Tuesday, January 2, 2018

We're off and Running!


We are not even one week into 2018 and my race calendar already is seeing quite a bit of action.

By the way, did anyone else start the new year off in their running shoes? I had one bit of Running Streak business to finish up, as well as the annual New Year's Day group run with a few local friends. In  keeping with the recent arctic blast, our temps on NYD were the coldest yet...how does -20 grab you?



FYI--those are ice crystals, not earrings
With the final streak run finished, my off-season immediately started as soon as our run ended. Mind you, I will not be sitting idle, but I will not be doing any heavy-duty running for a few weeks either. The running streak (which "ran" from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day) is always my final hurrah for the year. January is usually reserved for light running and a return to more consistent strength-training. I usually don't have much on the calendar anyways, so there's not much reason for hardcore running.

None the less, my 2018 calendar already has stuff happening almost every month through September! What the WHAT???

For example:

Later this month, I'll be returning to a nearby town for the Chamburrr Scurry 5K (Marshalltown, IA). I first ran this race in 2014, and it was cold. Colder than cold, actually. Extremely windy, and the "feels like" temps that day were in the single digits. I returned in 2015 and 2017 and had better race day conditions. Fingers crossed Momma N will play nice on the 27th.
Can you say, "Brrr?"
In February, another favorite race happens on the 10th...the Red Flannel Run 5 Mile (Des Moines, IA). I have run this race almost every year since 2011, and it's usually a cold morning on race day. Last year, though, Momma N threw us a curve ball, and surprised us with temps in the low 50's. What's an Iowa girl to do when the temps are that warm in February? Well, I wore red flannel shorts, of course.
It's not every day one can wear red flannel shorts in February in Iowa
In March, is yet another favorite race, the Leprechaun Chase 10K (Des Moines, IA). This will be my fifth wearing 'o the green and toeing the start line (recaps from 2014201520162017). What's unique about this race (and why it sells out every year) is the "chase" concept...the Lasses (the gals) get a 5-minute head start over the Lads (the guys). The runner who crosses the finish line first wins a free beer for all of her (or his) comrades. Hence, the Lads chase the Lasses, all for the sake of beer (and bragging rights).
The hubby has run this with me a few times
April will find me back in Des Moines for the 50th anniversary of the Drake Relays Road Races Half Marathon, on the 22nd. The Drake Relays themselves are like a mini version of the Olympics, and draw a lot of top runners from across the US, including high school hot shots, college standouts, and elites. The Road Races are for those us not quite in the same competitive league as the others mentioned. I have run the 10K (2013) and the half marathon ( 2014, 2015, and 2017). There's always a few good hills, and we finish on the famous blue oval in Drake Stadium.
planting a kiss on Spike, the Drake mascot
In May, I will again be doing the Market to Market Relay with some co-workers (last year's recap HERE). This is a relay event, similar to Ragnar, but on a smaller scale. It's a 76-mile course through central Iowa for teams of 6-8 runners.
our 2017 relay team
In June, there is the race I lament on over and over every year, Dam to Dam (Des Moines, IA) It was my first-ever distance event, back in 2008, when it was still a 20K. A few years back, the officials made it into a half marathon. This year, on June 2nd, it will be the final year for Dam to Dam, and it was decided to revert it back to its original 20K distance. To say I'm extremely sad to see this event go is an understatement (though there is another company taking over the reins, but it will probably have a name change). That said, I'm excited to run the 20K distance again! This will be my 11th consecutive Dam race, and I wouldn't miss it for anything.
my favorite Dam race 
In July, I will be headed to Chicago for the Rock'n'Roll Half Marathon (and probably also the 5K). I have a few logistics and details to finalize, but I'm looking forward to returning to the Windy City. I ran the R'nR Remix back in 2014, and was registered to run the 13.1 last summer until that untimely surgery forced me to take a DNS.
The hardware from 2014
Finally, I recently registered for the Kickoff to Kinnick 5K, scheduled for September 29th. I ran this race for the first time back in September(RECAP).  It was a monumental finish line for me....not just because it took place near the University of Iowa campus (my Alma Mater), but it was my first race back after my lengthy recovery.
Victory!
So, yeah. Those races are just the beginning. There are many more that are on my radar but not yet bought and paid for...yet. I'm toying with the idea of doing another marathon, but have not yet decided on the where or when. Most likely, it will be a fall event. Stay tuned. There are a lot of details yet to be determined.

How's your 2018 race schedule look? It's no secret I'm excited to do some racing, though I'm probably not gonna be doing many of these with PR's on my agenda. I'm just so thankful for the gift of running, the finish times are no longer a priority.

Do you have any races on your 2018 roster yet? Any new events, or a few favorites?

By the way...are you following me on social media? You can find me at these various platforms:
Let's connect : Facebook Instagram  Pinterest Twitter


 **I'm linking this with Debbie and Rachel and Lora for the Running Coaches' Corner.
**I'm also linking up with Nicole and Annmarie for the Wild Wednesday Workout



41 comments:

  1. I havent signed up for any races for this year yet, but there are a few I have in mind. I feel like whenever I sign up for a race too early I jinx myself and end up not being able to run it!

