I went back and forth about how many races I was actually going to run this year, and in particular, about whether I’d run something between the Asheville Marathon in March and the Mesa Falls Marathon in August.  Summer isn’t really what I think of as marathon season, and it’s fun to take some time off for weddings and triathlons and fun, non-running travel.  But I guess I’m addicted at this point, and I went ahead and registered for a May marathon.  What did I pick???….

Today I registered to run the 2016 Vermont City Marathon in Burlington, Vermont!  That means, if all goes well, Vermont will be my 12th state, and I’ll have my first marathon in New England.  Unfortunately, my map will look about the same, since Vermont is little a d tucked away up there in the corner of the country.

I am excited to check out Burlington — I’ve heard it’s a pretty cool town — and I’ve bribed my husband with as much Ben and Jerry’s as he wants.  The race is Memorial Day weekend, so even though the race is on a Sunday, we will have a day after to explore the town.

Also, the Vermont City Marathon course should be a little easier than the two relatively tough marathons I’ve done so far this year.   According to Find My Marathon, the “PR Score” for VCM is 98.45, while the PR Scores for Mississippi Blues and Asheville are 97.61 and 97.33, respectively (higher number = faster race).  I will again be shooting for a 3:45 finish time.  (And FYI, my existing sub-3:45 PR was at a race with a PR Score of 99.8).

You know my training for the next three weeks:  I’m doing Orangetheory 3X per week for my Composition ID 30-day challenge, plus lifting at the gym.  (No, this weekend’s eating and activities likely did not result in any fat loss, in case you were wondering).  Here’s what else I have planned.

March 21-27

• OTF X 3
• CorePower Yoga X 3 (more research for an upcoming blog post)
• Easter Weekend — no long run
• Lose some body fat
• Watch March Madness (go Hoos!)
• Do UVA Speed Clinic remedial exercises DAILY

March 28-April 3

• OTF X 3
• CorePower Yoga X 3
• Run 10 miles
• Lose some body fat
• Do UVA Speed Clinic remedial exercises DAILY

April 4- 10

• OTF X 3
• CorePower Yoga X 3
• Last chance to lose some body fat
• Re-scan!
• Run 13 miles
• Do UVA Speed Clinic remedial exercises DAILY

April 11-17

• OTF
• Yoga or back to pilates?  Finally enroll in Classpass?
• Run 17 miles
• Do UVA Speed Clinic remedial exercises DAILY

April 18-24

• OTF
• Find out if I got picked in the Chicago Marathon lottery
• GW Parkway 10 Miler
• Do UVA Speed Clinic remedial exercises DAILY

April 25-May 1

• OTF
• Run 18 miles
• Do UVA Speed Clinic remedial exercises DAILY

May 2-8

• OTF
• Run 20 miles
• Do UVA Speed Clinic remedial exercises DAILY

May 9-15

• OTF
• Run 9 miles
• Do UVA Speed Clinic remedial exercises DAILY

May 16-28

• TAPER

Anyone else out there doing the Vermont City Marathon or have tips for touristing in Burlington???