Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Fall racing schedule

Linking up with AprilPatty, and Erika for Tuesdays on the Run.


This week's topic: Fall racing schedule

Since I've been so burnt out on running, I don't have very many upcoming races on the calendar. Here's what's on the list:

Fort2Base Nautical 10-Miler (August 23)
I have heard nothing but great things about this race. The 10 nautical mile distance (which translates to approximately 11.5 miles) is unique. It falls perfectly in line with my favorite distance range (anywhere between 15K to a half marathon). I also love the military theme.

I stole this picture from Kelly's 2013 race recap
I am wary of giving myself time goals since race day might be very hot and humid. However, I'd be happy with anything under 2 hours.

Hub City Half Marathon (September 13)
Many thanks go out to Erica and Hometown Happenings for the free entry to this race! This is an inaugural event taking place in Crown Point, Indiana.

The Old Lake County Courthouse in Crown Point
Source
The race is being advertised as a fast, out-and-back, scenic course starting and finishing in Sauerman Woods Park. I'm probably going to make this a PR attempt. We will see how things go on race day.

PNC YMCA Turkey Trot (November 26)
This race has become an annual tradition. This will be my fourth consecutive year running.

Last year, I ran the Collins-Wardle Double Gobble (a 5K immediately followed by a 5-miler) and received this cool mug:

I am on the fence about whether to do the Double Gobble again this year. If not, I would just run the 5-miler.

Rock N Roll San Antonio (December 6)
This race was not originally on my radar screen. I needed to find a third race to complete my Rock N Roll 3-Pack Tour Pass. RnR San Antonio ended up being the only one that worked on the calendar. It's a good thing, too, because this is the last Rock N Roll offering for 2015!

I've never been to San Antonio so I am happy to check it out via this race. I am also very excited to eat some good local food!
Running past the Alamo
Source
That covers all the races that are definites. Now, let's talk about races that I'm pondering.

Under consideration (in order of most realistic to least realistic):

1. Prairie State Half Marathon (Oct 10)
Kim and I have run a half marathon together every year for the past three years and want to keep the streak going. The last two years we've run Prairie State and are talking about another showing. I think it's a very strong possibility, especially given its affordable cost and convenient timing/location.
Kim and I at the Prairie State finish line in 2013 and 2014

2. 5K PR attempts
I haven't run any 5Ks this year. Upon further reflection, this is not surprising given how much I dislike 5Ks. But it would be good to once again try to best my 5K PR from well over a decade ago. I'm currently looking at:
  • The Lung Run 5K on September 19 (which would also help Anne's fundraising drive). The caveat to this is that I will have run the Hub City Half the weekend before, so my legs will probably not be at their best. 
  • The Super Bears Shuffle 5K on September 10. Admittedly, this would be a really long shot for a PR attempt since it's much more a festive family race than a runner's race. But I do enjoy evening races, and I like the race shirt and the medal.
3. Travel races
I'm headed to Traverse City over Labor Day; St. Louis in late September for a Steelers game; and Savannah over Halloween weekend for my cousin's wedding. It would be fun to run races at any or all of those destinations. Unfortunately, time is very limited so none of these are realistic considerations.

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Your turn! Please tell me what races you've got upcoming this fall!

41 comments:

  1. Looks like a great plan, Emily! The only negative I have about F2B is its almost always hot. I'm using it as my cutback week from long, long runs instead of trying to get in extra miles before or after this year.

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    1. Thanks Marcia! Yeah, I'm not thrilled about F2B's timing in late August. But since we've had a relatively cool summer this year, here is hoping that the weather will behave on race day! I think the 10NM distance is perfect as a cutback week for everyone training for a fall marathon! See you there in a few weeks. =)

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  2. San Antonio is great (I lived in Austin for 17 yrs, far south Austin or as some people like to joke, north San Antonio) & december should be a great time to race there!

    Good luck in all your races!

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    1. Oh wow, I had never heard of the cross-references between San Antonio and Austin before now! But I think Austin is fantastic so it sounds like I will like San Antonio, too. Yee haw!!!

      Thanks for the good luck wishes and I wish you happy running and racing too!!!

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  3. Have fun in San Antonio! I hope you guys are staying downtown. I didn't get to spend as much time downtown as I wanted but from what I saw when I was there a few years ago it was really nice!

