Sunday, September 14, 2008

Thinking about 2009 already?

I have returned from a wonderful weekend at a lake cabin in Minnesota. It was great to spend some quality time with my aunts, cousins, and grandma ... just us girls. Friday night I truly felt like crap from my cold, Saturday I felt a little bit better but had more of a cough, and this morning I felt 150% better with just a nasty cough.

I have unpacked my bag, thrown in a load of laundry, and began packing again. Tomorrow morning I board a charter bus with a good number of teachers, administrators, and coordinators ... heading back to MN for a 3 day conference. It's going to be a busy 3 days, but I hope to learn a lot.
____________________________________________________
On the "training" front....

For the past 4 months I felt like I have been doing farely well with my workouts. The month of June was 30 days of workouts with no rest days. July was okay, but busy with a lot of weekends out of town. August was similar, and here we are in September and the month is almost half over.

I looked at my "Race Schedule" on my sidebar and was very disappointed with the number of races I did this year, or lack there of. I did 2. My first triathlon, an indoor one, and then my first Half Marathon. That's it. There were a handful of races that I had on my schedule with all intentions of doing and enough time to train for every one of them, but they just weren't in the cards this year. Next year will be better.

2009 is going to be different.

I know it is probably too soon to be thinking of 2009, but I am. You know why? Because registration for the Fargo Marathon has opened this week and I am already looking forward to signing up. After the Half Marathon this year, I knew that I would sign up again, but thought I would probably do the Marathon Relay (4 person) or the 5K. But, the more I think about it, I am thinking I might do the half again. I enjoyed it that much! I can't wait.

So, I am starting to think of other races that I would like to do next year. Living in ND, there are really only a handful of good months to race, and that is probably why I haven't been able to do as many races as I would like. The Fargo Half Marathon is going to be a priority. That and a Danskin Triathlon, I believe. Plus, there is going to be a triathlon that I really want to do... near my sister's place.

Have any of you started to think about 2009? Am I the only one thinking about a 2009 race schedule already? Do you have a off-season? Which months are the heaviest with races?

31 comments:

Unknown said...

I will start thinking about 2009 after duke city half marathon in october.

if your 2008 race season is over or mostly over, it's definately time to think about 2009!!

Unknown said...

(oh, and you can see in my sidebar what my race season is like. this time of year is busiest for me, but that's because of the weather more than anything else)

IronGambit said...

it's NEVER too early! :)

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear your trip went well and that you are feeling better. Hope that the conference goes well for you.
this year has been a really hard transition year for me and I've only one race - hope to maybe run two more before the end of the year, but I too have been thinking of 2009 and doing the half in nashville.

Ms. V. said...

I have done one a month or so this year. I think I'll end the year with 10, but maybe it's because I'm new.

Sign up!

Badgergirl said...

Glad to hear you're feeing better!

I only did two races this year (and they happened to be the same week), but I'm hoping to do one or two more, if it isn't too cold. But I have thought about 2009 already...

Wes said...

Our North Dakota gal is all growed up now :-) Excellent edumacation, good job, buying house, running a marathon. You make us all so, so proud!! :-)

E said...

It's never too early to start planning for 2009! My race months will be from Oct to about April or May. Still not sure what races I will do yet.

SavvyFitChica said...

I think it makes total sense to start thinking about 2009. I know LISA has already posted on her blog that she's got something up her sleeve too.

I'm glad you had a great weekend and that your cold didn't ruin it for you. Have a good time at the seminar- I hope you learn a lot.

L*I*S*A said...

I've got some serious '09 plans. Fo sho.

Unknown said...

your first tri and then a half marathon is quite an accomplishment!! I haven't been done any races this summer due to my schedule, but I should plan out 2009 cause I really missed them :)

just found your blog, but I look forward to reading some more!

