So, in the next couple of weeks we will be running our first race of the season. We have a few races planned out over the next few months already and have even already registered for a couple.
Let's back up though. I think I have covered this before but "race season" is not something set in stone but it sort of follows a school type calendar around here, it seems. At least that is how I think of it. It starts in the fall and goes through to spring. You find races in the summer, but they are fewer and farther between. That's fine though because for anyone that has run in Florida in the summer... that time of the year is torture. I would make the assumption that race season changes based on where you are located as I would think running in summer in places like Minnesota is more preferred to running in the winter. I can only speak for our local "season".
This summer has been... iffy... for us. We didn't really do the things I think we planned as far as running. Instead we did the bare minimum to keep up with our current levels of fitness. That might have translated into just a run or two a week and lower mileage overall. I did end up doing the 37 Days of Awesome running streak put out by Runners World magazine. Nothing was actually documented so it was more of a fun type of thing for me. Yeah. I said fun. Though parts of it were not actually fun. I was hoping it would keep me motivated through the summer. And it sort of did that. I ran my mile a day with a couple longer runs closer to 3 miles but that was about it. I had a hard time fitting even a mile in every single day but I was committed and wasn't giving up. I was glad to see July 4 show up and run in the Watermelon 5k to close out the streak. I made it. Barely. I logged a total of 50.47 miles. So... do the math. I ended up averaging just about 1.36 miles per day. Barely over the minimum requirement. But I made it. Steven ran less often than I think he would have liked but he kept up with it enough to feel okay going into August and starting more serious prep for the upcoming season. I've noticed a few more aches and pains recently. I think that although I can do what I did before as far as distance and pace, I need to recondition my body some back to handling 3+ mile runs. Side note: I actually read a study recently that said that runners (recreation more so than elites that run a whole freaking lot) actually have stronger knees than people that do not run. Something about how the muscles tear and rebuild as long as you remember to rest. I don't really remember but it was interesting. Totally different than all those things I have heard in the past. Even if that is so though, I still have some aches (but my knees aren't one of them). Shin splints (in one leg) are at the top of the list but I know that is just overuse and if I rest up some and take my pace down, they will go away soon. I have dealt with them before. I also get heel pain. I think this is a combo of possible plantar fascitis perhaps (self diagnosed with some help from Google... so we all know what that actually means), which I had pretty bad when we lived in a house with laminate wood flooring but hasn't bothered me too much since we moved out of that house, but mostly just my shoes. Also, I'm sure if I can take off a few pounds, that will help too which is something I'm working on but I find it hard to stick to a meal plan on days I run. I'm so hungry! Haha! Even just short runs make me hungry. Though part of that is likely in my head. Anyway, my shoes have about 300 miles on them at this point (as do Steven's and yes, we log that stuff) so we are both getting close to needing a new pair. Since we don't run anything really major, we both just have one pair at a time so I don't have any pairs to alternate between or anything.
So then. About this season. We will do our normal race recaps after each race more than likely but last year I put out THIS post in an effort to get a handle on the races we had scheduled and make a sort of outline for us to look back at too. I'm just going to try to do it again so we have an idea of what we have coming up.
We are starting off right away like I said in a couple of weeks when we will run the Celebration of Running 5k through Track Shack You will notice that we are sticking with almost entirely Track Shack races this season. We just enjoy their races. They seem to be some of the most efficiently run races and the atmosphere is always a good mix of really serious runners and people that are out there for fun and fun only. We fall somewhere in the middle so it works out well for us. We thought about doing the Fanatics series but we were worried about if we couldn't make a race for any reason. Instead, we will fork over the funds periodically through the year to run as many of the races as we can. This is the first in the series and our first race of the season. 5ks don't worry us at this point. It is all about the experience and seeing how we can fair based on our prior performances. This race is through the almost downtown area where Track Shack is located. It isn't central to downtown but it is close. It's referred to as the Mills 50 District but we like to call our downtown areas fancy things around here.
