It just strengthens that idea that an 8 week offseason is needed every now and then. With all of these endurance events, a break is definitely needed.
During this break, the planning for the 2015 season is under way. The first definite race of the new season is the Rocky Raccoon 100 (RR100), down near Houston Texas.
It's going to be nice to get down south from the cold northeast winter and try a Texas 100 miler.
This pictures of the trails there look extremely flat. Would that make them fast? I hope so. Starting October I'll be training hard for this race and will be looking for a PR at the 100 mile distance. My current PR is 21:24:21 in Vermont.
With non-technical trails like these at RR100, I hope to PR on this course...
...that is, if I don't become a meal first!
UTMB?
Even though I did survive and finish the Grand Slam in 2013, I still feel more can be improved on my hill climbing. I'll be adding a lot more strength and core training to my regimen to strengthen my body for the rigorous climbs in this race. I don't want to just survive this race, I want to do extremely well. So I'll be putting in a lot of hard work towards this end.
Start of UTMB in Chamonix, France. It's the "Tour de France" of Ultrarunning.
Leadville 100?
How did this race get back into my radar again?
Maybe it's because it was the toughest race I've ever finished?
Maybe it's because this race has definitely changed my life for the better after my first attempt in 2011 resulted in a miserable DNF?
Maybe it's because I can still probably learn a lot more about myself if I race it again?
Maybe because I know of a lot of people who might be going to Leadville next year and I want to get on that bandwagon?
Or maybe it's just because I want that huge 25 hour buckle...
Damn, that's a thing of beauty!
Well, for whatever reasons, there is a strong possibility that I will be registering for Leadville again on January 1. The only doubt that I have is that that race is just 2 weeks before UTMB.
Two hilly killer races in 2 weeks. Just shoot me now!
USA Triathlon Nationals?
On the triathlon front, I do want to try my hand in Nationals and see how I do. This past year, I've posted a 2:10 at the Massachusetts State Triathlon, so I know I still have the speed to compete at the olympic distance.
The problem is, I don't know where or when USA Triathlon Nationals will be next year. And that information is notoriously delayed until January. My racing schedule will probably already be set at that time, so I'll have to let fate tell me whether it's possible to race Nationals or not.
Other races?
Three Days at the Fair. I ran 161 miles this past year. Maybe try for 200 miles?
Running around in circles. I actually enjoyed it last year. I still don't know why...
The Bear 100. If UTMB doesn't come through, this race would be a strong possibility. It's a Hardrock 100 qualifier too; that is incentive enough.
Bear 100. What a beautiful race!
Vermont 100. Less of a chance next year, but I need two more Vermont 100 races to get a 500 mile buckle.
Vermont 100.
Hardrock 100. Very slim chance of making it, but I'll throw my name into the lottery and see what shakes out.
Hardrock freakin' 100!
NJ State Triathlon. Olympic Distance tri, it'll be nice to compete, AND BEAT triathletes in my area. If you're in my age group, I will track you down!
NJ State Triathlon
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