2008 races

**I believe I started this post on Wednesday and I'm just now finishing it up on Saturday! Sorry for the delay, but I had a major research paper (yes, a huge paper is a part of my history class) assignment turned in, so I've been grading, running, and visiting with my niece, who at this very minute is laying in my lap. Anyways, on to 2008!

I think I have my 2008 spring race schedule figured out. Notice I said spring. I'm just planning my training/races up to April, then I'm going to reevaluate and see what I might like to do in the summer and fall. I think I have a good mix of trail and road races and a good mix of long and short races. My shortest race will be a 3K and the longest will be my first marathon in April.

I think I attempted the 50K before I was really ready, so this spring I am focusing on building my mileage and getting stronger. My season starts with the 3K on Sunday and culminates with the marathon in April. Here are the races:

Winter Cross Country Series
I did this series last year and they were my first trail races ever. There are four races to the series: 3K, 5K, 8+K, and 10K. I'm doing these for a couple of reasons. First, there are not many trail races in Memphis, so I want to not only take advantage of them, but also support them. Second, I want to see how I have improved from last year.

Swampstomper 25K
This race is on the outskirts of Memphis and I am running it with Laura and it will be her first trail race ever. There are three races I'm running this spring that have longer options, so my friends in the Memphis Ultra will be running the longer options and I'll do the shorter, then cheer them on. The course, from what I've heard is usually pretty muddy and it is very technical with a lot of quick elevation changes.

Sylamore 25K
This race is in Arkansas and we are driving over there with Michael, Patrick, and Patrick's dad and we are all staying in this hotel/cabin almost 100 yds from the start. They are all running the 50K option, so I'll be finished way before them. Check out the link to the race to the right so you can see some of the pictures. It has a creek crossing 2 miles into the race and the last 2 miles of the race and sometimes the creek is up to people's chests! I've heard stories of people stripping down in the freezing cold, carrying their clothes above their head, then getting dressed again! I really don't think I'll do that, but I'll have to figure something out!

Mississippi 50 - 20K
This race is supposed to be one of the flattest trail races in the south, so it is great for a 50K PR and for a runner's first 50 miler. I'm going down to Laurel, MS with Patrick and Michael where they will be attempting their first 50 miler. I'm going to run the 20K option, crew/pace them. I have to hurry back, though, because I fly out for DC the next day!

Germantown Half Marathon
This will be my first half since the crazy Nashville half last year and I'm looking to smoke it! Laura, Michael, Patrick, and a few others are going to run this. As a sidenote, I originally had planned to run a 50K in AR this weekend, but I decided to hold off.

Death Run
Michael and I ran this race last year and it was our first "long" race ever. There are two options -the death run (15M) or the double death run (30M). I will be doing the death run and a few others will be doing the double death. This race starts on one side of Memphis and follows the Wolf River to the other side. There is little support, so you have to carry a lot of water, etc. yourself. Last year Patrick did the double and he peed blood afterwards!!!

Nashville Marathon
This will be my last race of the spring and my first marathon ever. Laura and I are going to run the full and I'm trying to convince some old soccer friends to train and run the half. Nashville is one of the rock and roll marathons so there are bands everywhere. It is just a fun race to run!

After Nashville I'm going to see where I am with running and see where I want to go from there. I think I have a nice season planned out and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens!

This post has taken me over 30 minutes to type because I'm holding my precious niece in one arm and typing with the other!! I'll be posting plenty of her pics this year!!

Happy running in 2008!!