Running Goals for Rest of 2014

After the harsh winter weather impeded my training, this spring started off pretty lame. I skipped several races and DNF'd another. Then things began to turn around. I got some reasonable miles in, started speed work, and improved my training paces. Then...I got greedy, or stupid, or both. I ran way too fast on the treadmill and injured my knee. That was 3 weeks ago. I'm about 95% healed. Now I'm thinking about the rest of 2014.

JULY. Just hang on! I'm barely over the knee injury. This month will simply be a time to regain fitness and aerobic capacity. Lots of easy runs. Hopefully those runs will be getting longer and longer as I approach August 9.

AUGUST. In 4 weeks (August 9), I have the Howl at the Moon 8-Hour Ultra. The largest timed ultra in the country! It's normally my "big event" for the year. I'm not ready, but it'll still be pretty epic. No personal records this year. But, the race will be challenging and filled with fun and friends. I'll definitely rack up enough miles to add another ultra to my tally sheet (this will be #93).

SEPTEMBER. After Howl on August 9, I'm not sure what comes next. I've deleted several races from my proposed schedule: Evergreen Lake 34 miler, Farmdale 30 miler, McNotAgain 30 miler, and Across the Years 24-Hour. Also, no Seattle Ghost Marathon. I will likely run ONE race in September--either the Rock Cut Hobo 50K (if I'm in good shape) or the local "yet to be announced" Last Man Standing. Rock Cut is a fairly easy 50K trail race in Rockford, IL. The Last Man Standing event would be on my local trail and consist of a 5-mile loop run every 55 or 60 minutes until only one runner is left competing (I'm lobbying for the 2.6 mile loop every 30 minutes). I'd probably knock off 30+ miles. Whether it's Rock Cut Hobo or the Last Man Standing, it'll be another ultra. Call it #94.

OCTOBER. This is reserved for my running bet with Joe. We'll do the RNR St Louis Half-Marathon on October 19. He needs to run 1:50, I need to run 1:35. I plan to dedicate about 4-5 weeks to speed training before the race. Enough time to make a difference, but not so long I'll get injured.

NOVEMBER. I'll recover quickly from the half-marathon, then re-start aerobic training. I've already registered for the Tunnel Hill 50 miler on November 15. Lots of friends are running. I'll be ready. This could be a new personal record for the distance! And ultra/marathon #95.

DECEMBER. No races. Intend to recover from the 50-miler and regain basic aerobic fitness. I'll start a new marathon training plan in mid-December to prepare for my Illinois Marathon in late April. That will be a BQ attempt. My secret weapon? The Hansons Marathon Method. I'll blog about that in the future...and keep people updated during the training. I'm excited.