With a glimmer of Spring these past few days, all I can say is I am ready! Today being Leap Day, we have to wait an extra day until Spring this year, but the weather lately has me thinking positively. I went out on a five plus miler yesterday afternoon on a beautiful 65 degree sunny afternoon. It was even 60 degrees way up in the northeast. A good sign that Spring is just around the corner.
Will all of those miles logged over the past few cold, long dreary months pay off? Wel’ll see. In general, I’ve felt pretty lazy, as usual for this time of year. But, I for one, am ready to get off the couch and race! I have a busy few months ahead, so I am hopeful for some really fun events.
My “Spring racing season” begins in less than two weeks up in the mountains of North Carolina. I will be heading to Asheville for a few races back to back. I ran the inaugural Marathon at the Biltmore Estate back in 2013, returned last year to pace the Half Marathon, and this year will be pacing BOTH, on back to back days.
I am excited to return, and conquer the beastly hills on that lovely estate! Just thinking about them has me a bit nervous, but my experience should help. I’ve run them before. I can, I will, get over those hills again!
After Asheville, I have a few weeks break. Of course it will be good to take several days off to let my legs and feet recover. I’ll need it. With Easter during that time, we should be getting into Spring quite nicely by then.
The first weekend in April I will be pacing another event. The All American Marathon which is run on a point to point course from Fayetteville to Ft. Bragg, NC, will be my first time running the same marathon three times. Actually this year is the third anniversary of the event, so I will have run it all three times. The All American Marathon will be my 25th marathon overall, so it should be full of meaning for me! I am pacing the 4:00:00 Full, and couldn’t be happier to have reached the “Quarter Century” mark at this event! I’ve already spoken with the team there to try to get bib #25!
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Series first came to Raleigh back in 2014. The first event was on my 44th Birthday. The folks at RnR helped me celebrate with a 44 on my bib. Because of the heat and pollen and tough marathon course that year, I decided to run the Half in 2015, only to regret that decision when the made changes to the marathon course a few months prior to the event. The offered an incredible deal last year at the race expo, to run either race this year for $50. I signed up for the marathon this year, and I plan to just have fun with this one since it will only be a week after All American. I also signed up to run the inaugural 5k the day before. It’s been a few years since I’ve run a 5k, so I figured it would be a good shake out run.
What an awesome medal! Rock n Roll originally signed a three year deal with this Raleigh location, with an option to add two more years. So, depending on numbers, this may very well be the last event here. Time will tell.
It is surely going to be an exciting Spring for me. How about you? What epic races do you have planned for the coming season? I think that next year I am going to try to break out of my comfort zone, and do a destination marathon for Spring 2017. The three races I have coming up I have already raced twice each, and will likely choose a change of venue next year. Any thoughts? Suggestions? Where should I race next Spring?
Running Wild 
Looks like some fun races coming up! I would love to run a race in Asheville someday. They were at the Charleston expo but I have a trail run in memory of a friend’s son on that same day.
Hi! I am running the full at Asheville! Any tips for the course or other things I should know???
That’s awesome to hear! Tips? Well, let’s see…. You’ve probably already done this, but read all of the info on the website carefully. Especially the course. At, and elevation profile. Pace yourself accordingly. The hills at the beginning, let’s say before mile 6 are tough uphill miles. Be prepared. If you’ve never been to the Biltmore Estate before, be ready to be blown away when you turn the corner and get the full on view of the house at mile 6. If you run with your phone, take a few pictures, you’ll be glad you did! Enjoy all of the beautiful views along the whole course. The back half of the course is challenging too, but keep your eyes peeled for distance views of the house, and the quiet serenity which is so hard to find in many marathons these days. I am pacing that day, so if you see me, say hello! Best of luck to you!