Racing - Gearing Up For 2014

It seems like all the other running blogs I read are already waaaaaay past me on this one, so I thought I better get a hop on it.

Today, I'm going to discuss my 2014 race schedule.

If you're a regular to this blog, you know last year I ran 15 races.  Yes, 15.  There were 4 half marathons, a du relay, a tri relay, a 7K and a slew of 5Ks. 

I know 15 seems like a lot.  And when you add on top of that the fact that Minnesota really only has 6-8 months of "good" race weather, 15 seems like even more.  I honestly couldn't think of many weekends last summer where I felt like I DIDN'T have a race on the schedule.

I know.  I think it got to be a bit much.

That being said, I am going to approach my 2014 racing a bit differently.

Rather than racing just because I have a weekend open, I'm going to be more selective.  I want to pick races that are meaningful... which can "mean" a lot of things.  For example, the first two races I'm set on for 2014, I'm doing for fun with my sister:

 

Get Lucky Twin Cities, March 15th

A 7K fun run type race, with costumes ... and a free beer at the finish.

You can read my recap from this race last year, or just hold out until I post for 2014.

 

 

 

 

Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle Chicago, March 30th

An 8K race that's fantastically HUGE!  Case in point:

 

 

Yes, that is their banana station post race.

I've never done this one before, but I heard it is awesome, so I'm willing to give it a shot.

I'm sure my approach to racing this year has some people baffled, because last year any time someone asked me if I was running a particular race it was a 90% chance I'd say yes.  But this year, every time people ask me if I'm registered for a particular race, I keep coming back with a:

That's not to say that I'm NOT doing that race.  It's just that I have a master plan for my spring racing (which I'll share more about next week).  And, for 2014 I want to first see how that master plan makes me feel.. and then, when I'm ready for another race, choose it in a more thoughtful manner. 

Last year, I ran with abandon.  This year, I want to avoid that.  I want to make sure I am choosing races because I'm going to enjoy them, or I want to approach them with a particular strategy in mind, or I want to do them with another person.  I want to force myself to learn that sometimes, less is more.

And I think my husband will appreciate that I'm not so booked up every weekend, too!  :-)