"There's only one hard and fast rule in running: sometimes you have to run one hard and fast."








Thursday, December 17, 2009

When will I race?

My original plans for 2010 had me blasting the Chippewa 50K (where I'd never done well) and then the Afton 50K. Chippewa's been canceled. I'm going to be at Western States the week before Afton, so it doesn't look so good any more. I do well in April, so I thought I'd do the Zumbro 100K (gone, and the 100 mile's too long that early). That leaves Trail Mix 50K in April or maybe the Superior 50K in May, but probably not both. Voyageur's hanging on by a thread and I may end up being the race director, so that'd be out as a race. August would mean a road trip to Lean Horse or (more likely) Marquette 50 mile, but I'm not enthused by either. That brings me to September already and the Sawtooth 100's out, if I don't do a 50 mile before it, so it's either the Moose Mtn. Marathon or Superior 50 Mile and I'm not sure I want to go up there and do the "kid's races."

Maybe a year off is in the works...

9 comments:

Carl Gammon said...

Yeah, I have similar dilemmas. I tend to get into a set pattern of local races, and when the mix changes, it throughs the whole schedule for a loop. No taking the whole year off, though. Something will turn up.

Londell said...

I think you should recruit Lisa (Wildknits) and you to be the co-RD. Then she is close to there and can handle all the local details?

Helen said...

A year off? Whatever!!

Superior 50M - yay - let's have a race :)

Kel said...

Do you know if Rollie was the RD for Half Voyageur too (I'm assuming he was, but not sure since they're typically 2 weeks apart)?

wildknits said...

Oh Londell, so cruel!!

First though - Kel - Rollie was not the race director for the Half, that was still the Curnows. They gave up the Full a few years back after directing it for years and years.

I guess this is where I have to come out and say that I was thinking of bailing on my volunteer duties at the Full Voyageur and running my first 50 miler there this year (Leslie S. says I have to because we are "ultra buddies" and have done our first ultras together so far - though separated by an hour or so). It only seems right as my first ever marathon was the Half Voyageur in 2008.

Besides, I think I promised Mr. Wildknits (indirectly) that I would not take on race directing ;-> Or maybe that is not what he meant by going too crazy with this running thing?

I am in a similar dilemma with races, though with a much less ambitious schedule! I had just been planning on the Chippewa race and have had to shift my sights a bit...

ShutUpandRun said...

Man I wish I had that problem: which ultra to do. In my dreams. Let me get through a couple more marathons, then I might just one day join ya.

Beth said...

Too many "buts" going on in this conversation. Let's hear some enthusiasm! Race director should make for some interesting stories.

Kel said...

McNaughton has a 50 mile in April and is only a little shorter than 100K (same date as Zumbro). You could do another 10 mile loop if you're looking for 60ish miles.

Kel said...

Another thought - why does your 50 miler before Sawtooth have to be an official race? A bunch of people head up there every July for a beta run on the SHT - get yer butt out there and do it :)