My New Year's Resolution: 2010 Running Calendar

One of my New Years Resolution this year was to run at least one race every single month in 2010. So far, here is a list of races that I've registered for, completed, or am currently contemplating:

January
1st - Resolution Run 5K (Baltimore, completed)

February
7th - Superbowl 5K (Dundalk, canceled)

March
21st - Shamrock Half Marathon (Virginia Beach, VA, completed)

April
11th - Cherry Blossom 10-miler (DC, completed)
25th - Port to Fort 6K (Baltimore, registered)

May
1st - Race for the Cure 5K (Raleigh, NC, registered)
23rd - Maryland Half Marathon (Frederick)

June
6th - Zooma Annapolis Half Marathon (Annapolis, registered)
19th - Baltimore 10-miler (Baltimore, registered)

July
????

August
????

September
12th - Parks Half-Marathon (Gaithersburg)
25th - Fall into Fitness Catonsville 10K (Baltimore)

October
16th - Baltimore Running Festival Half Marathon (Baltimore)

November
25th - Catonsville High School 5K Turkey Trot (Baltimore)

December
5th - Rock and Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon (Las Vegas, NV)

As you can see, I need races for July and August (the hottest most humid months in which to run). Any suggestions?

There's Nothing Like The First Time

I am running a Half Marathon on March 21st. It will be my 2nd Half Marathon. My first Half Marathon was the Baltimore Running Festival in October of 2009. This second Half Marathon will be the Virginia Beach Shamrock Half Marathon. I am so excited to be able to do this and others seem impressed at my running prowess. (Read: When guys hit on me in bars, they think it's cool that I can run so far.)




While I relentlessly and tirelessly trained for my first Half, I have been slacking this time around. I haven't been getting all of my runs in, especially not the long ones. I start each new week with the mind to run like I know I need to, but finish each week falling short of this goal.

There are three reasons why I am not on it like I was for my October race:

1. I already know I can do it. I've run 13.1 miles before, I can do it again.
2. I am much busier. I began training last summer for my 1st, when I had a lot more free time.
3. It's cold outside and there is 3 feet of snow on the ground. This makes it hard to do the outdoor runs that I love so much. I am not the hugest fan of the treadmill.

But, I have 5 weeks until the race. During these 5 weeks, I am also have my last law school prom (Barrister's Ball) and a 5-day sojourn in Vegas for spring break with my girlfriends (who are also running the same Half). I need to get on my job and get to running. Just because this Half isn't the first, that doesn't make it any less special or important.

Allow Me To Introduce Myself...

Hi, my name is Sabrina and I am addicted to long-distance running.

This isn't a shocking addiction. Many people all over the world love to run for sport, hobby, and health, and I fall squarely into all three of those categories. What makes me different (and, if not shocking, at least unconventional) is that I don't resemble your typical long-distance runner.

I'm short. I'm curvy. I'm Black. I'm a woman. I'm in my late 20's. I live downtown. I am a busy, working, professional with a desk job (or at least I will be in a few months). I party a lot. I don't own (or want to own) any pets. I don't recycle. I own a fur coat. I could go on. I just know that when I show up at the start line for my races, I don't see a whole lot of people like me AND the vast majority of my friends, family, and associates are at home sleeping or at the finish line waiting to cheer me on.

My point is, I love to run and I love to inspire others to run. I especially love to inspire and unite all of the other "unlikely runners" out there, people like me who may not think that they can run because they don't really come from a group/area/family that runs.

I started this blog to chronicle my adventures in race-land, to give and receive pointers, tips, and suggestions, to encourage others to get out there and get to running, and to document all of my races. I hope that a) I will keep up with writing this blog and b) people will read and enjoy it.

So folks, strap on your running shoes and come with me. It's fun, I promise!