Happy New Year! First of all, I want to say that I hope everyone had a very fun and safe night last night and are hopefully feeling great on New Year’s Day. Hubby and I watched the Alabama game (which Alabama hopefully won – I’m typing this before Thursday night) and just relaxed. It was lovely. I am linking up with my friends Cynthia and Mar – head over to my Friday Five page because we’ve changed the format a bit for the new year. Accordingly, this week’s topic is fitness. I’m going to share my racing plans for the year and what I’m thinking in terms of running for 2016. Of course, this is subject to change and a lot of it is based on things out of my control (race lotteries, etc.). If you are thinking about goals as we enter the new year, check out my post on goal setting and sign up for support and encouragement to help you reach your goals this year! Now on to the running talk!
- My basic plan for the year is to have both a spring goal race and a fall goal race and then to fill my calendar with other races for fun. My spring goal race is the Shamrock Half Marathon. I’m currently training to go sub2 at this race in March. You can read my first training recap here and look for them each Sunday evening or Monday morning (depending on the week and if I run Sunday morning or evening).
- As for that fall goal race, that is up in the air. I don’t think I’ve formally announced yet that I will be entering the lottery for the Chicago marathon. I’m really hopeful that I will get in and get to experience racing in Chicago. I have been running in Chicago (while on work travel) for a few years and always have the best runs there. I’m really hoping to get to run the marathon in a city I really enjoy!
- I will be running a number of shorter races over the next few months to get miles in and just because it’s fun. I actually ran a New Year’s Eve 10k and will be running a New Year’s Day 5k if I can wake up early (no promises). Then I’m running a ten mile race next weekend. After my ten miler, I have no races on the calendar until after Shamrock. However, that may change!
- After my spring goal half marathon, I’ve got a few races lined up. I’ll be running the Crystal City 5k series (a 5K every Friday in April) in addition to the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler (one of my favorites!) and revisiting the Northface Marathon Relay – and that’s just April.
- After April, my calendar is really open. I’ll probably take a little break before starting serious marathon training in June. What happens if I don’t make it into Chicago? I’m not exactly sure. I’d love to go back and run Wineglass again. I really loved that race. I’m also signed up for Richmond (the full) but I have a wedding in DC that day, so will most likely drop down to the half. I wouldn’t rule out a new to me fall marathon either. I’ll just have to see!
I’m really excited about 2016 and can’t wait to see what the year brings!
What are your racing plans for 2016?
I’m signed up to run the Chicago Spring Half Marathon on May 22. I am considering coming out of retirement and entering the Chicago Marathon lottery. We’ll see! I would LOVE to run it if you are, too! π
Happy New Year!
Omg Debbie! That would be amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I an going to enter the lottery for Chicago too! I pray we both get in
I love running in Chicago too – but not enough to do a marthon! I like your plan with those goal/anchor races. I know your calendar will be filled in quickly!
I’ve never done Shamrock but hear it’s a blast! Great plan you have to add shorter races around your goal race. I need to organize bc I just keep adding in races. Thanks for the linkup
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work
Ooooh exciting! Sounds like a great plan! I look forward to supporting you in your journey this year π
Tina Muir recently posted…My Year of Running 2015
Thanks so much Tina!
Oh, I hope you get into Chicago! I’m sad you’re dropping down to the half in Richmond but I totally get it. If 2015 was any indication, I think you will fill up those empty months with races!!
Lol, right? Yeah I’m a bit bummed about Richmond but it’s cutting it too close. If the start was earlier, maybe but I’m so excited about this wedding, I don’t mind!
I think you’ll really enjoy Shamrock. I’ll be doing the half as well just because I like it. I’ve always wanted to do the Chicago full myself but it’s so massive and after NYCM, I’ll probably just stick with a smaller full if I choose to do another onel.
Yay!! Hang around after you finish the half so we can catch up:)
Well, obviously I hope you get into Chicago. It is such a great race π I won’t be there that weekend, but I might be able to see people on the tailend side of it. My fitness goals for the year are completely open–I don’t think Boston is going to happen, after everything, and we are going to try to start a family, so really? I’m just going to wait and see! Happy New Year!
I think big things (not necessarily related to your own running) are coming for you this year, friend!! xx
I love your race plans and I really hope that you get into the Chicago Marathon!
I like the idea of a goal spring race and a goal fall race. I haven’t decided on any races yet but I am thinking of doing a half in the spring. I definitely want to do some races for fun too!
Lisa @ RUnning Out Of Wine recently posted…A Look Back at December and 2015
Love races for fun!!!
Happy New Year–I hope you get into Chicago!! This year my race calendar looks very different for me because I’m doing more triathlons than running races. I’m 99% sure I’ll be running the Shamrock Half in March!
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Happy New Year! Sounds like you’ve got a smart plan for races this year. Looking forward to following your training this spring, and I hope you get into Chicago, I’d love to run there someday! Oh and BOO the Alabama game, my brother went to Michigan State so I was rooting for the Spartans. It’s boring when there’s no competition lol!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted…10 Most Popular Posts of 2015
nice approach to racing goals! I’m going one season at a time myself and only have my spring race goal mapped out – though i’m sure races will be added here and there! Excited for you to run Shamrock!
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Friday Five: Ring in the New Year!
I hope you get to run Chicago! I will be there to spectate! I hope we get to meet! π
Oh we DEF will if I’m there!!
I have no doubt that you’ll be able to get your sub 2 at Shamrock, Courtney. I loved running Shamrock last year, and can’t wait to run it again in the future.
