Wednesday, June 16, 2010

the summer races.

Now that I've gotten my crazy out for the world wide interweb to see, it's time to talk races. I had mentioned doing another half marathon this summer, I had been wavering on doing it. Last week I finally decided against doing the Lucky 13.1 race in Missouri, in the end I wasn't excited about it, and it sounded more miserable than anything. The heat and humidity are just dumb right now and the thought of trying to PR at a half marathon in it, well that's just a recipe for disaster and frustration. Then I considered doing a trail 5K in Kansas City instead of a half marathon. Seeing how my foot still feels pretty bruised up from the last trail race I did, that didn't sound appealing either.

Instead (drum roll please) I'm going to do a first as far as racing goes. I'm going to run an 8K, I've never done that race distance before. It's at a local YMCA and goes through a nice paved trail area in a nature preserve. Not to mention 4.98 miles (or whatever an 8K is) sounds so much more appealing in this weather than 13.1 or a 5K trail race. So that wins. I'm excited to do it with several of my running buddies, should be a good time. The best thing about it? The thought of doing this race makes me happy, and makes me want to run.

In addition to the 8K, I'm going to go and attempt to defend my somewhat pitiful title at a local 5K where I won my age group last year in the pouring rain. I'm not sure I'll actually defend my title, but it's a small race for a good cause in a suburb outside of Wichita. Plus, Oz Runner will be there and I haven't raced with him since the same race last year, so it's about time!

To cap off the summer races I have planned, I will most likely go and do the Fourth of July Firecracker Run in Rogers, Arkansas. Since I'll be there anyway and since it's a fun race (with awesome swag) that I've done the past two years, why not continue the tradition. It's a ridiculously hilly race near Beaver Lake, where I spend every July 4th with my family water skiing and eating. The eating part is very important. So why not go off on my own for a morning to run and get my butt kicked on monstrous hills? Sadistic fun, that's what that is.

That wraps up the extent of my summer races. August in Kansas is NOT good running/racing/doing anything but sitting inside drinking cold beverages weather. There aren't many races to speak of, so unless a 5K pops up somewhere randomly in August, I won't do any races.

I'm going to run these summer races because they sound fun and because shorter distances are sounding oh so appealing right now. I know I'll be doing long runs on the weekends as well but somehow that's different than trying to suck soup while racing 13.1 miles. I'm pretty satisfied with this summer race schedule. Cheers to hot, sweaty, disgusting summer running my friends.

14 comments:

Marlene said...

A new race distance is always fun and BONGO! Automatic PR. :)

misszippy said...

Glad you've got it all figured out! I always feel better when I reach that point. I love 8ks, btw...they should have more of them!

Mark said...

What? No more trail half marathons on the summer schedule? I'm shocked! The Dam race was just so enjoyable, I figured you'd have several more just like it lined up this summer. But I have to agree, it seems like a good idea to do whatever you and your body feel like doing.

Mel -Tall Mom on the Run said...

Shorter distances sound GOOD to me too.. After next week I am not going any further than 13.1 until I start training for Boston in the Winter...


Good luck defending your title..

Maureen Lisa said...

Good for you! I say do what you want and you're always a runner as long as you keep running. I recently did an 8K and I think it's a great distance. Rock it!

Indi said...

No matter the distance...the attitude is what I'm loving :) and that you are excited for running to be fun again!! Yey for fun run! or Run fun...either way yey!!
ok..afternoon crazy is creeping up!

Indi said...

And LOVE the new summer look!!! AWESOME, bright and happy feeling!!

Unknown said...

Have fun at the 8K. I've never run that distance either.

Mel-2nd Chances said...

I did an 8k for the first time this year too!!! Automatic PR! YAY

Lacy said...

i'm running how I want too. That equals no races "unless I feel like it" for me!
Have fun...

Madison M. said...

I thought about running in that YMCA run but its my last group run before the marathon so I decided against it.. But yes.. Running in KS this time of year is just insane.. Unless you do it at like 5am when its only 70 some degrees and not 90.. lol

Oz Runner said...

i will be there in park city, running in all of my slowness....also, i've been practicing on the race route, getting it prepped for to bring some real speed.....i think it will be hot, though, 90's predicted all next week.

Irene said...

I'd vote for taking August off and taking a vacation. :) August is just too hot to run in most places.

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