2024 Running Scheming & Dreaming
I’m not the biggest resolution gal and I am not particularly amazing at planning ahead beyond the next ~3 months or so. I like having a rough outline for the year but I feel like I’ve learned my lesson that all the planning in the world will never spare you from the unexpected nature of life. I have learned the hard way, however, that in the running world, you do need to be proactive in planning out the gear otherwise registration deadlines and travel opportunities will pass you by.
All that being said, I have a bit of a race schedule lined out for the spring that I’m very excited about! I’m talking cruisy West Coast courses, sweet sweet sea level, and a fun little variety of distances.
February - Big Alta 28k
March - Chuckanut 50k
April - Lake Sonoma 50 Mile
At the Lake Sonoma Trail Sisters Half Marathon in 2023
Winter training has looked like a lot of easy volume with workouts focused on flatter speed, so I’m excited to see how that translates to the race schedule I have lined up. I’m particularly excited about Lake Sonoma since that is such an iconic race and will be my first 50 miler. Truthfully I’m actually quite terrified and filled with doubt that I can actually make it that far, but I’ve been trying to remind myself that I’ve done plenty of mountainous 50k-ish distances that have taken upward of 6 hours, so when I think about this 50 miler time-wise, it feels more manageable. Just gotta keep eating and keep moving.
The Big Alta is a new race in Marin County that I’m super excited about – I haven’t done a lot of “sub ultra” racing outside of Alaska so I think this will be a good opportunity to open the season with a shorter, speedier race where I can hopefully show off a bit of range. Chuckanut is a race that I’ve wanted to do for years and it just hasn’t worked out so I’m super excited to make it up to Bellingham for that. I love me some moody PNW vibes!
I’m still a bit unsure what my big goal is for the year in terms of racing – in many ways I just want to stay healthy so I can keep progressing with consistent results. A process-based goal of mine is to practice more positive self-talk. I often find myself categorizing other runners who I see on the same start lists as me as being a level above and thus, I’m set in stone placing behind them. Even if I have never raced that person before, I judge myself against them, which I imagine is some sort of defense mechanism to prepare myself if things do go that way. So, I’m really trying to work on correcting that and giving confidence the upper hand as opposed to doubt. And maybe looking less at start lists.
Beyond the spring, running plans are a bit up in the air. I have some ideas but am hesitant to make any firm plans because Tracen and I will be (hopefully) finishing up grad school in May and most likely driving back to Alaska with everything we own. You’ll most likely find me in Europe at the end of August, but that’s all I got for now.
Stay tuned!
<3 Klaire
