After last week’s 5k, I was all excited to start doing some race planning. I was ready to sign up for a half marathon in early December and wanted to sit down and come up with a loose training plan. I felt like if I wanted to do any more long races in 2019, that would be my best bet.
For the past 2 years there was a half marathon held in Baltimore called Race 13.1. I guess it’s a race that moves around to different cities. It’s been held here the first weekend in December and is a flat route around the harbor. Well, when I went to check the dates for this year I learned it is not coming to Baltimore this year. So that wasn’t going to work!
Race Planning
Over the past week I have been looking at races and trying to decide what (if anything) I should do. I came up with a few options. Ideally I was looking for something close by (no more than a 45 minute drive) in early December. I realized my options were limited because the last weekend in November is Thanksgiving weekend and we are traveling, and Grayson’s birthday is December 15th and we may celebrate either that weekend or the weekend before (although zero plans have been made yet for that). Then the holiday season is here and I’m sure we will be traveling but I don’t know when. So basically I would need to do something before Thanksgiving or wait until we have more firm plans for our December celebrations/travel.
Race Options
As of right now there are a few things I am considering:
- Run the Annapolis Running Classic on November 16th
- Do a last minute race in December as my schedule allows (shorter than a half)
- Take some downtime now, rest up, and start planning a spring race
I am not sure if the ARC will sell out and that is a 45 minute drive away. Not only would Rob need to be on baby duty all morning, but I’m sure the pumping situation would be complicated. It’s totally doable but I need to be really committed if I want to go through all that. While I am coming off a 12 mile race and know I am in decent shape to run it, I wouldn’t have time for a full training cycle.
While I certainly could jump into some last minute races, I was really looking forward to coming up with a plan and a goal. Not anything too crazy, but I like having something to work towards. I am leaning towards option 3 but maybe will figure out another running goal that doesn’t involve an official race.
I think that the urge to plan my next race was heightened by my recent races and as I gave myself a few days to think it over I realized that this fall is going to be kind of busy and it wouldn’t hurt to wait until spring to do a goal race. This would also mean I would no longer be pumping/breastfeeding as much (if at all) and that would definitely make things easier.
Weekly Run Down
Anyway, this is what I did last week:
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Strength training and walking
Wednesday: 5 miles with 30 minutes at tempo pace
Thursday: 3.25 stroller miles
Friday: Strength training
Saturday: 8 miles
Sunday: 4.3 miles
On my days home I’ve been getting out with Grayson for walks almost every day. It’s nice to get fresh air and enjoy the weather now that it’s finally starting to cool off.
On Wednesday I did a tempo run just because I felt like doing some sort of a workout but didn’t want to do anything too difficult. My tempo miles were around an 8:00 minute/mile pace. It’s kind of sad that it is dark out for my entire run now!
For Thursday’s stroller run we got out earlier than usual. I thought we could beat the traffic and head across one of the busier roads where it’s easier to run with a stroller. It was still a pain getting back and it started to lightly rain, so the end of this run was a bit stressful.
Saturday’s run was in much cooler weather! It was 44 at the start and because I was running before the sun came up it was pretty chilly. I think I needed a headband because I got a headache which sometimes happens when I run in the cold. The weather did make this run feel much easier and I was wishing we had these temps for my race last weekend!
On Sunday I ended up running alone, at 8am! Rob wasn’t going to run and offered to take Grayson for a walk, so I took advantage and ran by myself in an area that I don’t usually run anymore. It was nice to run a little later!
Fall Running
I think it’s time to go through some of my warmer running clothes and make sure I have them ready to go! I didn’t really wear them much last year since I was super pregnant when it got really cold. Then I didn’t really start running outside again until March. It’s crazy to think we are already in the final months of 2019!
Are you ready for fall running weather? Has it cooled off by you yet?
What would you do about racing if you were me?
Are there busy roads where you run that prevent you from running certain routes?
I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down!
I was actually considering Race 13.1 Baltimore so I could check Maryland off my list but was sad to see that it wouldn’t be there this year 🙁
Definitely a lot of options when it comes to racing or not racing. You mentioned you were traveling for Thanksgiving – is there be a local turkey trot when you’ll be traveling? That might be a great way to get in a race – not a half, but at least a 5k or 10k.
Oh that would have been so fun if you were able to come run the 13.1! Maybe one year if you’re not running Chicago you can do one of the races in the Baltimore Running Festival. They have lots of different distances and a relay option!
