Friday, February 8, 2013

2013 Race Schedule: As Final As It Gets


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!

18 comments:

  1. 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.

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    1. This is what I have to say about Cleveland: http://d1lhh6ad732yfg.cloudfront.net/prod_img/position_2/87_49.jpg

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  2. Instead of the Baltimore Half you could do the Hershey Half. It's October 20th and I know you like chocolate

    http://www.hersheyhalfmarathon.com/

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    1. Hm. Thanks for the heads up, looks like a relatively forgiving elevation profile. Not easy, but not awful.

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  3. What about the greenwich island beach 2 mile swim??

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    1. So close to IMMT...I have vacation time at work, technically, but it's REALLY hard to get away on a weekday.

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  4. I like this schedule! I'm doing the Jim McDonnell 2 mile swim, too. The Chesapeake Bay Swim is on my list for next year.

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  5. I 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.

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  6. Crawling 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.

    Also you could do Army 10 Miler instead. It's on Oct 20.

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    1. 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.

      You know, those 3.1 miles make all the difference .

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  7. 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.

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  8. WOW--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?

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    1. Well, 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.

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  9. Who hates the Baltimore marathon? I LOVE that race, both the full and the half. And we can totally hang out!

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  10. I'm exhausted just READING this!!! I don't know anything about Baltimore but Philly is amazing and I'm kind of jealous!

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  11. SO much awesome swimming. After finalizing plans to move to the Eastern Shore, I looked into the Bay Swim but it was too late :(

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  12. big 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!

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