Inside my head
One of my favorite Dave Matthews Band songs is “Rhyme & Reason,” which has the lyrics “My head won’t leave my head alone.” That’s the way I have felt about choosing a race for next spring. I’ve hinted at a few things in a previous post, but that was only the beginning of some thoughts.
Here are things that have actually crossed my mind — in no real order — and why I have legitimately thought these things:
- Upgrading to the Shamrock Marathon
At one time this was my most realistic next marathon. Then I went back and re-read a post from March when I missed the race due to my injury: “I’m going back to Virginia Beach next year for the Shamrock Half as a stronger runner, but perhaps more importantly a smarter runner. (Although is saying publicly that I want to break 1:40 being smart?)” The only thing that’s certain right now is that in 4 months I will toe the line of the Shamrock Half. That sub 1:40 goal? We’ll see. - Charlottesville Marathon
I’ve had this race in the back of my mind for a while. The timing of it actually would work well too. If I did this, the Shamrock Half would be the ceremonious ending to training as I tapered for this race, which is April 7. It definitely makes sense to choose this marathon, but the $90 price tag for a smaller marathon makes me hesitate a bit. However, it’s proximity to me offsets any travel costs. - Marine Corps Marathon
After I signed up for Baltimore and then had time to think about what I had done, I wished I had made the snap decision a month earlier and signed up for MCM. Hindsight is 20/20, though, so now I’m setting my sites on March 7 — the signup day for the 2012 Marine Corps Marathon. That, of course, is subject to change. - Cleveland Marathon
I had a realization on my recent Ohio trip — I use a lot of my vacation time visiting my in-laws. So why not turn a trip to Ohio into something more? How about a spring marathon (May 20) in Ohio? Right now this scenario has an edge over Charlottesville. - Glass City Marathon
It’s funny how things I’ve never heard of seem to make their appearance several times over a few days on my Twitter feed. Toledo is known as the Glass City? Never heard that. A marathon in Toledo? It turns out this is a pretty popular marathon in Ohio earlier in the spring (April 22). It also has a respectable price tag, but I’d have to say right now from a timing standpoint this is the least likely of the races I’d chose in the spring. - Ragnar Relay
I can’t even begin to explain my thoughts about this. I would love to participate in a Ragnar Relay. At this point, there are a lot of logistics I need to work out for any of them to become realistic. And if the stars aligned, most of these other things besides Shamrock won’t happen. Simply put, a Ragnar Relay would be THE highlight of 2012. - Blue Ridge Marathon
I’ve thought about this marathon, yes, but it’s nowhere near realistic thoughts. I’d really like to do the half again after missing it this year and seeing if I can beat my time from a couple of years ago when I didn’t really race it. This race is April 21, which would be a nice follow-up to the Shamrock Half, similar to what I did 2 years ago. - Richmond Marathon
As usual, Richmond has the temptation of a lower entry fee for next year through this Thursday. It’s my home away from home race course, and I would love to go back there for a third time and break 4 hours. My biggest hold up from taking advantage of the price is my desire to do the Marine Corps Marathon.
That’s all … for now.
Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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ragnar relays are amaaaaaaazinggggggg and worth ALL of the logistical trouble!
I love thinking about the next race on the horizon. With all of the races across the country (and family to visit in many of the places) it's tempting to want to try them all! I still have my heart set on running the Bayshore Marathon in northern Michigan again this year (memorial day weekend) as it was my first race last year and my Grandma lives up there. But I'm also eyeing Chicago, MCM, a few in Wisconsin/Minnesota, Flying Pig… who knows
Great - now you've put more races in my head.
Great planning!
Glad I'm not the only one with races and thoughts going round and round in my head. Good luck with your decisions (and health!) Everything will work out…always does
Sounds like you'll have a good year of racing regardless of which decision you make.
Marine Corps would be an awesome experience. i would love to do that one.
Wow - a lot of tantalizing ideas here! I can't wait to see what you come up with!
I'm really interested in doing a Ragnar Relay as well….if by some chance you decide to do the one in Colorado next year, feel free to hit me up as a +1 on your team!!!
I would definitely consider MCM, cuz that just looks awesome.
I may (hopefully) be in Pittsburgh by next May, so we may have to hang out during your Ohio trip
Oh man … I didn't even think about the Pittsburgh Marathon in May.It's just as close to the in-laws as Cleveland. They're Clevelandsports fans, so maybe I'll consider Pittsburgh just because of that.(Actually, the whole Cleveland thing is being highly consideredbecause of its proximity to Memorial Day and doing a whole bigconfusing thing with letting my wife and son stay behind for a week.)
Totally agree, great DMB tune. In fact I am going Fri night to see him and Tim Reynolds acoustic in NYC. Pretty pumped. Regarding your list, Ragnar is def something we will be talking about more, the whole relay thing is interesting to me. What I can't stop thinking about is the Trans Rockies Run, 6 days of altitude running and camping, awesomeness.
I've been to a couple of Dave & Tim shows - wish I could be there!Maybe there will be a DMB show next year that would coincide with aRagnar Relay. Wishful thinking, but hey, stranger things havehappened.
Are any of these on dirt? I suggest you take it to the trails.
None of these are trails, but I'll be doing a local trail race inJanuary and probably a couple more in the first half of the year. Wehave a great group here called the Mountain Junkies that puts on aseries of races.
Well I'll definitely vouch for MCM and the Ragnar Relays, either of those would be an awesome experience. I don't know if you'd be up for coming all the way over to Washington, but it's looking pretty likely that I'll be running the Ragnar Relay there in July again this year.
Traveling west would be great, but it's just something I can't afford.I often get caught up in the moment when I see people doing otherthings and, for now, I'm sticking to what's economical for me.
Yep, I can certainly understand that David. I was very lucky this year in that I was able to do 2 big out of state races (Ragnar in July and MCM in October). It's not looking like that's going to be in the cards for me this upcoming year, so I'll likely be focusing on local races. I'm also very seriously eyeing an ultra in July…