Three New Races and My Ever-Increasing Shame

Still nothing imminent on the “scheduled big race” horizon, though I did sign-up for three separate $20 races last week: the Go Green 5k Trail Run (Saturday, Oct. 16), the Trick or Trot 10k (Saturday, Oct. 30), and the Mad Marsh 50k (Saturday, Nov. 20). I find it humorous that I can pay the same amount of money for a race/run that is 10x the distance of another, but hey, it is what it is—I’m just glad they’re all so affordable (it sure beats the $150 Burning River or Boston Marathon fee…though you do “get what you pay for,” which is essentially my way of saying I'll be shelling out the funds for those races again, without issue). Here’s a brief race synopsis of each of the aforementioned three I’ll be running:

Go Green 5k Trail Run: I wasn’t even aware of this new, under-the-radar run until last Friday, when I was asked if I knew about the race that was “right around the corner from [my] house”. Upon looking it up the following day, I found that this was not an exaggeration—the race is literally right around the corner from my house (it’s run in a conservation area that is situated within the woods that border my backyard). So I signed up, as I can’t pass-up a race that doesn’t even require me to move my car out of my garage (even if I haven’t done any of the necessary preparation for it, at all). And it’s (supposedly) on trails (though they are newly-cleared trails that are still chock-full of soft, thick underbrush—ideal for speed: no, ideal for ankle turns and hidden objects: yes). But the race map makes it look like just as much of the run is on the road/paved bicycle paths, so I’ll emerge unscathed yet.

Trick or Trot (10k): This is another low-key event, but one I look forward to (and participate in) each year. It begins and ends at my old Elementary School (May Howard), which sits approximately 2.5 miles from my front door. Again, a race that is run in/on my stomping grounds, and one that most of the family participates in each year; I never lay down a super-fast time (though the course couldn’t be much easier), but it’s one of my all-time favorites. Plus, 10ks are so few and far between....

Mad Marsh 50k: At my recently completed FATS 50k, a gal was handing out fliers for another 50k she was spearheading—the Mad Marsh 50k. I took a gander online, and though this is primarily a fun run (at last tally, I believe there were 10 people signed up), I couldn’t pass-up the opportunity to get in some good, long distance on trails. Held in Beaufort, SC (which is only about an hour away), this should work out for me nicely; it will help me keep some distance on my legs without making me drive too far or go it alone.

I couldn’t ask for much more in my training—the weather is cooling ever-so-slightly, my legs are feeling pretty strong, and I have a few races on the horizon to help keep me motivated. I’m still searching for the ever-elusive “big race,” but fear that it’s gotten too late in the year for such high hopes; many ultramarathons are run out West, where there are ample well-developed trails (and mountains) to allow for such endeavors, and many of the trails will soon be snow-covered. It’s probably for the best, as my already-existent bills need paid more than I need to splurge on travel and hotel expenses…but still, racing makes me happy (and yes, I realize it’s an addiction). But having said that, Boston Marathon sign-up begins next Monday (October 18) at 9:00 AM EDT, so I’ve at least got that to look forward to.

I’ll leave you with two songs/videos that always make me smile and somehow require me to sing at the top of my lungs (sorry, world)—“The Cave” by Mumford & Sons (excellent, excellent stuff) and “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz (yes, I’m ashamed of myself):





P.S. How does the briefcase-toting white girl in Taio's two-girl posse keep from showing her downstairs? I mean, the camera is RIGHT THERE and her "dress" is cut up to her cleavage. I'm convinced she's anatomically incorrect (i.e. a human Barbie Doll). I've evidently watched the video far too many times...FOR SHAME!