The leaves have changed colour and Christmas has already invaded the stores. As race season comes to a close, the hot topic during group runs is what’s on the calendar for next year?
With race registration opening anywhere from about 6 months to nearly a year in advance, many runners have already started planning for 2017.
I initially told myself that I’d take a step back after the TransAlpine Run, expecting that I’d be destroyed by it. But then to my surprise, I didn’t feel broken or exhausted! I took the better part of two weeks off to recover and then PR’ed a half marathon. I’ve since run two full marathons (definitely did not PR though).
So now what?
I like having goals to train for but I’m feeling very non-committal right now. Plus with having more than blown my race budget last year and a mortgage starting in the new year, I’m planning to be more frugal.
Lucky for me, there are local groups like Club Fat Ass that host running events mostly for free and a couple with a very small fee, as well as the affordable, no-frills MEC Lower Mainland trail series and road series.
Here’s is my high-level plan so far, which I will supplement with epic training runs and group events.
Hit 3000 km for the year
November 1 – December 31 2016
I was at 2357 km going into November so that means I have to run 643 km mover 61 days for an average of 10.6 km per day.
Vancouver New Years Fat Ass 50k
January 1, 2017
This 50k starts in Stanley Park and headed down around UBC and back. It ends with a polar bear swim in the ocean (optional, but strongly encouraged). There are no course markers or support provided.
Cost: $25
Van 100 (km)
June 2017
I crewed a few friends for the Van 100 last year and for some strange reason I want to take a stab at it. The Van 100 is a self-supported (or bring your own crew) double crossing of the epic Baden Powell trail across the North Shore.
Cost: $0 (I think)
Running Adventures
I’d like to do some more mini-trips with friends to epic trails in the area, such as:
- re-visiting and hopefully completing the Sunshine Coast Trail
- running or hiking the West Coast Trail
- running the Squamish to Port Mellon
- running some of the Fat Dog route in Manning Park
- running the Howe Sound Crest Trail (again)
Volunteering
I volunteered for a number of events this year and I intend to again next year. It’s a fun way to be involved in the running community and there are generally positions available that involved running, either as pre-sweeps, people or material sweeps, or to course marshaling spots, if you need to get some distance in. As a bonus, some races offer free or discounted entries to other events in their series as a thank you.
