2011 Race Calendar

Not long ago I was invited to be on a relay team to participate in this year's Frostbite Marathon Relay held in Holland.  I was all set to suit up in my Kinvaras and team spirit when suddenly I had to opt out.   Yesterday was the relay and I thought about my teammates ALL morning.  Thoughts in my head went something like this...

"Wow...they certainly have a gorgeous morning to run"

"Go (Insert team member name here) Go!"

"I bet they've got 4 legs done by now"

"That beer has got to taste NICE."  

I ended up being one of the days that I actually "heart" facebook.  I got to see pics and read race recaps within a few short hours.  After looking at all of the pics I know that everything turned out just as is should have.  An eight man team, consisting of 4 couples dressed in tu-tus, pink sprinkle hats, and pink gloves supporting one another to the next hand off....Amazing.   Did I mention the team name was Frosted Flakes...Perfect!!!  They totally rocked it...everyone running like the wind....finishing in at 3h30mins.  So proud of all of them!

Even with all of the updates and warm fuzzies I felt for them, I'm not gonna lie...I had a few moments of sadness for myself.   It's just part of it, right?   Being that my hiatus isn't so much by choice but by necessity has helped, but my patience were wearing thin.  I allowed myself to feel the emotions for about...30 seconds, and then I thought....I can sit and be a pouty pants, or I can count down the days until my first workout and get flippin excited!   It's amazing the blessing a changed perspective can be.  I believe in my heart that this experience in the grand scheme of things will get filed in the "Things that make me stronger" category, both as a runner and a human being.  It will push me to further care about my health, it will strengthen me to allow my body to heal, and it solidifies why I'm so passionate about supporting important causes.  I could go a whole lot deeper....ramble more, but I won't.  It didn't take long for that feeling of sadness to be replace with pure jubilation.  Sit down ego, I have shit to do!  I spent the rest of the day dissecting the Playmakers Event calendar to line up my spring schedule.

With that, it's official...I have the racing bug!!   Here it is.....

April 2nd....Martian Invasion of Races Half-Marathon
I'm officially signed up for this one...Woohoo!  This will be my FIRST, and I have a slew of friend's and family that will be participating also.  Jess (this will be her first as well), Morgan and Spike, Jeff, Mike, Tim, and perhaps my sister-in-law and bros.   Not everyone is doing the half, but those that are running shorter distances will sure come in handy supporting us the last few miles.  It's going to be a great day...I can feel it!

April 17th...Komen Race for the Cure 5k. 
This race is held downtown Lansing, and as much as I despise this course I totally support the cause...It's always an emotional and humbling experience.

May 6th...Mason State Bank 5k. 
This race will be a last minute decision since it will depend on how I feel a week before Fifth Third.  I love this course, it's a nice change up being a night race, it's on a Friday leaving room in the weekend for a long run, PLUS it's in my hometown.  Seems to me that the pros really outweigh the cons.

May 14th...Fifth Third Riverbank Run 25k
I joined the DetermiNation Endurance Program.  I will write more about it in a future post, but in short it is a team that the American Cancer Society is piloting to help people train for longer distances while raising mad money.  It will be my longest race to date.

May 21...Capitol Bancorp 1 miler
This race will again be a last minute choice.  I'm not sure what that 25k will have me feeling like, but I've ALWAYS wanted to go balls out for one mile!  This is the first time they are offering a 1 mile race on the race series.

May 30...Lest They Be Forgotten 10k. 
A yearly tradition out in Webberville.  The course is along gorgeous country roads with rolling hills.  My kind of gig.

June18....Michigan Brewing Company 5k.  Out of all the years I've attended this thing, I have yet to actually run it.  Even it's for fun I'm getting myself a free mug of beer.

Beyond this I'll re-evaluate as the season gets going.   I hope that I'll have a bike by then and might start working in some swimming to keep up fitness.  This will allow me to skip running in 85*/80% humidity.
F-that!  This could be a great time to do some race volunteering also.  I'm so appreciative to those who give their time to "work" race events...it's time I do my share.

Races that I'm keeping my eye on for late summer and fall are....

Hall of fame 10k, Mint City 10 miler, St. James 8k, Women Working Wonders 8k, Capital City Half-Marathon, Autumn Classic 8k, Detroit Marathon Relay, Westside YMCA Booalthalon, Silver Bells 2-miler, Turkeyman Trot 5k, and Jingle Belle 5k

Phew...that's a bunch of racing if you ask me.   Writing down goals has always humbled me, as I am reminded that there is more to life than a missed race.  There is sure to be more than a few fun times this year.  My first run is Friday, four days from today.  My training schedule will be revised due to my time off, and can I guarantee one thing....I won't be looking back!


Peace,

Jen

P.S.  What's your strategy to staying positive after missing out on a day of fun?