The first race of the season is coming. September 2 and it’s a tough 8K trail run.
For me, it’s sort of like doing the Super Bowl first thing, and the other games after that seem easier. I did this race last year and wanted the challenge again. Oh, and the swag was awesome. Let’s face it, all swag is nice, but after a few hundred races, you get selective about swag.
It’s also fun to peruse the gear websites, looking at running tops, shorts, bras, socks, and shoes. Think about new gels, bars, tablets, water bottles, and hydration packs. Setting up a training schedule around a job, housework, yard work, spouses, and kids (got the spouse, but no kids here). There’s a lot to pick from this year. There are races on airport runways (closed for the race, of course), gravel and technical trails, beaches, roads, and bridges. There are charity runs, memorial runs, and runs themed to everything from coffee to cupcakes. And let’s not forget bike events, triathlons, and swim meets. Good thing my new medal holder has space for over 100 medals.
I have my September races in place: the trail run and one 5K along the beach and a 10K in a park, both for veterans charities. A swim meet in October (I am having a tough time picking races in October; there are a lot of good ones). Good racing in November (including a massive 10K that was memorable last year because I got so sick with a respiratory infection afterward). December has some smaller trail runs, and an oldie but goodie from my past: a local race that I did in its very first year but not since. It’s been through several changes in race management; I admit I am curious as to how it’s done now. It’s also a home race for me.
I’m always inspired at the start of a new race season because it is new: everything is fresh, untried, unfamiliar, and somewhat unknown. But I go to every event looking for additional motivation. That individual who looks like me, who probably hears what I hear (“You’re too fat/old/slow to be out here!”) but is out here anyway, doing this because this is who they are. Because you get used to turning off and tuning out the haters and wearing the blinders, not seeing or hearing those perfectly muscled, fit, and dressed competitors whose primary means of feeling good is making you feel bad. But a special note to the friendly women (trans and bio) wearing jewelry and makeup for a race: you go, dolls and queens. I can’t manage that, but y’all look fab.
See you at the starting line soon.
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