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    1. Thanks Erin! YES - I took advantage of the "race rates" that RnR is offering and booked an official RnR hotel right downtown. It's less than a mile to both the starting line and the expo, which will be awesome. What brought you to San Antonio a few years ago?!?

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  4. I've got 5k's on my schedule and will continue to hopefully build beyond 3.1 miles. I haven't decided yet what I want to do after October.

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    1. Woo hoo for the 5Ks on your schedule!!! I think a lot of folks enjoy fall racing so I am sure you'll have no problem building up your mileage as the weather gets nicer for racing. It's great to have the flexibility of an open race calendar after October!!!

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  5. I love San Antonio - that would be an awesome RNR race to run! Sounds like you have a fun fall ahead of you.

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    1. Thanks Erika! I am hearing lots of rave reviews about San Antonio and it's great to hear yours, too! This is making me even more excited to check it out over race weekend!!!

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  6. Ooo, San Antonio! I can't wait to hear about it!!! We want to visit there someday!

    We should decide on Prairie State soon! :) I might register online this year, so I actually get my name on my bib (wait... do I care about that?).

    Also, those 5Ks seem hella soon for a PR. Have you been doing speedwork?

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    1. Do you want to join me in San Antonio for RnR that weekend!?!?!?!?!? THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!!! Let me know what you think!!!

      YES on Prairie State soon. I'm leaning towards yes but maybe let's see how things go over the next few weeks? I think it's nice to have the name on the bib. =)

      Yeah, I literally started thinking about attempting a 5K PR just a few days ago. I definitely don't have very high hopes that it'll happen. But I figure it would be good to at least give it a try to gauge where I'm at right now, you know? So no, I haven't been doing much speedwork. Xaarlin had suggested doing intervals of 3:30 tempo, 1:30 recovery. I tried a few times and they were SO HARD that I haven't psyched myself to try again. Sigh.

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    2. I'd love to, but I am already traveling to TX the following weekend. That would have been FUN!

      Yeah, we can decide later - registration doesn't go up until 10/2. It's $60 right now.

      I think it would be good to gauge where you are at, but not to expect a PR unless you do some training. 3:30 intervals are pretty long, especially since you were doing 1:00s! Maybe try working up to 3:30? You could do 400s, which wouldn't take you AS long. Eventually though, I do think you'll need longer tempos like that. But! I am not a coach! LOL!

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    3. Bummer that the timing doesn't work out but I wish you a fantastic trip to Texas the following weekend!

      I love how Prairie State's registration fees are so stable for such a long period of time in advance of race date. =)

      I've never tried 400s. In general, I've always done speedwork based on time intervals instead of distance intervals. So add that to the list of things to try! And I think you and Xaarlin are both right that longer tempos would be very beneficial, especially after working up to them. Those 3:30s really do feel like eternity!!!

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  7. I'd LOVE to have you on my Lung Run team again! :)

    And you're going to love San Antonio! My brother lived there for many years and I used to love visiting. There's definitely a lot of good food to be had. Make sure you get a steak (Saltgrass is good, and has a location downtown near the River Walk, if that's where you're staying) - can't go to Texas without having one! It's awesome to be there in the winter too, when it's cold and gross up here.

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    1. Thanks Anne! No promises yet since the schedule is pretty packed in September and October - but we'll see what shakes out. =)

      Yay for more rave reviews on San Antonio!!! I am indeed staying downtown near the River Walk and much appreciate the Saltgrass recommendation. All suggestions are very welcome!!!

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    1. The schedule is pretty packed in September and October, and unfortunately the TC 10-Miler conflicts with my work schedule. =( But let's talk more about it in person this weekend, assuming you are still planning to be in town. =)

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    2. Yes! All is pending weather. I'm not sure yet if we are flying or driving. I'll let you know soon.

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  9. Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio sounds so fun! I bet that time of year it'll be really nice to get out of here and escape to Texas. Races are such a great way to see a lot of a new city, too. I don't actually have too many races coming up this fall -- I'm more of a spring time race runner. I'll do the Chicago Half, the Chicago Marathon, and possibly (probably) the Jingle Bell 5K in December, but that's it for me!