Caitlin said...

i have no idea why fall is the off season in florida, because thats when all the races SHOULD be because of the weather... they tend to stack them into the summer for some crazy reason!

ive picked out a 2009 half marathon :)

good luck with your training and thanks for stopping by my blog!

Marcy said...

Do the marathon, you know you want to ;-)

Jess said...

Here in FL, the best time to race is Oct-Mar, so I feel like I'm busy with that for 6 months, and then it's 6 months of race drought.

For 2009 if you're looking to fill up the calendar, you could also consider some other races in MN. There's the Twin Cities half and full, Duluth's Grandma's half and full, and even Walker hosts a half/full/relay in March.

Erin Leigh said...

I am giving myself a few weeks to see how I do after my fresh start and then I will be joining you in the 2009 stuff. I just have no idea where I will be or what I will be ready for.

M*J*C said...

Thinking about the "New Year" is always exciting....for me, I think that in 2009 I would like to do a few more Half Marathons. I think that "those" will kinda be "my thing".
Great job on looking forward, that way you'll never be behind!

Nancy said...

It's definitely not too early to be thinking about 2009. It's what keeps me going. What is next, what am I shooting for, where do I want to be....

:D

Unknown said...

I'll start thinking of 2009 when my Ironman is over. Right now, that's all I can think about!!! :)

I think it's awesome that you are signing up for a marathon - it's a GREAT goal to have! Best of luck!

Carolina John said...

I'm already setting up 2009. Registered for the Myrtle Beach Marathon on valentines day, and trying to fill out the rest of the schedule. I'm thinking about the beach 2 battleship half ironman in early november, and trying to fill in the gaps between those 2 races.

I still have one race left this year on saturday, and come jan 1 I want to know what I'm going to sign up for.

Here in South Carolina, I think it's too hot to race in June, July, August. I make an exeption for a sprint tri that's in my hometown and was my first tri ever last month. But I'm thinking about an olympic distance tri in march or april, a bike race in april or may and maybe another bike race in september. Sprinkle in a few 5k's here and there and the schedule will fill up faster than you think.

2008 was my first year training or racing and i'm so hooked it's crazy.

Sarah said...

Dude, I'm already thinking about 2010! Hehe!

J~Mom said...

Yeah, I am totally thinking about it! I can't decide which direction to go though...what to do...what to do...

I think you should add PFChangs to your list. :>D

Runner Susan said...

yeah, i've kinda got most of 2009 races planned out in my head already.

sickos is what we are.

Pokey said...

I am totally thinking of 2009!!! Never to early :)

Our summer is our *off season* for races....but we ramp up again in the fall, mostly for winter and spring races. I have 2 HM's on the books, a 10K and a relay race for next April!!! I am a total planner ;)

So are you thinking of doing the FULL marathon next year?? That's the one thing I havent been able to bite the bullet and commit to just yet. I think I'm waiting to see how my two half marys go first...if I get the improvement that I want out of those, I just *might* start considering a full.

YIKES!!!

Runner Leana said...

No, you definitely aren't the only one thinking about 2009 - I just signed up for a half Iron in July yesterday! And call me crazy, but I have a plan out to 2010... Yes, you should go for the half again next year, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you'll get to do an outdoor tri as well. I hear the Danskin events are terrific.

Congrats on your house by the way!!!

Mendy said...

You're so proactive! I am so not ready to start looking at next year. Good for you!

jahowie said...

Good for you!! Planning ahead makes the winter training just a little bit easier.

AddictedToEndorphins said...

Have I thought about 2009? I'm thinking about 2013!!
lol.

Lily on the Road said...

Tell your family to stop having weddings (in 2009), then you'll be able to get more races in!!!

;^)

Steve Stenzel said...

YEAH for 2009!! Yep, I'm already thinking about races too...

Anne said...

See? I think just about ever runner/triathlete looks way ahead, just to stay motivated if nothing else.

Love the new header. What a beautiful campus.

RunnerGirl said...

I'm already planning 2009 as well :)