All I want for Christmas is a new set of goals

“Long December and there’s reason to believe maybe this year will be better than the last.”

--Counting Crows

From an athletic perspective, I’m very happy to see this year go. The only bright spot is that the lack of running has given me lots of time for weights and some of the best strength gains I’ve had since high school. Still, I am a runner and not a weight lifter. I’m much happier out on the trails than in the gym.

I attempted three races this year. I struggled through but completed the 100K at Bandera in January, DNFed a fat ass 50K in September, and finished on a positive note with 50 miles at Sunmart in December. I’m still not 100% over the back injury, but I am well enough to move on as long as I do so smartly.

This week I’ll hit the trail again hoping I’m recovered enough from Sunmart to put in some good miles. With my work schedule, morning runs before work are the only real option. But sometimes waking at 4AM and hitting the dark, cold, lonely trails takes more than I seem to have. I need a goal to keep me motivated. So here are my goal races for 2006.

In February, I will return to Huntsville, TX and attempt my first 100-miler. I am not approaching this race as an athletic challenge as much as I am looking at it as a celebration. On January 25, I will turn 40. I may enjoy my beer, but I am not the party type. So I will celebrate by attempting what I’ve wanted to do for a few years now.

Unfortunately, Rocky Raccoon would not be my first choice if it weren’t for the date being close to my birthday. The course is five loops of 20 miles each. A point-to-point course is much more my style and improves my odds of finishing. I find the biggest struggle is starting a new loop when I’m tired, cold, hurting, etc. Having that easy drop option at mile 80 is not something positive for me.

In the longer term, I expect a longer training cycle leading to a more difficult 100 miler. I am looking seriously at Cascade Crest in August. If I survive Rocky Raccoon, I expect that to be my next target.

Actually, I know I’m being foolish. I would do well to get in another couple of months of running before attempting to run 100 miles. If there was a good option for late March or April, I would probably put off my celebration a bit in exchange for better odds on success. The only real options that seem to exist are McNaughton and Umstead. But both are loop courses as well. Both are much further away. And neither will have as many of my friends present as Rocky Raccoon will.

If this week goes well, I’ll drop the application in the mail. It will be a few hard weeks of running followed by a 2-week taper. And if anyone wants to join me, I’ll be hitting the Barton Creek Green Belt early most mornings. Just leave me a comment.