Happy New year and good luck with the Chicago lottery!!!
I am debating to run the Shamrock. I have to See how my work schedule is. It seems like by the time I know, the half is sold out so my only option is the full.
Sounds like a fun start to the year! I have heard the Shamrock half is a great race. I would love to do the Cherry Blossom 10 miler at some point, it must be beautiful! Happy New Year!! π
I actually have no racing plans right now which is so weird. I start PT for my knee this week and hopefully that will help. Between no job and no races on the schedule, my life feels a little weird but I’m (mostly) ok with it. I’m hoping to run some smaller local races this year, pending healthy knee.
Looks like an awesome plan for 2016! I am sure April and beyond will fill up quickly as springtime approaches.
ahh! fingers crossed you get in to chicago this year! i’m considering throwing my name in again, but i have the WORST lottery luck, so i’m not sure.
brittney @ corral b recently posted…goals for 2016.
I hope you get into Chicago. I have to really sit down and make my goals for this year. I like you want to do two major races one in the fall and one in the spring. I also want do more fun runs.
Happy new year, Courtney! Your race plans sound terrific. I am right there with you on hoping to nab a sub-2 half marathon. YAY for the Chicago Marathon lottery! I wish you positive lottery vibes!!! Chicago is my hometown and I am very proud of it. I ran the Chicago Marathon in 2012 and it was an amazing experience. If you do get selected, we will have to do a meet-up here!!!
Emily @ Out and About recently posted…Happy 2016, and races I’m considering this spring
It sounds like you have a great first quarter of 2016 planned. As a runner, I’m sure you will find other races and goals for later in the year. I kind of miss planning races but I am enjoying being off the pavement for a while. I am loving being in the gym and preparing to further my goals in figure bodybuilding.
I love the race plan so far! It is fun to have some races planned but also to add other ones as the come up.
All of those races sound like a blast! I’m not too sure how I feel about marathons- I’ve been toying with the idea of doing Disney in 2017 but I’m not committed yet. For my 2016 year I’m definitely doing the Spartan Trifecta so I’m scheduled for a Spartan Beast and Super. I think those will be my big goal races for the spring and fall. I also have a ton of other OCR events on the schedule for spring right now- I basically plan to do whatever vacation time/finances will allow this year!
Ah yes, $$$ is also a huge factor. And time of course. I would LOVE to do a Disney race, but maybe Wine and Dine. Would you do the marathon?
The DC area has so many fun races! I wish I was a runner when I lived in Northern VA a few (oh man, actually more like 8!) years ago. Good luck at the sub2!
Oh boy I hope hope you get into Chicago π (and everyone else we know – I saw Deb’s comment above). I think you are going to have another excellent year – you’ve been rocking your training so far so impressed with you! I wont be run the Al 10 next week, I’m meeting my mom in the morning, taking her to tea at the Willard. Hopefully no massive snow storm π
Jennifer @ Run Jenny Run recently posted…Year in Review Γ’ΒΒ 2015 Medals (Bling Bling)
I’m so looking forward to racing in 2016 but I’m not going to actually race. I’m slowing down and enjoying the ride this year. π Happy New Year!
I haven’t really nailed down my racing schedule yet. I am registered for a few so far. Shamrock was going to be my goal half marathon but I haven’t started training yet because of the holidays, vacation and then I got bronchitis..so it may not be a goal race anymore. I have a few others thrown in, but nothing set in stone yet! It’s hard for me to plan my races so far in advance because we never know what the hubby’s schedule is going to be!
I hope you get selected to run the Chicago Marathon. It is such a great race!!! I am hoping to run it again this year.
Chicago marathon is one of my bucket list marathons but I don’t plan on running any this year. Good luck with the lottery! It’s a greatidea to include a few FUN races in between goal races. Happy New Year!
You can always get into Chicago as a charity runner! It was definitely an amazing part of training for Chicago this year. Ther are tons of good options and you sign on before the lottery, most of them have lower fundraising goals.
You have a lot of great plans for the year. I hope you get into Chicago! I also will have a couple of goal races. I’m hoping to go 2:12 at Zooma Annapolis and then hit 2:10 at the Philly Half in November. I love the idea of splitting up my goal into more manageable steps. I’m looking forward to my half marathon in March, as I’m going back to the race where I ran my first half six years ago!
My number one goal is a fall full. All spring/summer I think will be rehabbing towards that goal.
YES! Just read your post. I selfishly hope you don’t get into NYCM and run Chicago with me! (provided I get in!) π
This is such a solid plan Courtney! You should really consider running for charity at Chicago. I will be running for Team Ronald McDonald House again this fall. It was an incredible experience, there is no lottery drama and the amenities they provide are the cherry on the top. Its such a worthy cause too! Let me know if you want details.
Alaina @ The Simple Peach recently posted…Walt Disney World Marathon Goals
You may have just sold me, friend. Can you email me info @ eatprayrundc AT gmail.com? Thank you, Alaina!
I am also got g to try to get into the Chicago Marathon this year. Haven’t ran one in a very long time (10+years) so don’t really know how that will be if I get in.
I love Chicago! I am not much of a runner, but I can imagine that running along the lake there would be absolutely beautiful! Best of luck with all your races this year!
Katie recently posted…January Goals: Happy 2016!
I LOVED Chicago-minus the randomly warm temps last year. The city is fabulous and the race is amazing and so well-organized. I hope you get in!