10K race so I am excited about that.
Otherwise I just have my training schedule for the Historic Half to stick to and by the end of April I think my Sunday long runs will be hovering around the 10 mile mark. Thank goodness it will be the end of April, which means warmer weather and country roads. I think I would just about die if I had to run 10 miles on a treadmill.
10K is a fabulous distance. Long enough to feel like we’re tough, but short enough that if we want to go all-out, we can without hitting the wall. My second-best best per-mile race pace (8:53) was at the Joe Kleinerman 10K in 2006.
10 miles, while the perfect distance for a training run on the roads, carries cruel, sick implications for me on a tradmill.
When is the Marine Corps 1/2?