Oh and as for Thanksgiving, we are driving to NY Thanksgiving morning so I won’t be able to do a turkey trot that day. But maybe there is something else that weekend that I could find!
Everyone keeps asking me what races I have planned for the rest of the year and I’m really on the fence. My friend Steph wants to do Hot Chocolate–I could do the 15k but I don’t know that I want to. Should I do the 5k? Oh, the pressure!
It seems like you have been enjoying the shorter races lately! And maybe that’s a cheaper option too if you’re not fully committed?
Ooh come do the Jingle all the way 15K first week of December. It’s so much fun and everyone dresses up! It’s pretty much the Cherry Blossom course.
Maybe I will if we don’t end up celebrating his birthday that weekend!
I just can’t get out and run in the mornings when it’ still dark! I hope you find a race to run that fits with your schedule – it can be tough with pumping and considerations too.
Yea I think it will be much easier when I dont have to worry about that anymore! It makes the timing for everything so tricky!
The uncertainty can be so hard. I was doing some of the same while waiting on my nephew’s birthday party date. Luckily I was able to get into the Albany race due to their bib transfer. I’m winging the rest of fall as I don’t know December travel plans yet. It was kind of funny that I had Jan/Feb figured out by about July
Oh wow are you doing races in Jan and Feb? I haven’t found much around here and then it makes me nervous that the weather will be bad. I guess there are always races in NYC!
I know I whine (a lot LOL) about how I hate summer ending, but I do like the autumn weather (I just love summer more). That said, I do not like autumn arriving pronto over night with no transitional period. And, the temps felt more like early winter than early autumn last Friday (It was similar to your Saturday weather…mid-40’s and that felt chilly in the dark). So, yeah…figuring out the layers and which “cold weather” gear I really need this soon…not ready for that! We don’t have much for races in Iowa once the cold weather sets in, so I’m trying to squeeze in a few extras before December
I like fall weather, but we don’t always get “fall weather” lol. Its usually either still hot and humid or it jumps right to being cold. And usually rainy. But those nice clear, sunny, cool days are perfect!
I would love to have those temps for running right now. In fact, anything under 70 would be great for me. It keeps going back and forth. We will get nice weather in the 60s for a few days then it goes right back to being hot and humid.
I’d wait and go with a spring goal race! This way you get a great training cycle and can really dial into a goal race. I know how hard it is to wait, especially when you’re itching to get back out there. That’s where I am with marathon training…I’d really love to do another one in the spring but I think my best chance of success is taking a full year to reestablish my endurance base.
I do think it makes sense to wait. Especially since its almost the middle of October and I still haven’t decided anything! I’m sure the next few months will go fast and then I will hopefully be fully able to train.
Actually neither is in NYC. There is Lebow, my favorite Half but I think I’m giving it up in 2020 because Ft. Lauderdale moved to January due to the Miami Half / Marathon needing to move for the Super Bowl and don’t want to do two back to back I don’t think. So FLL in January and Bermuda in February. I’ll go into the lotto for NYC Half in March
you know I totally understand the feeling of wanting to get another race in, but as it seems like it’s not really working out timing-wise, I would almost just wait for spring. It’s really tempting though to get another race in!
It’s super-fall here – lots of rain.
I’m lucky to live on the edge of town and farm/dike area so I don’t really have to run on busy roads too much. Also we have bike paths everywhere so I resort to that if need be.
I think waiting until spring probably makes the most sense. Not worth trying to force something to happen if its just not in the cards!
I’ve got two races in the next 10 days and I’m feeling burned out! A 10K on Sunday and a half marathon the following weekend. I wish I was feeling a little more excited about these races. I just got all of my cold weather gear out this past week. I always enjoy seeing my favorite gear again!
I guess thats the one downside to signing up for races far in advance! I have a feeling I am going to need my cold weather gear sooner than i would like and Im not gonna know where anything is…
I love Fall and am excited about the cooler weather. However, I am not ready for the colder weather. 🙂 I have a race next weekend, then traveling to SC in December, Georgia in March, and Kansas in April. Fun!
Wow lots of fun places! I am not ready for the cold weather at all!
Our fall weather is finally here and it is such a joy to run in it. I cannot wait to run a half in early November and after that I’m going to get in some shorter races before year end.
Sounds like a good plan! Its so nice to finally be running in cooler weather.