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Where do we go from here?

I'm not sure that when I initially got the idea to begin training for the USA Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon and subsequently registered for the race as a birthday gift to myself, I had any plan for what comes next.

There was a time that I considered the Marine Corps Marathon as the next logical step, but if you know me, I have lots of dreams and little follow through. I had the registration form filled out before the race sold out and decided to let that one slide, as there are a lot of things going on in my life right now that might keep me from having time for the appropriate training. I did not want to take the spot of someone who could fully commit themselves to the challenge. Now there's a graceful excuse reason if I ever heard one.

Over the last few days, I have taken some time to peruse my options and apply an appropriate training schedule. These are the events I have already registered for coming up:

Sole of the City 10K
April 21
10K (or 6.2 miles) is a distance I have become quite familiar, and dare I even say comfortable, with. My hubby has also been training to run this distance with me on his long runs on the weekends. Throw in that it is sponsored by Under Armour, my favorite athletic apparel store whose founder was a graduate of my Alma mater and it's a no-brainer.

Race Premium:
Black Under Armour Escape Lightweight Quarter Zip


6th Annual Leatherneck 5K
May 19
This is a race the hubster and I run annually and is very near and dear to my heart. The proceeds from the race go to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, a nonprofit set up to provide immediate financial support for injured and critically ill members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. In addition to it being for a great cause, I frequently run the course as part of my training.

Race Premium:
Each year, a new t-shirt is designed featuring the Marine Corps mascot, the English bulldog. I have quite a collection and am looking forward to expanding on it.

There are several options to continue running into the summer, and even fall! Here are a few I am considering and am teetering on the edge of registering:

Baltimore 10 Miler
June 16
Let's face it. I am a sucker for peer pressure, and when a fellow runner and blogger recommended I sign up for this, I was all, "no way, man, dead heat of summer?" But then she was all, "but there's live zoo animals on the course," and then I was like "where do I sign up?!" So there's that. I was waiting to see how summer vacation plans were going to pan out, but it looks like I will be available for this one!

Race Premium:
Born Fit Quarter Zip Jacket featuring the embroidered Baltimore 10 Miler logo


Baltimore Half Marathon
October 13
And then there was one. One race to rule them all, one race to ... wait a second... I had considered this race before, as the same friend who convinced me to sign up for the USA RnR Half had asked if I was interested in running Baltimore Running Festival's half. The one thing that I felt ill-prepared for during the USA Half was the hilly landscape, and there is one thing I constantly hear about the Baltimore half. Baltimore. Is. Hilly. This makes me want it all the more. The hills almost took me out once and I vow it will not happen again. Either because I will destroy them or I am not going to run this race. Only time will tell.

Race Premium: Under Armour Performance Shirt.

I will be visiting a friend in San Diego at the end of August and I plan to see if there are any small races that we could do as a group once I am out there. This list will change and grow I am sure, but it's good to have plans.

Now I'm off to convince my husband that he wants to run that half marathon we were discussing earlier...

Comments

  1. We have like the same race schedule for the year! Are you running the Baltimore 10 Miler without your husband? We should run together :). I hope the comment from the B10 people wasn't a joke about the number of animals :) I as well love 10K as a distance. Never done it as a race but its my favorite weekend run length.

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  2. That's the best way to stay fit. Always looking toward the next big thing. This race schedule is amazing! I love that you have this blog and are capturing the moments you've achieved your goals. This is exactly what I tell my readers at www.runtolose.net to do! Thanks for giving me a place to point my readers for inspiration.

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