2011 Race Wish List
Now that my 2010 racing year is over (yes, it’s over, I’m not racing in December!) I have been thinking about what races I want to do in 2011. I ran 13 races in 2010, I’ve come to the following conclusions:
- 5Ks are a great beginner race, but after running my fair share of them in the spring/early summer, I’ve decided that I’m not a fan. After training for distance running, I prefer longer races. I will probably only run one or two 5Ks next year.
- I really like cycling, but I don’t have a decent bike. It’s okay for riding 5-10 miles on a country road but I would never trust it out on city streets. I would love to do more cycling next year and invest in a road bike, and possibly participate in a duathlon!
- Despite my race times this year (and my constant need to PR them), I know next year I will not PR every race! I have to prepare myself for this. I ran a lot of great races in 2010, and I find it hard to believe I will PR most them again next year. I think I was lucky to finish my first half marathon in 2:05, but I don’t see that happening in my next half, but who knows? It would be great, but I’m not really expecting to.
- I want to run races I haven’t already run–with the exception of a few that I really enjoyed this year!
- Am I ready for the marathon? I still don’t know the answer to this question. My heart desires to run a full 26.2 some day, but I’m still not sure if I will be ready in 2011. I put my name in lottery for the NYC marathon for November 2011, but the chances of getting picked for that are slim. If I do get picked and I’m not ready, I can defer, but maybe by then I will want to train for one. Only time will tell!
My 2011 Race “Wish List”
- January 9 – Winter Series 10K in Albany, NY (part of half marathon training)
- January 23 – Winter Series 15K in Albany, NY (part of half marathon training)
- February 6 – The Melbourne & Beaches Music Half Marathon in Melbourne, Florida
- February 20 – The HMRRC Marathon Three-Person Relay in Albany, NY (already registered!)
- April 3 – Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Race in Washington D.C. – enetered my name into the lottery!
- April 10 – The Delmar Dash Five Mile Race in Delmar, NY
- May 15- The Pittsburgh Half Marathon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (already registered!)
- May 19 – The Workforce Team Challenge 3.5 Mile in Albany, NY – this is a possibility, and may be my first run following the Pittsburgh half-marathon, so I shouldn’t expect much!
- May 29 – The Saratoga Springs Lions Club Duathlon – Stage 1: 5K run (1 loop); Stage 2: 20 mile bike (4 loops); Stage 3: 5K run (1 loop). I need to train for the biking part of this race!
- June 4 – The Freihofer’s Run for Women in Albany, NY – This was my first 5K ever, so I feel if I run at least one 5K in 2011 it should be this one!
- July 3(?) – The Adirondack Distance Run 10 Mile Race in Lake George, NY
- July 10 – The Boilermaker 15K in Utica, NY – I had fun during this challenging race and would love to run it again next year
- July 31 – The Indian Ladder Trail Run 3.5 mile OR 15K at Thacher Park in Voorheesville, NY
- August 13 – The Warrior Dash North East 3.5 mile obstatcle course (already registered!)
- October 9 – The MHR Half Marathon OR Full Marathon – a big MAYBE
- October 30 – The Hairy Gorilla Half Marathon OR Squirrely Six Mile Trail Race – this race was SO much fun this year, I would love to run it again and possibly run the half, if I don’t fall on my face this time
- November – Stockade-athon 15K in Schenectady, NY
- November – NYC Marathon – entered my name into the lottery, so if I get in???
Yes–I realize this is a lot of races, but I’m ambitious! I probably won’t get to run every single one. Hopefully my poor legs can hold up in 2011. 😉
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14 Comments
Julie @ Honey B.
That’s so great! The more you aim for, the more you will do, even if it’s not ALL of them!
Christina @ Food.Fun.Fabulous.
Wow that is a lot of races! Jen you truly are inspirational 🙂
Jen
aww thanks! I’m actually just a race addict. 🙂
Emily
you go girl!!! you are such an inspiration with your running 🙂 you give me hope that some day maybe I’ll be able to complete just a 5k.
Jen
You can do it Emily!
Katie @ Healthy Heddleston
Wow impressive! Can’t wait to read all about them 🙂
Bowden
Wow! Great list Jen! I also have grown to like longer distances rather than 5Ks. I always do the Troy Turkey Trot and the Albany Last Run 5K. Other repeat races for me are the Boilermaker and the Stocakde-athon. I may do the Hangover Half in albany on New Years, but the idea of running around SUNYA has never appealed to me! Great job on 2010! And good luck in 2011!
Katie H.
Ohhh, awesome list! I am very much thinking I will run the Melbourne race. Just need to figure out a few more logistics!!!
abbi
That’s lots of races but I understand the desire as well. I’m sure your next year will be great as well. Hopefully, we’ll be able to try to meet up to at least say hello at Pittsburgh!!
carolyn
Great list! I ran four 5Ks this year and am slowly becomming addicted! I want to push myself next year and get into 10 and 15Ks and the list you put together will defintely help me pick a few! Where do you find out about all of these races? I haven’t had much luck solely relying on Google for information.
Jen
awesome!! you totally just run a 10K or 15K! The boilermaker in Utica is a great 15K race with lots of spectators! It was an awesome first long distance race for me. The Hudson Mowhawk Road Runner’s club has a big list of capital district races that I check out every so often! (http://www.hmrrc.com/index.cfm?method=Race.Schedule)
There are also ads in the Adirondack Sports & Fitness monthly newspaper where I find some too. 🙂
Melissa G
You are so organized! I need create a list to organize all the events I want to too! Thanks for the idea!
I see the Adirondack Distance Race is on your list!! Yeah! We should carpool to this race!
heather
Here I am… Stalking this post….as I make my training plan 🙂
I know you are anti 5K, which I get, of course – but I feel that since you keep making me sign up for races, you should sign up for some of MY prospectivce 5Ks so that you can get a new PR!! Dontcha think?
Also- can we PLEASE do stockadeathon this year? Maybe by then I will be speedier enough that I can try and pace with you? (Maybe. Ha)
Jen
I will try to do some of them, it just depends on if they interfere with my long runs while training for the pittsburgh half marathon. :-/ But I’m planning on doing the Freihofer’s run if you want to run that one with me! 🙂 what other 5Ks are you running??