Kicking off 2019
Hello from Tucson!!!
I can’t believe I’m writing that actually and that it is CAMP time already! Last year was year 1 of cycling base miles January-camp and we all loved it so much we knew it was a keeper. So, here we are. Countdown is on until we begin today!
I’ve also been working on the usual year-end, new-year things, which means one of my favorites: race planning is in full swing! I had to really think about what was getting me excited to race this year. And maybe it’s that I love being on the trails in the winter and didn’t want to give up my hikes just yet, but I knew that some trail-time would really excited me. So, I started to look back at the ‘ole bucket list. Racing UTMB and seeing how well I can do there caught my eye. UTMB is the type of course where good technical runners with a lot of strength to withhold the climbing/descending and the elements can prevail. That’s me! Or so, I’ve always thought. Maybe it's time to find out?
So, I started looking into the UTMB qualifying process. Well THAT was another rude awakening about how much things have changed in the last few years! Since I still want to race 140.6 during the bulk of the North American triathlon season, my windows for qualifying races would be pretty small…..that means that this could end up being a 2 year process, for a *hopeful* entry in 2021. Whoa. Better start now, for sure.
This meant I was going to have to run in Spain next month <insert emoji that displays my sarcasm here>. I simply love going to race in Europe and this excuse to head over there before IM Copenhagen in August is so welcome! There is a 100km (ok, 110km) race in Spain that starts in Bilbao, and you run to Gasteiz. And Bilbao was voted the 2018 European city of the year? Consider this done!
Shortly after, in March, I’ll head to California for a 50 miler out there. Then I’ll be switching gears back to triathlon - just in time for April camp to help me get the bike legs firing again hopefully after all the ultras! I'll still have to gather some more UTMB points next winter, but I'll have to figure out exactly where later...first things first. Can’t wait for the next few months ahead!!