(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday

We got the top necklace at the expo for Marine Corps. New today is the 50 states charm. Thanks, L!

(You can get your own necklace here)

What's Next (Goals?)

Needless to say, when you are out on a course for 8+ hours with no iPod and nothing to occupy your brain, you spend a lot of time thinking and planning. So. Here's what I have come up with.

• Running a 100 miler is insane.
• Training is very time consuming
• Training is lonely because no one else is as crazy as you are
• A LOT of training for one day, which may or may not go your way
• To be successful, you have to rely A LOT on other people
• With all the above said, I'm nixing (for now) the idea of running another 100
• Running a 50 miler is insane
• See above
• I may or may not ever run another 50 miler, and if I do, I will NOT pick a race where 50 is the furthest distance. After this weekend, I am even MORE convinced that "racing the clock" is the freaking worst. So unless I all of a sudden become MUCH faster, a 50 isn't in the cards.
• Running 50k is insane, but do-able.
• Training really isn't much different than marathon/half marathon training (FOR ME)
• Most 50k's are on trails, and I really like trails
• I can probably talk at least SOMEONE into joining me for a 50k
• Same rule applies as my 50 mile rule - I will not race the clock, so I really don't want to run a 50k if that is the longest distance
• Running marathons
• I think I still would like to run these. They are challenging, and for the most part, fun.
• When they are no longer "fun," I will no longer run.
• See above - I don't want to "race the clock" - this will also apply to traveling and my crazy flights.
• Related: I plan on traveling a lot less
• Related: I think I will set a (very long term) goal to run a full (or longer) in every state. I will be a LOT more picky about the races I run. So if you have a race in your state that you think I would love, please send info my way.
• Running half marathons
• I think I would like to go back to running more of these.
• Colorado has over 70 half marathons. (Long term) goal is to run every one in the state (or the marathon if there is one). This will take ages as there are a few weekends where there are 4-5 different races on the same day.
• Related: I've only run a dozen or so to date. This will take a while.
• Wyoming has over a dozen half marathons. Will have the same goal as Colorado, since Wyoming is close.
• Running the continents
• Obviously a goal, I have run 4 of the 7 already.
• This will take a jillion years since Australia and Antarctica are ridiculously expensive.

So... what does this all mean? Well, I am not really registered for that many (FOR ME) races. I'm likely going to be filling my schedule with more local runs. And as for training, well, I think I need to get into a groove again, and just find out whatever works. All while making sure I don't jack up any more body parts and keep the knee/ankles in check.

With that said. I have race fever and I am dying to register for SOMETHING but I actually plan on waiting to see how Marine Corps goes this weekend.

Foto Friday

Wow! So if people type that into google my blog comes up first? Even before 50 state clubs? That's pretty freaking awesome.

Drumroll Please!

What some of you may (or may not) have been waiting for!! The big reveal is here! Ready to find out where and when the 50 state challenge will be completed? Well, here it is! My newest race schedule!

TA DA!!

2011

October 29 - Spinx Half Marathon - Greenville, SC (State #40) Registered

October 30 - Big Hit Half Marathon - Louisville, KY (State #41) Registered

November 19 - White River Half Marathon - Cotter, AR (State #42) Registered

November 20 - Route 66 Half Marathon - Tulsa, OK (State #43) Registered

December 5 - Las Cruces Half Marathon - Las Cruces, NM

December 31 - New Years Double Half Marathon - Allen, TX Registered

2012

January 1 - New Years Double Marathon - Allen, TX Registered

January 15 - Rock 'n' Roll Arizona - Phoenix, AZ (half? full?)

January 29 - Tinker Bell Half Marathon - Anaheim, CA Registered

March 4 - Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans - New Orleans, LA (State #44) Registered

March 24/25 - Moab 100 Miler - Moab, UT (still giving this thought...)

April 15 - Platte River Half Marathon - Littleton, CO

April 20/21 - Ragnar SoCal - Huntington Beach to San Diego, CA Registered

April 28 - Rock 'n' Roll Country Music Half Marathon - Nashville, TN (State #45)

May 5 - One America 500 Festival Mini Marathon - Indianapolis, IN (State #46)

May 6 - Pittsburgh Half Marathon - Pittsburgh, PA (State #47)

May 13? - Superheros Half Marathon - Morristown, NJ (State #48)

May 27 - Edinburgh Marathon - Edinburgh, Scotland (full) Registered

June 2/9 - Incan Trail Marathon - Peru (27.5 mile trail marathon) Registered

June 23 - Rock 'n' Roll Seattle - Seattle, WA (full) Registered

June 24 - Vancouver Half Marathon - Vancouver, BC, Canada

July 29 - San Francisco Marathon - San Francisco, CA (full) Registered

August 3 - Legacy Midnight Run - Salt Lake City, UT (half)

August 11 - Georgetown to Idaho Springs Half Marathon - Idaho Springs, CO

August 19 - Pikes Peak Marathon - Pikes Peak, CO (full?)

August 20 - News & Sentinel Half Marathon - Parkersburg, WV (State #49)

September 9 - Maple Leaf Half Marathon - Manchester, VT (STATE #50!!!)

September 23 - Rock 'n' Roll Montreal - Montreal, Quebec, Canada (half)

September 29 - Wine & Dine Half Marathon - Lake Buena Vista, FL (half)

October 29 - Marine Corps Marathon - Arlington, VA (full)

November 6 - New York City Marathon - NYC, NY (full)

2013

January - Goofy Challenge (half & full)

May/June - Comrades Marathon - South Africa (56 miles)

2014

Australia - No specific race selected yet.

2015

February/March - Antarctica Marathon - the waiting list puts it out this far. Plus it is INSANELY expensive. I'll have to save for this one. Probably will be my only out of state race that entire year.

**Keep in mind some of these races do not have a 2012 date officially set, so the date might be from 2011, and I'm just assuming it will be roughly the same time**

So. With all this in mind... seems like I am going to have an even BIGGER 2012 than I had originally planned. Will I see any of my bloggy buddies at any of these races? Well, besides RnR New Orleans and RnR Seattle. I am obviously pretty full already, but am ALWAYS open to suggestions. And my February is completely naked...

I have MONTHS to work on it, but I plan on an AWESOME giveaway when I complete my final state next fall.

SO. FREAKING. EXCITED.