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    1. I know that feeling all to well! I try to take advantage of the early bird discounts, though.....which can be a Catch-22

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  2. That's a lot of races! I've only got 2 on my calendar right now--I'm just going to let the year unfold as it may.

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    1. It seems like a lot of races, but these are ones I typically do every year (well, other than R'n'R). I'm trying to capitalize on early bird discounts as much as possible, and a bunch of these all had price increases at the same time LOL

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  3. You've got quite a few races lined up for 2018!

    I also started off the year with a run. It was freezing but it was a shorter run so I could handle it!

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    1. These are races I usually do every year, anyways, so it doesn't seem like anything out of the ordinary to me. Hoping for warmer weather!!!

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  4. January and Feb are so iffy weather wise around here so I have not registered yet. I have an indoor tri coming up in 2 weeks that should be a fun way to start off the season. Looks like your calendar is really filling up!

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    1. Although I'm in no condition for a tri (swimming, UGH!), I have heard of indoor duathlons...just not anywhere in my area. Small town living kinda bites sometimes...

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  5. What a full race schedule you are building! I'm looking forward to following your journey! Right now I am signed up for 3 marathons, 2 halfs, and a sprint triathlon (which will be quite the feat, since I can't swim!) I have my eyes on a few other races this year and am thinking I would like to do at least one per month. It's the only thing that will keep me motivated and moving!

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    1. These are all races I do every year (except for R'n'R Chicago), so it's nothing out of the ordinary. I need to find some summer events....

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  6. Wow, your 2018 race schedule is filling up nicely! I'm not sure what I'm doing yet. I just have my March and April races figured out and everything else is kind of up in the air at the moment.

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    1. There will be many more events to add, these are just my regular races I do every year. I need to get out of my rut and find some new stuff!

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  7. Wow. That's a lot of racing! I tend to be more a last minute signer-upper, but then I don't race a whole lot, either.

    I'm signed up for 2 halfs and my 4th of July race. That's it! There's another one I'd like to sign up for, but the Website isn't even updated from last year yet.

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    1. It may look like a lot of races, but I don't usually "race" all of them. I took advantage of early bird deals, so that's why there's so many so early LOL

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  8. I love the icicle pic of you!! So COLD!! Looks like you have a great 2018 race plan so far! I have Half coming up January 14, Disney Princess Weekend end of February and Shamrock Marathon in March. That’s all I’m registered or so far!! Happy New Year!

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    1. New Years Day was COLD in Iowa! It's been a miserable two weeks...we need to get this arctic blast over and done.

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  9. Your calendar has really filled up nicely! I am really hoping that I'll get to do Rock 'n Roll Chicago in July...fingers crossed!

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  10. WOW! You really do have a great schedule brewing! So far, I have a half marathons scheduled for January, February and March. Hoping to add at least 2 more into the mix!

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    1. I need to find a few more 13.1's...maybe over the summer. WE don't have too many of those up here in the colder months LOL

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  11. Looks like you have a great year of racing lined up! Now only if we could get a break from this cold snap!

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  12. Holy moly! How do you have so many races already?! Impressive!!!

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    1. Don't be too impressed...most of these are races I do every year, and they are spread out to one each month. Of course, as the year progresses (and more races become available LOL), there will be more sprinkled in.

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  13. You got a great race calendar so far! I love that you've got so many favorite races you return to. I've been debating RnR Chicago - the thought of the Chicago heat scares me a little but I hear it's a fun race.

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  14. I need to sign up for some fun events this year. Maybe a powerlifting one this time... :)

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    1. Well, you certainly know a thing or two about that genre ;-)

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  15. So maybe next year you can make it out to RnR San Diego! ;-)

    I just have a couple things on my calendar so far. The Palm Desert Half Marathon in February, Carlsbad 5000 (All Day 20k) in March, then the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego in June. Possibly a few other RNR races, but other than that I'm not sure.

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    1. We shall see ;-) I have a few other RNR events I'm considering as well....too many choices!

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  16. Wow, you have quite the race schedule already! Its going to be quite the year for you, and I cannot wait to follow along!

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    1. I'm excited. Hoping for a little less drama this year LOL

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  17. Sounds like you have some fun races planned! I've got some thoughts... haven't pulled the trigger on anything yet, but I just realized that I have 3 races lined up for January :-)

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  18. WTG with your race calendar! I'm wishy washy and want to do everything but haven't signed up for anything yet.

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  19. You are in for a monumental year after the curves 2017 threw you! Good luck, Kim!

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    1. Thanks ;-) I'm hoping for a few less curve balls in 2018.

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  20. Oh wow, you have a great start to your race calendar! I've only got two races booked so far, both half marathons. One in March and one in December that I should have ran in 2017 but it was postponed due to snow!

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    1. Hoping for a great 2018! Best wished to you on your races ;-)

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  21. Wow you have a jam packed race schedule already, I am just getting started!

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