Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Spring Race Plans

Disclaimer: I am an ambassador for All Community Events and the Chicago Area Runners Association. I received comped entries in exchange for sharing their races on my social media accounts. All opinions are my own.

While most of you have already solidified your spring running plans, mine have been kind of in flux. I had a few loose ends to wrap up including that heavy lifting cycle. Now that I'm done with that, I'm ready to shift the focus back to running. I am especially excited this year because I am feeling good and ready to run the races I couldn't run last year due to that extended RA flare.

Fingers crossed that feeling good continues!

I've had a few spring races in the back of my mind. I'm returning as an All Community Events ambassador this year and will be running a few of their races! This year I'm excited to announce that I will be offering discount codes for some of the races I will be running. Stay tuned to the blog for that.

In addition to the ACE ambassadorship, I was selected to represent the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) as an ambassador. The details of my responsibilities are still unfolding, but I will be running the races that they sponsor.

In March, I'll be taking my annual Florida trip to visit my parents and I'm planning on running a trail race down there. Last year, I ran a couple of short trail races and really liked the experience. This should be interesting.



February 8
Frozen Assets 5k Run- Hoping that Lake Mendota (Madison, Wis) stays frozen for this one! The race takes place on the ice. The University of Wisconsin Winterfest also takes place during this time, complete with half-submerged Lady Liberty. It should be an interesting day!
February 16
Honda Miles Per Hour Run- this new event takes place indoors at the Chicago Auto Show! Instead of running for distance, runners will run the 2.4 mile loop around the show for one hour. The goal is to see how many miles you can run in that hour. Something different and fun, I'm excited about this one!


March 14
Everglades Ultras- No, I have not lost my mind. Every time I travel, I look for a race to run. This event came up in my search and I can't get it out of my head. There are 3 distances: a 50 miler, 50k, and a 25k. I'm signed up for the 25k. The race is a little pricey, but considering that it is run entirely in the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve (the largest state park in Florida),  it will be worth it. I'd love to have someone to do this with, so if anyone wants to meet me there, let me know.

Hoping not to meet up with any of these!

March 22
Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle- This is my favorite 8k race for so many reasons. Brought to you by the same people who host the Chicago Marathon, the Shamrock Shuffle is well organized and a lot of fun. There's green beer at the finish line and a great medal. I hope to see a lot of runners I know!

The Green Guys
April 18
Wintrust Lakefront 10 miler- I've run this race many times and it never disappoints. This race is hosted by CARA and it is top-notch. I love the distance. I love the course, with the exception of a garbage hill--probably the only hill in Chicago--that runners have to run up near the end. The race finishes on the Wilson Track. It's a lot of fun! Last year I had to drop down to the 5k, so I'm looking forward to a return to the 10 mile distance.

2018 finish line jazz hands
May 17
Chicagoland Spring Marathon and Half Marathon- I am hoping the third time is the charm for this race! Two years ago, Steph and I DNS'd this race when the skies opened up and soaked all the runners--before anyone even crossed the start line. Last year, I DNS'd due to that prolonged RA flare. This year, I'm determined to run it. The race takes place in Busse Woods Forest Preserve, where I do a lot of my training. The route is different than the Schaumburg Turkey Trot Half Marathon.

Use CHICAGO10 for 10% off the Chicagoland Spring Marathon and Half Marathon!


I like what I've got planned! Anyone interested in joining me at a race this spring? Now, here's to all the good luck charms and prayers that I stay healthy this spring! 


What races are you planning on for spring? Here are mine: /via @oldrunningmom @allcommunityeve @cararuns #runchat #running 

Tell me what races you're looking forward to!

I'm linking up with Kim and Zenaida for Tuesday Topics.




35 comments :

  1. Wow, that's a whole lotta races! Good luck! I'd love to join you in FL, but I don't think it's going to be in the cards for me.

    I have one half on my schedule, and now that my life is more settled, I'm actually considering a half in April. But we also plan to bury my father's ashes then, so still waiting to see how that unfolds. I hope we can pick a date soon (and April is the plan) because I'll actually have to start training soon if I do that one.

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  2. Look at you with a loaded up spring calendar! I've only got ZOOMA Bermuda but my friend Denise is putting the arm on me for Shamrock Shuffle. We'll see.

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    1. It all kind of fell into place! Let me know about the Shuffle.

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  3. Whoa, a RACE ON ICE!!! The same day you're doing that I'll be doing a 5k (but not on ice, so is it even a race?), a 15k in March, assuming that we go to Chi for spring break this year as we have for the past 2 years I'll see you at the Shamrock Shuffle, half and 10 miler in April, and 5k and half in May...phew I think that's everything??? Sheesh it hasn't even been a month since my last race and I am jonesing to get back out there.

