2019 Race Plans

I got out with Shad and Bob last night.

It was a rare “3-fer” day … meaning I ran three times in the day.  It felt fine but that right foot is still feeling like I stepped on a rock hard on its bottom and bruised it (even though I did not step on a rock and bruise it).

We later connected up with Donnie and Neeraj for some catching up.  It was a blast.  Anyone who watched us probably thought we ready to break into a fight while also watching the best comedy we had ever seen – just a bunch of brothers giving each other well positioned crap while supporting each other.  I love it. 

Of course, we also discussed what potential plans there were for 2019 … there was a broad swath from almost declaring nothing to putting up that line of fourteen 14ers in about a 100 mile line. 

For me, and I recognize it might be just December arm chair quarterbacking … it seems like I’d play it like this:

- various mile and 5k efforts
- potentially the Leadville Trail Marathon
- potentially the Barr Trail Mountain Race
- Fairplay Pack Burro Race World Championship
- Pikes Peak Marathon
- California International Marathon

The thinking on this is that I would use the shorter stuff as part of overall development and bridge to the longer stuff in the summer.  Leadville Trail Marathon was not on the list before last night but then became an agreed upon possible show down between the old dogs who still think they have it.  I also have never done that one so it is interesting.  The Barr Trail Mountain Race is a good run as prep for Pikes.  Pikes is of course the bomb, and then there is CIM.  The draw there is I’d be 50, it would serve as my first official road marathon (that’s right – I have never done one but I did bandit Boston back in the 90s before it was considered some sort of mortal sin to do so) and I’d take a crack at breaking 3 – a time goal that has a window that seems to be closing on me quickly. 

Of course the World Championship of Pack Burro Racing in Fairplay is in there too.  I feel that is a race that I might just do for the rest of my life – but such things are easily said.  The trick with this race is that is could lead to a bunch of other races if you get on the “Triple Crown” train. 

I may also do some pacing at Leadville, which is now a week before Pikes, but that is tentative. 

I have a couple of weeks here to contemplate this further but I need to get on the mouse click trigger soon as registrations are coming up.