Our next race is in September and we have already signed up for it. Again it is through Track Shack and is part of the Fanatics series. This one is the Battle of the Bands 5k in Cassleberry. I'm looking forward to this one. An easy 5k again but with a battle of the bands on the course. There will be 3 different bands battling it out along the course. I can't stop to listen but the idea of it sounds awesome. Maybe I will walk along those parts of the course. Bonus points if they put water stations at those points because I often walk through those. There is a craft brew festival at the end of the race too. I'm usually not one for beer but I might even have to take part in that. Though beer at 8:30 or so in the morning is even less appealing to me than during a normal part of a day.
After that comes the U Can Finish 5 Mile race at UCF (also Track Shack). This is the one I think I am most looking forward to. We loved this race last year. Both of us will need to start prepping again soon to handle the longer distance as neither of us have run much over 3 miles in the last couple of months. We love the course though as it takes us through our alma mater including going around the baseball and football fields. So cool. We talked about the possibility of adding on the Distance Dare which would mean that before we run the 5 miles, we would have to run 2 miles for a total of 7. Though we don't think we actually want to do that. Last year we said "maybe next year" but I think we will defer it again. So... "maybe next year."
In November there are no serious races but Steven has mentioned doing a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. There is a Track Shack one I think that starts right by his office downtown. Thanksgiving is actually the largest race day of the year. Run all the miles. Eat all the turkey. I would totally do it too... but someone has to start Thanksgiving dinner.
There isn't a Fanatic race in December either but we have talked about doing the Reindeer Run that goes through Sea World (Track Shack again). My mom is thinking about joining us as well. That means that Steven will run and I will push the stroller. Both kids will then do the Rudolph Run (aka the kids race) after we finish. This one is a 3 mile race (not a 5k) and always looks like so much fun. Steven wanted to do it last year but we waited too long and he didn't have a chance to sign up. Both of us plan to do it this year though with kids (and Nana) in tow. =)
January starts back Fanatic races and we plan to do the Park Ave 5k in Winter Park. This is one we didn't do last year and isn't really top of our list but should be fun and in January so that will be new for us. Just a normal 5k. There is going to be a food tasting event after with local venders so that should be fun. This was advertises itself as being the foodie type race so we will see what that means as far as after race parties go. It is in Winter Park though which means we can stop at The Coop for breakfast afterwards so I'm all for it.
February brings back the Run 4 Love 4 Mile that we did this year. We enjoyed that race. Right around Valentine's Day and 4 miles on a really flat course in Winter Park. We'll take it. Last year's shirt and medal were super cute too so that is a bonus. Haha! It's all about the bling.
March is actually the culmination of the Fanatic series with the Winter Park Road Race 10k. We didn't run this race last year because it wasn't long before the Star Wars 10k but we definitely wish we had. It looks like so much fun. And if we thought the goodies for any of the other races were good... this race is better. It is the only 10k we will likely run this season and has a huge after party when you finish. Unfortunately, because we aren't "Fanatics" we don't get into the VIP section of the party but I think the rest of the after party is still supposed to be nice. Also, again in Winter Park so we can hit up The Coop after the race. Other than the UCF race, I think this is the one I am looking most forward to out of the Track Shack races.
Finally, in April we will split up in our races. Steven will likely run the IOA Corporate 5k with his office again (Track Shack) and I will run the Iron Girl 5k with my mom and Danielle again as long as they are up for it. I'm fairly certain they are as we have been talking about it some. Steven enjoyed the IOA race last year and the Iron Girl is always a ton of fun. Plus, it is the race that started it all for me so I'm excited to go back for a third time. It is my favorite of race ambiances too (other than the awesomeness that is Disney) with all the women coming together to run. So much fun. Runday Funday.
Whew. Now that I see it all in writing... we have quite the busy race season this year. Better get out on the road and start training again. ;)
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