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    1. I'm pretty excited for this year's running! Looking forward to meeting you at the Shuffle!

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  4. Nice! I'll see you at the Shuffle! When are we doing our 5K together? This pacer is ready!

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  5. You have some awesome races on your calendar! The Shamrock shuffle always looks like such a fun time - Chicago has such awesome races!

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  6. So many great races! I think it's great to sign up for races because they are great training sessions and also great fun!
    Now I'm annoyed that I'm not in Florida anymore. I would have totally ran that 25k with you at the Everglades Ultra. It would have been great fun to meet you in person!

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  7. Ha Ha. Spring rces though you have a few planned before March 21.

    That looks like a great list. I'd do one if I lived closer.

    This is the first year not running a winter race in FL. Instead one in Bermuda in Feb...won't be as warm but should be beautiful.

    I have a half planned for Feb, Mar, April & May...pretty risky since my foot pain will not go away!!!

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    1. I'm going to run a few half this year but not as many as in the past. My body really gets mad at me with those longer distances!

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  8. Hey Wendy! This is unrelated to your post but I just wanted to let you know I managed to get hold of 2 of the books you recommended in your last coffee post (Nothing To See Here and Kitchens of the Great Midwest), and I enjoyed them very much! Please continue posting book recommendations (especially fiction!).
    I loved both of Amor Towles books (unsolicited recommendation but ha ha).

    Really inspiring to see your consistency, glad you had a good strength training season and I'll be here to read about your Spring races!

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    1. Oh thank you so much for commenting! My sister has recommended both of Amor Towles books. I'll have to check them out! <3

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  9. Oh the Frozen Assets one looks great - I can remember being utterly shocked when I went to visit my friend Amy in Madison and she casually mentioned the frozen lake ... and I realised it was a proper LAKE, not a pond!

    It's also lovely seeing you plan all this cool stuff.

    I have not running the London Marathon in my sights, as hoping both clubmates who were picked to do it can do it, then doing a DIY marathon round a big bus route here, then no races until August.

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    1. Good for you doing a DIY marathon--that would take a lot of discipline without all the support of a big marathon!

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  10. You've got a great lineup! There's a Shamrock Shuffle I'm considering (on my birthday) that's a 4-miler. Kind of an odd distance, but I'm always up for a new adventure, especially all decked out in St. Paddy's gear.

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    1. The Shuffle in Chicago is huge, with about 40,000 runners. It's a lot of fun.

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  11. You've got a fun spring of racing coming up! Some day I want to run that 10 miler on the lakefront!

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  12. What a fun and diverse spring race line up! The frozen assets sounds super fun and maybe super cold :) The Everglades should be so unique. Can't wait to hear all about these. Happy training

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    1. I'll be really surprised if I get to run that Frozen Assets--it's been relatively warm and it's supposed to be 50 this weekend. So we'll see what happens!

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  13. I love your Spring Race List! You know my love/hate relationship with trails, LOL, but something keeps bringing me back to them so I'm really excited you're going to do that 25k trail! (I would also recommend if you are not doing it already, to include some trails as part of your training. I've found that I do trail races but not enough actual trail training). As a completely random side-note, one of my friends Elisa who I cite regularly on my blog as she does so many runs with me, did the Chicago Spring Race last year! She was there for a week and it was perfectly timed with that race!!)

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    1. Oh wow! I hope your friend came back to Gabarone with only good things to say about Chicago and the race! The world really is very small, isn't it?

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  14. Whoa whoa whoa... a race ON ICE? Wow that sounds crazy - do they distribute YakTraks at the start or something?

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    1. The race tells runners to run at their own risk. I think the lake is snow covered. BYOYT (bring your own yak trax)

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  15. Awesome list for the spring! Here's my advice for the Everglades: you don't have to outrun the gator/snake/terrifying animal. You just have to outrun everyone you're with. I could tell you they're more afraid of you than you are of them, but I can't promise that's true lol.

    I am hoping so hard to be able to walk/jog/hobble a 5K the first weekend of April. That's my goal.

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  16. What a great mix of races! That Shamrock Shuffle always looks like so much fun - I would like to get back to Chicago to run that one. Here's to a great Spring!!

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  17. Wow, you have a busy spring ahead! That race on the ice sounds interesting (in a scary kind of way)!

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    1. I'm pretty sure the lake will be snow covered--the snow gives you traction!

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  18. For sure I'll be there at the Shamrock Shuffle! Maybe I will see you again? :-) I've done a few times the Lakefront 10 Mile race but it's been a few years since I've done. I remember that race is where I met you!

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