After the marathon, I took a long time to commit to any races. I knew I was sort of burnt out, and I didn’t know when the motivation would come back.
It’s back.
There’s FINALLY a hint of spring in the air (I ran this afternoon with my coworkers and it was AMAZING), and I’m looking forward to going back to more workouts with purpose and finding new ways to have some shweaty fun.
As you know, D.C. races are always special to me, after living there for seven years, leaving and changing my life. I don’t even know if I knew this was a thing when I lived there, but since I started running, I’ve always wanted to run it but usually had too packed a spring half schedule. This year, some friends and I applied as a team and got in! Big Apple Eats the Capitol. We’re coming for you. My allergies will likely be a hot mess around the cherry blossoms, but it should still be fun.
This race is hard as hell. Two loops of Central Park? Yikes. This will be the fourth time I’ve run it, and I have zero goals for it other than to finish and have fun.
A whole bunch of my coworkers signed up for this one as their first half, and I cannot WAIT to give them hugs and high fives after they cross the finish line. I will not eat pizza the night before, so hopefully I will have a better race than last year.
*Boston Runner’s World Heartbreak Hill Half & Festival
I had so much fun at the Runner’s World Half in October, and I’m so excited they invited me back again to play. I’ll have coupon codes for you soon, if you want to come play, too.Â
This triathlon going well last year is what set the stage to start thinking about the next race I’ll talk about. I had a really fun time doing it last year, and I might have done some more tris if I hadn’t been training to break 4 hours in the marathon.Â
And…this! My first half-Ironman. I have always been really intrigued by bloggers who’ve written about Ironman training. I’m sure I could do an Ironman if I wanted to, but that is an insane time commitment. This is only half as insane, right? In all seriousness, I think it’s a good goal that will be challenging but still attainable. The Ironman PR team was kind enough to give me a free bib, and they’re hooking up a team of media athletes with lots of training assistance, which you’ll definitely hear more about. Talking to Kimra about her experience made me believe this was possible. It will take a lot of work, but I plan on having lots of fun, too.
So, I guess it’s finally time to get clipless pedals.
* denotes a free race entry in exchange for blogging about it.
Et toi? What races are you competing in this year? (What is the correct verb for tris? Running? Competing?)
WooHoo for all the races…especially the half iron man!!! I live in Princeton and will be volunteering at the race!! I have lots of friends doing it. Can’t wait to hear about it all!!!
Princeton!!! Awesome!!! Even though this race is technically West Windsor, I’m stoked! There has been a lot of talk about this race in central jersey before this was released. This will be my first branded “ironman” race. I’m interested to see how it compares to my other 70.3 and 140.6, both of which were not “m-dot” races.
@Michelle:
Yessssssssssssss 70.3!!!
@Victoria: Expect quite a few emails in the next few months…and I was waiting for your comment 🙂
Looks like you have some great races on the calendar! Best of luck to you!
I am doing the Fitness Mag half again too! I have considered Brooklyn as well but I think the Long Island Half is on my list a few weeks earlier in May…I also have Boston in the back of my mind but don’t think I can swing it for that weekend (too many things to juggle that are going on – ugh).
Ahhh I just signed up for my first half ironman too! I am scared/anxious/excited! Are you going to follow a specific training plan?
AWESOME! I’m still building out my race schedule for the year too but do have a 1/2 on the books for May. A 1/2 ironman though, I’ll leave that to you! 😉
I am so excited you’re doing a 70.3!! It’s a lot of time committed to training but the race distance is the best – challenging but manageable. It gave me a whole new perspective on training and racing… it helped me realize that when you break training down in segments and take it one step at a time, you really can do anything. Corny but true 🙂
Good luck!!
I’m doing the Brooklyn Half too!!! I’m flying out from Cali and have heard this race is super fun!!! Also excited to check out Central Park and the Brooklyn Brewery while I’m there 😉 Good Luck with the Ironman!!! Can’t wait o read about your training!
The Cherry Blossom 10 miler is on my bucket list! I have family in the area, so it would only make sense to visit them and get in a race 🙂
Right now, I am taking a little break to recover from an injury. Boo. However, in August, I will be doing the Tour De Pain, and then starting in October, I will be doing Pink Up The Pace, St. Augustine 10K, Space Coast Half Marathon, Divas 5k and the Disney Marathon in January. I will fill in as other races interest me.
Wow! I believe that you can do an Ironman if you really wanted to and if you are just focus. Keep it up!
This is so impressing! I’m still out of breath when reaching my apartment on the 4th floor, I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like to do a half-ironman. But now that I got a new job with more money and hopefully a bit more time for myself I plan on either buying a bike or get a gym membership. Who knows, maybe I’ll get that fit one day 🙂
http://tomorrowiwillbesexy.blogspot.de/
Obviously I’m most excited about the Runner’s World 1/2 (and potentially the tri the weekend after!) But I think you have a solid season of running/racing upon you 🙂 And YAY 1/2 Ironman!!! So amazing. I’ve got a bunch of SF and wine country races on the calendar… and mayyyybe NYCM if I get in? Well obviously if I get in… I’m running it!
Awesome. I’m excited to watch your 70.3 training. I love balancing the three sports so I don’t get too obsessive about one. Sounds like you’ve got a great 2014 planned!
Sounds like it’s going to be a busy and awesome race season for you! Topped off by a half ironman? Love it – just the right amount of crazy 😉
I’m also doing the runner’s world half marathon festival in June. I can’t NOT do it, the race starts 1 mile from my house. I’m also eyeing a fall marathon, hopefully Chicago.
@Sarah @ Blonde Bostonian: @Sarah @ Blonde Bostonian: I’m running it too! It’s not far from where I live – Not as close as you, but a few miles. 🙂
I’m also running the More Women’s 1/2. It was my fist half ever and is the third time I’ll be running. I can’t wait! the last time I ran it, the temps were in the 90s and it was horrible.
That’s awesome you’ll be doing a HIM! I am participating in my first tri this summer. I have pedals that are clips on one side and flat on the other. So, if I don’t feel safe clipping in, I use the other side (usually when on a flat road with lots of traffic), I can use the flat side. Here’s a link to them: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014UG3WE/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Wow a 70.3, good for you! I can’t wait to be inspired during your training! All I have on the race calendar so far is the SeaWheeze half marathon in Vancouver. Thinking about doing the Seattle or Chicago RNR halfs, too.
Wow, amazing – cant imagine doing a half iron man so that is quite inspiring. Actually that has inspired me with my 30 min morning workouts which seem so trivial now but were a big mental hurdle to get into a routine with. If you can do that then i can certainly do my little workouts 🙂
I am doing the Runner’s World Heartbreak Hill Festival too! My first time running two races in the same day 🙂
I’m doing the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler too! Last year I had to drop down to the 5k because of an injury, and while I’m not 100% better, I have been training and plan to do a very slow ten miler. I’m excited to finally be able to do the full race! (And hopefully DC will have some pretty weather by that point!)
woot woot, i’m a boston gal (former marathoner and ironmaner (is that a word?!) – and im running the heartbreak hill hat trick! hope its a gorgeous day up here! you are gonna kick butt at the HIM!
This is really inspiring. I have never run in a marathon but I’m considering to singing up for one now. 🙂 Best of luck with your races.