January 2, 2010
My 2010 Race Calendar
Here is what I have so far. It isn’t a tightly packed schedule on purpose. I want to stay out of taper/recovery mode so I don’t have constant excuses for lowering my mileage.
While this is a list of what I am racing, I should probably list what I am not racing that I usually have before:
- Mount Evans: After 2009, I felt like I wanted a break from this race. It sells out early so you don’t get 2nd chances on registration for this one. It is a week before another event on the calendar below, so I don’t want to sacrifice for it.
- Boulder 1/2 Marathon: Traditions must be broken. I have run this race every year since I have started running. It is my benchmark. But I have nothing to prove there. In fact, the 1/2 there is holding me back on a nice PR I think because of its elevation profile and dirt surface. I am more interested in running a 1/2 on a nice road course for once. Never done it.
So here is the plan:
| Date | Name | Location | Distance | Registered | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 19 | Boston Marathon | Boston, MA | Marathon | Yes | My first major marathon! |
| April ?? | Mud Hen Run | Longmont, CO | 5k | No | Quick local race. Will attempt if it doesn’t coincide negatively with Boston. |
| May 31 | Bolder Boulder | Boulder, CO | 10k | No | Never run in this classic. Ready to this year with all my bros. AA wave is locked. Might hit A if I get lucky in an earlier qualifier. |
| June 19 | San Juan Solstice 50 | Lake City, CO | 50 miles | Yes | Added to schedule on January 15th. |
| June 26-28 | Leadville Trail 100 Training Camp | Leadville, CO | ?? miles | No | While this is not a race, I want to show up and be able to simulate some race conditions. So I will schedule it like a race. |
| August 21-22 | Leadville Trail 100 | Leadville, CO | 100 Miles | Yes | The big dance! |
| Oct ?? | Denver Marathon | Denver, CO | 1/2 Marathon | No | Thinking that I might run the half here for once just for something different. Looking for a faster course versus Boulder Backroads. |
| Nov ?? | Longmont Turkey Trot | Longmont, CO | 10k | No | Love to PR there again. Nice straight course. |
I will go into training plans later but in the middle of those summer gaps I plan on logging miles on Mt. Evans, The Decalibron, Pikes Peak, Gray’s Peak, and maybe Longs Peak. Using my some of my big training outings to run up some 14ers in preparation for Leadville.
So what is on the fence?
- Greenland XXk: I love to hate this race. Maybe coming off Boston it would be fun to run this moderate trail race. The 25k was such a fun distance last year. Could do the 50k though to jump to ultra distances for training. Just not sure if it would be any fun.
- Leadville Marathon: This is the weekend after training camp so it would be a great string of Leadville training. But do I want to be back there 2 weekends in a row. Might be too much on the family. Could just go and run and come home. Or might even run the 1/2 instead just for a fun speed attempt. The fun ratio is much higher on that because Ball Mountain is not involved.
- Leadville Silver Rush 50: One could argue this is a good warm-up for the 100 but they aren’t on the same side of the valley and they are too close together. I could run it easy but I don’t think that buys me much. If it was in June, it might be a reality as a tune-up as opposed to camp.
- San Juan Solstice 50 Mile Run: This race is a week before training camp and that makes me feel conflicted about it. I want to be focused at the training camp just because it is a test for the big goal. But many say this race is too. So I don’t know but sticking with Leadville feels right instead of a half-hearted 50.
- R2R2R: Seems like there are always people going for this adventure in the spring. Would be fun and probably a great training exercise. Depends on when people are going and how it falls with my schedule. Never been.
- Late season 50: Maybe something like TNF50 in SF? JFK? Given the big season end with Leadville in August, I feel like it might be a waste not to transition that into something else.
Feedback appreciated. Company welcome. Run more.
