A bona fide hobby

I don't collect things. Or make things. Or willingly participate in things. But I do want a hobby. Something to call my own. Something to do.

I've decided to make "my thing", or hobby, if you will, racing. I love fitness and working out and everything that goes with it. Plus, if you know me AT ALL, you know I'm a weeeee bit competitive too. (I gladly get that from my Dad)

So what better way to encompass all the aforementioned items than to race? Even if I'm competing against my own PR, it's still competing, AND it puts a focus and reason to my workouts AND I can call it a hobby. It also doesn't hurt in the "get my lazy/sleepy butt outta bed" category either.

With all that in mind, I've started to compile a "race calendar" for the rest of 2011.

This is what I've come up with so far. This would be my ideal "racing" year. (don't worry, the comical value isn't at all lost on me that I keep calling this "racing" as if I'm going to win something or qualify for something) Keep in mind I've never done this before so I have no real idea how realistic any of this is physically, not mention adding in a cross country move, two small kids, one of which doesn't yet sleep thru the night and the fact I have currently NO BASE whatsoever. But hey, go big or go home, RIGHT?!

Please to enjoy:

DATE        EVENT                                                          LOCATION
05.14.11     Maple Grove Half Marathon (with family)           Maple Grove, MN

07.24.11     Chris Brown Duathlon 5K/18.6mile bike/5K        Tulsa, OK

09.3.11       Hustle For Hunger 5K                                      Owasso, OK

10.1.11       Zoo Run 10K                                                  Tulsa, OK

10.30.11     Tulsa Run 15K                                                Tulsa, OK

11.20.11     Route 66 Half Marathon                                   Tulsa, OK

01.15.12     Rock n Roll Arizona Full Marathon(!)                 Phoenix, AZ

So there it is. My own personal hobby and motivation. Who knows how many of these I will actually do (especially the first one in MN, it is smack in the middle of trying to move and I haven't started training yet, at all), or what other races not listed that I might find my way into. This is all new to me too. I just know how FUN the half ended up being that I ran in January. I want THAT feeling again.

I know it's risky to put this all out there on the interwebs. It's like making a commitment I suppose I have little or no business making. I just know that I did a whole heck of a lot better at getting my runs in when I felt like they had a purpose. This calendar gives me goals and a running purpose.

My overall goal for 2011 is to get the hang of "training" and "racing" and to get AT LEAST one more half marathon under my belt. My goal for 2012? To complete a full marathon and also to complete a triathlon. Watch for it. It's going to happen. I've already decided.

I hope you will continue to read along as I refocus my attention back to running and on to racing. I look forward to sharing it with you.

Happy running!

mb