Thursday, December 15, 2011

Looking Ahead to the 2012 Season

I was at a triathlete party last weekend, and it seemed that I was the only one who had not planned their race schedule for 2012. Time to start planning!
I have three goals for the 2012 race season:
(1) I want to run a half-marathon in less than 2 hours. My current PR is 2:07, a 9:42 pace, achieved at probably my strongest point in marathon training. I’d need to improve that pace by 32 seconds a mile—not an insignificant feat, but a doable challenge over an entire year.
(2) I want to PR my second marathon. Since my first marathon was Boston, whatever one I choose to do next is necessarily going to be an easier course, so I think this is a very doable goal. The harder part is figuring out how the marathon fits into my race schedule in a way that will not result in overtraining or injury.
(3) I want to earn guaranteed entry to the 2013 New York Marathon through New York Road Runners’ 9+1 program. This requires participating in 9 NYRR scored races (which can be short, 5K or 10K races) and volunteering at one race.
My plan, then, is use a few spring half-marathons to inch my time closer to the 2-hour mark, pick a fall marathon, and then a half-marathon as part of that training where I can meet my goal. My biggest challenge in this schedule is going to be that the PMC, a 190-mile charity bike ride on August 4-5, eats up all of July from a training perspective, and I’ll need to make sure I get a bit of rest from that before beginning the intense part of marathon training. Marine Corps Marathon (end of October) and Philadelphia Marathon (middle November) make a lot of sense, since I wouldn’t have to start 18+ mile runs until September. I have a slight preference for Marine Corps since my brother-in-law was a Marine, so that is my first choice if I can get in.
As far as half-marathons go, I am looking for suggestions from the endurance sports community. I registered for the NYC half lottery (March 18), but since that is not guaranteed, I am looking at alternate options. 13.1 is running its first race in New York on March 24, but “inaugural” could very well mean “we still have kinks to work out”. The Brooklyn Half in May helps toward all three goals.  I liked the experience of traveling to try a new half (even if I didn’t like the Vegas half itself), so I’m looking for ideas for a September running trip. The 5 and 10Ks should be easy to add in without much planning, and if I do the two half-marathons, I only need 7.
Then there is the matter of triathlons. I liked Pat Griskas Olympic (June 16) but I am hoping to be in Boston that weekend for the arrival of my new niece or nephew (congrats, Gail and Michael!). Rev3 Quassy Olympic (June 2) is a possibility as well, though I worry about being able to get through a 1-mile swim that early in the open water season. Alternately, I could do Great South Bay Sprint (June 3) and perhaps throw in Patriot Sprint when I am in Boston on the 16th. I don’t race in July because of PMC training, so the question becomes whether an August triathlon can fit into the marathon training plan—and if so, which one? Cranberry (outside Boston) is one of my favorite races and site of my best ever bike leg—but, when added to the PMC, that’s a lot of schlepping of my bike back and forth to Boston next summer. The real question is whether to do a sprint or Olympic. I’d like to get in one Olympic on the 2012 season, but it would wipe me out from running for a few days when I need to be ramping up marathon training.
So, my dear readers, what do you think? Any recommendations for September halves or other NYC-area triathlons? Anyone want to join me on any of these adventures?

1 comment:

  1. ~sigh~ i haven't figured out next year, either. I'm thinking about the PMC though... we should chat :) Also wondering whether or not I should sign up for Cranberry Oly given what happened this year!

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