Wednesday, January 9, 2013

2013 Race Calendar

** I reserve the right to alter this schedule
at any time 
without any prior notification **
(aka, I'm making it up as I go!)

In 2011, I vowed to race once per month.  
It didn't happen.
In 2012, I vowed to race 12 times throughout the year.  
That didn't happen either.
If I had to guess, I'd say my subconscious is attempting to make up for those failures in 2013. 



January 12th - Disney Half Marathon
January 13th - Disney Full Marathon (Goofy Challenge)
January 27th - Tradition Run 5k (10k round trip)

February 24th - Hyannis Marathon

March - half marathon??
March 23rd - Sandy Hook Run for the Families 5k

April - Lake Waramaug Ultramarathon (50k)

May - Road Race (most likely a half mary)

June 2nd - Rev3 Quassy Half Rev
June 6th - Lake T Sprint Tri #1
June 20th - Lake T Sprint Tri #2
June 29th - HITS North County 70.3

July 14th - Litchfield Hills Olympic Tri
July 18th - Lake T Sprint Tri #3
July 28th - Ironman Lake Placid

August 1st - Lake T Sprint Tri #4
August 10th - Lake T Olympic Tri
August 11th - Spartan Race New England
August 15th - Lake T Sprint Tri #5

September 8th - FIRMman 70.3
September 21st - HITS Hunter Mountain 70.3 or 140.6 (will decide after North County 70.3)
September 28th - Hogsback Half Marathon

October 12th - Hartford Marathon
October 13th - Newport Marathon

November 17 - JFK 50??

December 28? - WMAC Fat Ass 50k


Crazy, right?  I know.  Given how well 2012 had gone, how recovered and race-ready I felt, and that I felt drained by spans of training without a race to break things up, I've decided to attempt many more athletic goals in 2013 that I have in the past.  Why?  I haven't found my physical limit yet and that intrigues me. 

I have a potential 26 races listed.  There are some obvious questions that I've already been asked...

Are you crazy?!
Yes.  I won't deny it.  In fact, I embrace it.  Call me crazy and I will smile. 

Why so many races?
I love to race.  I know from previous years that I do best in training when I have smaller goals in the time between big races to keep me motivated.  The sprint triathlons aren't going to get me anywhere in the professional triathlon crowd, but they are so much fun and a good way of getting in the speed work and practicing my tri skills (bike mounting, running through T2 legs, transitions, etc.). 

I want to test my limit.  In 2011, I only did two triathlons.  In 2012, I did nine.  In 2013, I plan on doing twelve along with plenty of other races.  Simply put, I want to know where the limit is.  Can I handle 12 triathlons and 26 races? 

Testing myself for 2014.  I have a rather big goal for 2014 that for safety sake, I need to test myself in 2013 for.  I would like to complete the triple Ironman in Virginia in 2014.  Why?  Because it's a race that I'm not honestly sure I can finish and that intrigues me.  I used to debate whether the Ironman was within my reach.  I worked my way up slowly to that distance and other certain time standards, the distance seems rather simple.  With the Triple, I want to take the leap of choosing not to do the double Ironman first and just see what happens.  However, I do need to know that my body can handle ultramarathon running as well as extended cycling.  Therefore, I have those goals on the list for this year simply to acknowledge that the Triple is a possibility. 

Of all of the races, which are your A Races?

Hyannis Marathon
Rev3 Quassy Half Rev
Ironman Lake Placid
FIRMman
JFK 50 (or whatever ultra I end up doing then)

 Everything else is a B or C race meant to keep me motivated through the training cycle and/or prep me for upcoming races.  And that may mean that I opt out of a race here and there when I find I hit my limit or need to exchange that race for recovery or a specific training session.

That's a lot of registration fees.  How much do you make?!
Haha.  I don't make THAT much!  It certainly is above the poverty level, but not much and nowhere near what I would make putting my degrees to use.  I'm a household of one with no significant other to "waste" money on (sorry, that's just how I see it), so I have a bit more income I'm free to spend.  But with all the equations in place, my budget sheet tells me I should be able to afford all of the registration fees, lodging, and food and still put more $$ in the bank this year than last.  Happy me!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Questions
1.  What is your big race for 2013?
IM Lake Placid is my biggest focus for 2013.

2.  How soon do you get to start racing this year?  Have you already raced?
I'm off to Disney on Friday!!  Bring on the warm weather!

3.  Have you ever run an ultramarathon?
Any tips, tricks, or thoughts? 


Dream.  Believe.  Achieve. 

6 comments:

Run with Jess said...

Woo-Hoo!!! I am also running Hartford and Newport double!!! Already registered! We SO have to meet while we're there!
My A race of 2013 is Eugene Marathon.
P.S. Like the new look of your blog!

Big Daddy Diesel said...

Good Luck, you just read my opinion on surviving 20 races. Yours are spread out more, not in a 5 month window, as I follishly did. We all recovery differently too. It is cool we are racing Ironmans on the saame day, different continents

Jill said...

Wow...that is a CRAZY schedule! Sounds awesome and I love all the races you choose!

Suz and Allan said...

Good luck with Goofy this weekend! This is a great schedule.

Alyssa Duhe said...

Crazy people are more fun.
Cheers to being crazy and racing a lot.

Lohan said...

Well as far as choosing to skip the double, your goal reminds me of this quote: "Don't be afraid to take a big step. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps." - David Lloyd George

I love the will you have to push yourself places you've never been, and the work you're willing to put in to do so.