A month ago I posted my Swim/Bike/Run “To Do” list for 2011. I was thinking earlier today about what my next goal should be, and thus my spring schedule may need a few updates.
I had thought about running the Galveston Mardi Gras Half Marathon on February 20, in hopes of throwing down something in the 2:10-2:12 range. But that’s only 2 weeks away, which certainly isn’t enough time to improve over where I am right now — which means 2:10 would be a stretch in anything but perfect conditions. Plus, we’re already into the late registration phase and at $105, that’s a pretty darn expensive half marathon. Price is not always a consideration in determining which races I want to do — I mean, Houston wasn’t much cheaper — but when I’m already on the fence? It’s another strike against Galveston for this year. So that’s out.
I’ll be running 3 legs for a total of about 16 miles of the Texas Independence Relay on March 5-6….but only if the shuttle mission gets delayed again. If STS-133 gets off the pad anytime in its late February launch window, they’ll be in orbit on March 5-6 and thus I’ll have to be at work instead of running across Texas. The launch date is holding steady at the moment, so for now I’m expecting to have to back out of TIR, unfortunately. (My team is well aware of my status so it won’t be a surprise to them if they have to go without me. I told them if they found someone else who could 100% commit, they could replace me — but they decided to just roll with 11 runners instead of 12 if they have to.) We’ll see what happens. It’s out of my hands.
On March 20, I’m definitely doing the Warrior Dash in Conroe with Jason and Debbie. Since that’s only a 5K and is meant to be for fun, I’m also considering doing the Seabrook Lucky Trails Half Marathon the day before, on March 19. It’s been a few years since I’ve done this one, and the date would allow 6 more weeks of good training to solidify my chances of running in the 2:10 neighborhood for the second time this winter — which is what I’d really like to do.
I thought about doing Angie’s Half Crazy on March 27 instead of Seabrook, especially since I’ve never done that event, but the date doesn’t work quite as well for me. It’s a week before the Gateway to the Bay triathlon, and only 2 weeks before the Lonestar 70.3 in Galveston. I haven’t fully committed to doing the half iron yet…but I’ve also made sure that my training hasn’t precluded the possibility of doing that race. If I’m doing a half iron, I won’t want to go all out in a half marathon two weeks before. If I end up deciding against the half iron, I will definitely be doing Gateway to the Bay.
Whew! I think that covers me through mid-April at least…
i would have totally also signed up for mardi gras galveston but not for $105.
then i was asked to pace the 4:30 marathon group for 10-12 miles, for a free entry and i could have just finished up the 13.1 for a time/medal. but by the time i was asked, i had already committed to working Lukes that weekend. bummer.