2012 Race Schedule

Today I was asked if I have my race schedule posted.  I thought I had posted it, but after reading my post  The Year Of... I realized that I never narrowed down my goals for the year. It looks to be a busy year this year.

January:
14th - Winter Series Race #1 Cheyenne Mountain State Park (3.3 Mile)
28th - Winter Series Race #2 El Pomar Youth Sports Park (4 Mile)

February:
4th - Nielson Challenge (2 Mile)
5th - Super Bowl 5K
11th - Winter Series Race #3 Santa Fe Trail @ Baptist Road (5 Mile)
25th - Winter Series Race #4 Black Forest (10K)

March:
3rd - Nielson Challenge (2 Mile)
17th - 5K on Saint Partick's Day (1/4 of The Grand Prix)

April:
7th - Nielson Challenge (2 Mile)
14th - Villa Sprint Triathlon (Swim 200 meters, Bike 10 Miles, Run 5K)

May:
5th - Take 5 in the Garden 5K (2/4 of The Grand Prix)
28th - Bolder Boulder (10K)

June:
2nd - Nielson Challenge (2 Mile)
16th - Sailin' Shoes 5K (3/4 of The Grand Prix)
23rd - San Lorenzo River Half Marathon Trail Run (13 Miles)

July:
7th - Nielson Challenge (2 Mile)
21st - Classic 10K (3/4 of The Grand Prix)

August:
4th - Nielson Challenge (2 Mile)
11th - Georgetown to Idaho Springs Half Marathon (13 Miles)

September:
1st - Nielson Challenge (2 Mile)
22nd - Denver Rock and Roll Marathon (26.2 Miles)

October:
6th - 5K Great Pumpkin Race (4/4 of The Grand Prix)

November:
3rd - Nielson Challenge (2 Mile)

December:
1st - Nielson Challenge (2 Mile)
So this year is winding up to be rather busy, and I am finding that I am trying to sneak in a few extra races here and there.  I will use a lot of my other races as training runs for my big ones.

”I run in the snow, rain, wind and heat. I run until I cannot run anymore then I run some more. I run thru the blur of tears, the aches and pains and then I keep going. I have more running clothes than some running stores, I know Fartklet does not mean like it sounds. I go to bed at 9pm; I get up early just to do it all over again. Why do I do this? Because I am a runner and that's who I am"

The Year Of...

At the end of the year I tend to drive myself crazy and think about what I did or did not accomplish over the year. For once I feel really good about what I have done this year! I am not a one to set a "New Year's Resolution" mostly because I can never stick to all the things I set out to do (eat better, drink less, cross train more, build a bigger nest egg).

One thing that I can follow thru with is my training schedule. Right now I am focused on planning out my race schedule for next year. I have a few ideas on the docket but I am not sure where this years road will lead me. I have thought about adding trail running.
Here is what last years schedule panned out to be:

March 12, 2011: Saint Patrick's 5K (1/5 of the Grand Prix)
May 7, 2011: Take 5 in the Garden (2/5 of the Grand Prix)
May 23, 2011: 100th Bay to Breakers in San Fransisco
June 18, 2011: Sailin' Shoes 5K (3/5 of the Grand Prix)
July 16, 2011: Alex Hoag Run for Sunshine 5K (came in 7th for my age group)
July 23, 2011: Classic 10K (4/5 of the Grand Prix)
August 13, 2011: Starlight 5k at the AFA
October 1, 2011: Great Pumpkin 5k run (5/5 of the Grand Prix)
October 9, 2011: Denver Rock and Roll Marathon
December 3, 2011: Rock Canyon Half Marathon

Last year turned out to be busier than I thought it would be. I had only planned to do the Grand Prix and the Bay to Breakers, but the "bug" bit me and I kept going. This next year I have planned just a few races:
Grand Prix of Running (Short Series May-October)
Sprint Triathlon (April 2012)
Bolder Boulder 10K (May 28, 2012)
Georgetown to Idaho Springs (August 11, 2012)

I know that I want to do another Marathon in there somewhere. Denver sounds good to do again, but then there is the Xterra Marathon, which would get me trail running, but again no to thrilled about it. I would love to do the Colorado Marathon, but $250 for an entry fee is a little steep! There is the Big Sur Half Marathon which I could stay at my parents so I would just have to pay for a flight. But as you can see I already have a bit on my plate, and I should see what falls on it next.

What are your race goals/schedule for 2012?

Do you like to make "New Year's Resolutions"?

Grand Prix of Running Awards Ceremony

Runners gathered downtown Thursday, December 1st at Jack Quinn's for the annual Grand Prix of Running awards ceremony.

Overall winners and age-group leaders were honored at Jack Quinn's.

 I was excited to go and see all the other runners and see the series all the way to the end.  I hadn't decided if I was going to do it again, but after sitting there it felt good to a member of a select group of people, I changed my mind.

I finished 6th overall  in the short series for my age group with a total time of 3:33:34.  Here I am with the announcer on the left and the owner of Jack Quinn's on the right.  I must say I am looking slimmer in each photo!

I have a base line to start with. Next year I will push it harder and hopefully place better.  There are three other ladies that will bump age groups with me so I will be running with them again.

I am excited to say that Kim will be joining me this next year.  I am planning to do the short series again, which starts in March!