Who never wants to hear me talk about the Myrtle Beach
Marathon, and my hemming and hawing about a possible faster-than-sub-4-hours
time goal, ever again?
I figured.
Luckily, it will be over in eight days (WHAT?), and then
I’ll move on to the rest of the season.
The rest of the season? I mean, folks, it’s only
February. This is the cool thing about a triathlon season with an ironman in
it, a marathon is just the beginning. So what else will you be hearing me
babble about? Without further suspense, I present: my 2013 racing calendar.
February 16: Myrtle Beach Marathon (Myrtle Beach, SC).
Where the sub-4 magic, and possibly the sub-3:55 magic, is going to happen.
February 24: DC Tri Club swim meet (Washington, DC). The
only place in the world that you can race a 400 yard and 800 yard freestyle. I
pointed out that these aren’t real swim events, the organizers pointed out that
triathletes are scared of ZOMG SWIMMING 500 OR 1000 WHOLE YARDS. I gave up and
registered for a fun meet anyway.
March 2: Maryland Masters Swim Meet (Catonsville, MD). A
chance to swim PROPER swim distances. I love the 500 free, and will swim that,
along with the 200 back, which will shame me into working more at the pool.
April 20: TryCharleston Half Ironman (Charleston, SC).
After just barely missing a sub-6 hour race last season, I’m going back with
Rachel and Karen to realize the dream. Flat course, generally favorable
weather, and swimming in a lake with gators. Winning all around.
May 18: Casa River Century (Martinsburg, WV). Hills. Just
like there will be in Mont Tremblant in August. A nice chance to practice putting out
relatively even power over a rolling course and check my bike fitness as
ironman training gets underway.
May 26: McDonnell Two Mile Lake Swim (Reston, VA). Open
water practice, and a chance to hang with my DCRP teammates. I might do the one
mile swim, too, but since the 5k isn’t an option this year, there will be no
repeat of the triple dip. Boo.
June 9: Great Chesapeake Bay 4.4 Mile Swim (Stevensville,
MD). Notice all the swim events this winter and spring? Yeah. They provide
intermediate motivation to work my butt off in the pool so that I can put in a
good performance here. I swore for years that I’d never do this, but somehow
changed my mind this fall. Mostly because I wanted an excuse to “have” to swim
thousands upon thousands of yards a week. Swimming, glorious swimming.
July 13: Diamond in the Rough “Olympic” Distance Triathlon
(Perryville, MD). This race has a
super-hilly bike course, and will provide a good chance to race hills prior to
Ironman Mont Tremblant without totally derailing my training. It’s a 1500 meter
swim – 27 mile bike – 5 mile run that will give me a good fitness check, but
won’t require a lot of rest before or after. Add that it’s close to home, and
it’s just about perfect, despite the odd distances.
August 18: Ironman Mont Tremblant (Mont Trembland, QC).
The biggie, dictating all season decisions. The reason that I have few races in
June and July. The reason I will be biking many hills. The reason I will work
relentlessly all year.
September 8: Nations Triathlon (Washington, DC). The
dumbest of dumb ideas – racing 3 weeks after an ironman. Except for the fact
that I think I can qualify for 2014 Age Group Nationals from this race, which I’m
eager to do because that race is taking place in my nominal hometown of
Milwaukee, WI.
October 12: Baltimore Half Marathon (Baltimore, MD).
Fitness check on the way to a fall marathon. I know people hate this race. So,
if you have a better idea for a mid to late October half marathon in the
mid-Atlantic, shoot it my way.
November 24: Philadelphia Marathon (Philadelphia, PA).
Big bad time goal TBD following Myrtle Beach.
And that’s that. Who’s going to be with me at these
races? Let’s hang out!
I don't think the Bmore half such a bad race. I have done it a few times. Just is hilly. I actually like the finish line there. Anyhow, you can fly to Cleveland with me and hang out with my fam for the Cleveland RnR half in oct :) Also I need to get on the May 26th lake swims.
ReplyDeleteThis is what I have to say about Cleveland: http://d1lhh6ad732yfg.cloudfront.net/prod_img/position_2/87_49.jpg
DeleteInstead of the Baltimore Half you could do the Hershey Half. It's October 20th and I know you like chocolate
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hersheyhalfmarathon.com/
Hm. Thanks for the heads up, looks like a relatively forgiving elevation profile. Not easy, but not awful.
DeleteWhat about the greenwich island beach 2 mile swim??
ReplyDeleteSo close to IMMT...I have vacation time at work, technically, but it's REALLY hard to get away on a weekday.
DeleteI like this schedule! I'm doing the Jim McDonnell 2 mile swim, too. The Chesapeake Bay Swim is on my list for next year.
ReplyDeleteYay McDonnell swim!
DeleteI liked Baltimore with slight exception to the logistics. I ended up parking at a light rail and taking that down which wasn't too bad but I'm not sure I'd do it again. I prefer smaller races. But, the course was fun and I really surprised myself on the hills.
ReplyDeleteCrawling Crab Half in Hampton, Va - October 4. I think the Woodrow Wilson Half in DC is that same weekend. But those are both more early October.
ReplyDeleteAlso you could do Army 10 Miler instead. It's on Oct 20.
Yeah, I'm looking for later October, which rules out both of those. I loved WW Half, and Crawling Crab sounds like a good race, too. ATM is another option I've been contemplating, I just feel like a half marathon is a better tune up race than a 10 miler.
DeleteYou know, those 3.1 miles make all the difference .
I know a lot of people that LOVE Baltimore, and a lot of people set PRs here at both the full and half distance. Of course, I've never run it.
ReplyDeleteWOW--very exciting! I guess I fall under the category of triathletes who would rather not swim ZOMG 500 or 1,000 yards straight ;) ... which means I should probably look for a swim meet/competition, right?
ReplyDeleteWell, I guess my point is that, in short course yards, the standard distances are 500 and 1000 yards. Which is not much more than 400 or 800 yards. And, is barely more than the distance for a *sprint* triathlon.
DeleteWho hates the Baltimore marathon? I LOVE that race, both the full and the half. And we can totally hang out!
ReplyDeleteI'm exhausted just READING this!!! I don't know anything about Baltimore but Philly is amazing and I'm kind of jealous!
ReplyDeleteSO much awesome swimming. After finalizing plans to move to the Eastern Shore, I looked into the Bay Swim but it was too late :(
ReplyDeletebig bad race schedule!! i have yet to finalize mine... it's sort of killing me. i did sign up for the pmc, so that will dictate the rest!
ReplyDelete