    Bethany @ Accidental Intentions

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    1. Thanks Bethany! I'm very thankful that RnR is hosting San Antonio in December, unlike Chicago in July! Spring races are wonderful, too. They are so refreshing and such a great way to stretch the legs out after the long winter. But hey - when it comes to fall races, you've got two of the MOST classic and iconic Chicago races on the list. The Chicago Half is awesome and obviously the Chicago Marathon is second to none!!! The Jingle Bell 5K sounds sound festive, too!!!

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  10. Looks like a pretty busy fall racing season to me! It's fun being the part of an inaugural race, I hope you enjoy it! San Antonio looks great too!

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    1. You're right about inaugural races!!! I've only done a handful of them and there is something very special about being part of that brand-new crowd, setting the history books!!! You've got an incredibly exciting race schedule this fall, too - visiting so many different states!!!

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  11. I will see you at Fort2Base! Although I'm going to be going nice and sloooowww. lol

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    1. YAY!!! See you at Fort2Base!!! It'll be great to see you - I can't even remember the last time we got to catch up in person!!!

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    2. Maybe Zooma??? It's been a while!

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    3. Oh my goodness - that was well over a year ago!!! If that was indeed the last time, it is crazy how fast the time has gone by!!!

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  12. San Antonio is a great city! I hope you love it- running by the Alamo (it's way smaller than you think- lol) would be cool. Have a fabulous fall!

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    1. Interesting note on the Alamo! I've heard and read so much about it that I've got it built up in my mind to be this enormous shrine. =) Thanks for the heads up on that! I hope you have a fabulous fall, too!!!

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  13. I loved Fort2Base!! San Antonio was a fun city! Can't wait to see you rock these!

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    1. Thanks so much, Lauren! As always I am wishing you fantastic final training weeks leading up into Ironman Wisconsin!!!

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  14. Good luck at F2B! I did the inaugural one, and I'd love to do it again. But argh...the heat! Maybe next year. I don't think I'll do a fall marathon next year, since I'm doing BIG SUR! Did I mention that? LOL...

    I may do Prarie State (the half) next year. I've always wanted to...And I've been to San Antonio. Great, great, fun place!

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    1. Yeah, the heat at F2B is a big concern. Fingers crossed and praying that the weather will behave itself that day!!!

      AHHHH so excited for you to run BIG SUR!!! I can already imagine the stunning pictures that you are going to get while you are running along the coastline!!!!

      Prairie State is really fun! It's low-key and the trail is very pretty. I think you would enjoy it!!!

      Glad to hear another big thumbs up for San Antonio!!! YEE HAW!!!

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  15. Good luck! You have such a fun schedule! Have a blast :)

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    1. Thank you, Rachel! Much appreciated!!! I wish you a wonderful fall racing season, as well!!!

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  16. You will enjoy San Antonio. On my first visit, I was shocked at how small the Alamo is...and right in the middle of everything. I assumed it would be out in a field by itself. Ha! Savannah is really flat if you could find a race while you are there! I really don't have much on the schedule except the marathon. I'm eyeing a few halves though.

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    1. You know, I've always had the mental image that the Alamo is this grandiose structure standing out on its own, too! So now my expectations are adjusted accordingly. =) Thanks for the heads up on that! I really wish I could find a race in Savannah but it's going to be such a busy weekend with my cousin's wedding that it's sadly not feasible. But this is a reason to go back another time, right?

      So pumped for you to run Chicago!!! Halves are going to seem like such a cakewalk for you when all is said and done. =)

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  17. Great fall schedule! Sometimes it's nice to take a break from so much racing :) The race I'm looking forward to the most this fall is the Wicked 10K--I missed it last year due to an injury and can't wait to run it again!

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    1. Thanks Stacey! Yes - I think after lots of racing, it's nice to be able to sleep in on a weekend day and just relax. The Wicked 10K sounds like it is going to be a blast!!! Are you going to wear a costume!?!?!?

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  18. Great schedule! (And good luck on your race tomorrow!) Yay for Texas! I've never run the RnR in San Antonio. Be prepared in case it's warm - I've heard it has been in the past. I think you'll be okay though doing the half. Plus, SA is such a fun place. Yes, the food is divine! I can't wait to hear all about it!

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    1. Thank you so much, Amy! Hey - if the schedule works out, let me know if you might be up for joining me in San Antonio - it would be so awesome to see you there!!! If you have any SA recommendations, please do send them my way. =)

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