2014 Plans - So Far

I was well on my way with my 2014 race plans before well before my 2013 races were done. I was feeling strong and really excited about my fall half marathon so started registering for 2014 races in September. My injury kind of threw a wrench into my half marathon and I kind of feel like I'm starting from scratch again, but I have big things coming up in the new year.

The first half of 2014 is all about distance not speed.

Around the Bay - March 30

I am kind of afraid of this race, mostly because of the hills but super excited at the same time. I have no time expectations at all for this, its more a stepping stone to...

Ottawa Marathon!- May 25

I've been planning on 2014 being the year of the marathon for me, just had to decide which one. I was leaning towards a spring marathon. Goodlife was appealing because of the giant medal, but looking at the results from 2013 - there weren't many 5+ hour finishers. I don't want to be out on the course by my lonesome. Ottawa has both a 5 hour pace bunny and a 5:30 bunny so that was encouraging. The timing works well for my schedule so I registered very early in September. 

I'm going to do one other spring race, either Yonge Street 10K or Sporting Life 10K. I'm leaning towards Sporting Life at the moment as the date seems to work the best for me and I'm curious to see how the new race director improves the event.

For the rest of the year, I'm sure that Scotiabank Waterfront will be on my list in some form or the other and I'm considering Sea Wheeze if I can make an August Vancouver trip work. 

Marathon/Around the Bay training started this week for me! Bring on the long runs!

2013 Race Plans

Now that spring races are winding down, time for a look at the rest of the year.

Races so far this year:

• Harry's Spring Run Off 8K
• Goodlife Toronto Half Marathon
• Sporting Life 10K

Next up.

June 2 - Niagara Falls Women's Half Marathon. I really wanted to go to Vancouver in August to run Sea Wheeze but for a number of reasons, that wasn't going to work out. As a consolation, I registered for Niagara Women's Half. It will be my first "away" race and I'm looking forward to a flat course.

June 23 - Color Me Rad 5K I first heard about color runs last year and kept an eye out for a Toronto Location. Found this one at Downsview Park but it sold out in a couple of days! They ended up adding a second date (which also sold out) and I jumped on it. Running this with a couple of friends. 

August 17 - Midsummer Night's Run 15K. I was on the fence about running this again, had some issues with running at night last year. Got sucked in with a free hat at the Goodlife expo. I'm looking forward to the new course on the Island - should be fun.

October 20 - Waterfront Half Marathon.

Other races on my radar - Maybe a 5K in late October or November. I know I can beat my current 5K PR and want to make it official. I'm also watching two other color runs for Toronto dates as I'd like to run one with my husband. Would have loved to run Mud Hero again, but the date doesn't work.

Anyone running any interesting races?

2012 Races - Update

April:

• Toronto  Yonge Street 10K - didn't happen due to stress fracture and illness

May:

• Goodlife Half Marathon - ran it, loved it.
• Sporting Life 10K - ran it last week-end
• TO Women's Half Marathon - coming up on May 27th

June:

• Toronto Pearson Runway Run (5K) - registered to run this with a couple of newbie runner co-workers.

July:
Taking July off from racing

August:

• A Midsummer Night's Run (15K) -August 18th registered for this at the Goodlife expo. Very excited about this race as it's been on my list of must-runs for a year or two.
• Toronto Women's 10K - August 25th. Haven't registered for this yet, but I'm sure I will.

September:
Nothing planned yet for September but I really want to do Run for Your Lives!! Just trying to get the husband to join me.

October:

• Waterfront Half Marathon - October 14th. Will register soon.
• Toronto Women's 5K/8K - October 27th. Again, need to register still. Not sure what distance I'll do.

Crazy in the Spring?

I’m contemplating spring races and this is my newest plan:

April 22nd	Yonge Street 10K
May 6th	Goodlife Half Marathon
May 13th	Sporting Life 10K
May 27th	Toronto Women's Half Marathon

I’m already registered for the Yonge Street 10K so that one has been set for a long time.
My original plan was to run the Goodlife Half (which is on my birthday!) then the 5K portion of the May Toronto Women’s Race.
Then I found out that the Sporting Life 10K is offering a $50 gift card for Sporting Life if you register before January 15th. Who can pass up a free gift card?? Plus it will be interesting to compare the two 10K’s since they’re on the same course. So that went onto my list.
But lately I’ve been thinking that I might not be ready for a half marathon at the beginning of May, so I started thinking about Toronto Women’s Half Marathon and adjusted the training plan I had created accordingly.
After adjusting my training plan, my 20Km LSR falls conveniently on May 6th. So if I’m going to run 20Km anyways, why not just run the Goodlife half?
Is this nuts?? Its a lot of race fees but I already paid for the Yonge Street 10K last May. And I have a new pair of shoes stashed away that I bought at the outlets in Vegas last summer so I shouldn’t need any new shoes for a while.
I’m happy to hear any opinions.