Resolutions

I tend to think of resolutions as an assurance of disappointment. Invariably, I commit to ideas that are just ridiculous, the breaking of habits that I know (deep down) I have no intention of breaking. So instead of figuring out all the stuff I'm going to stop doing, I figured I'd start 2010 with a proactive pursuit.

I've been debating what to do with my running goals. Post-marathon I've been running very little, sticking more to classes at the Y, logging maybe 10-15 miles a week. While I do feel like I have another marathon in me, I don't think 2010 is the year. Instead, I'm committing to six half-marathons, one for each month May through October. I'd like to be faster, with several races to look forward to instead of one GINORMOUS event that overwhelms my life for months on end. Half-marathons are also just easier to plan around, easier to fit into my world, and take far less time for recovery.

I will never be fast. But I can be faster.

A tentative schedule...the only one I've registered for is the July 4 Half as I was afraid it would fill up fast and there aren't many Half-Marathons in July. Maybe Minnesotans think it's hot here in July? Strange. The first and last entry are in parentheses because I'm not sure if I want my first in the series to be in April, when it could still be yucky outside. I did the Get-in-Gear 10K last year and it was pretty rainy when we started. Hmmm. But I could see myself getting jazzed for racing early in the season so maybe I'll embrace the potential chill. I'm also torn between the Lake Minnetonka race and Stillwater. I bet the Minnetonka race is very pretty, but since Stillwater was my first half-marathon I have a certain affection for it. Happy decisions to be made in the New Year...

(April 24: Get in Gear Half)
May: Either May 2 Lake Minnetonka Half OR May 30 Stillwater Half
June 12: Grampa Stays Home Half, Bald Eagle Lake
July 4: Red, White, and Boom Twin Cities Half
August 28: Rochester Half
September 25: Birkie Trail Half (Hayward, WI)
(October 10: Whistlestop Half (Ashland, WI))