the Way of the Turtle

Back to Virginia in March...
Tuesday, January 10, 2012

I've been thinking that I want to run a marathon sometime in the spring, to get ready for a late-spring/early summer 50k (possibly the Nipmuck 50k in early June.) Unfortunately trail marathons within driving distance are few and far between that time of year, as are trail 50k's... briefly considered a road marathon, but none leaped out as being all that appealing. I also found out that some of the long trail races have reached their registration limits, and some have registration fees that are bordering on being, well, nuts ($110, having missed the early-early and early registrations.) In the end I bit the bullet and signed up for the Instant Classic Marathon Trail Run, which very ironically is in Virginia in mid-March. My last race of 2011 was in VA, and it looks like my first race (after snowshoe season) will also be in VA.

I'll have my work cut out for me, too... there's a 7 hr time limit for finishing. I completed Stone Cat in 7:17, and ran the first 26 miles of the Seashore Nature Trail 50k in 6:33... so I think it's doable, if I don't do anything stupid (and if the course isn't significantly harder than the descriptions I've read online.)

One downside is that it's the same day as the last race of the WMAC Dion Snowshoe Series, Catamount Sunset. Then again, that's easily my least-favorite race of the series, so while I'll miss seeing my snowshoeing friends one last time and I'll feel slightly bad for not supporting the series by being there... I can't really say I'll miss Catamount Sunset all that much.

The other downside is it's early enough in the spring that I'll still need to keep busting my backside for a good long time afterwards... no taking it easy using the excuse of resting up for an upcoming 50k!

JMH