Decisions, Decisions...

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2012! Yes, I am back and plan to start blogging a bit more regularly. I am starting off the New Year fit (175 lbs.), in good running shape (logged a ton of miles in 2011, despite not racing at all), and ready to reenter the competitive racing world in 2012. I am still formulating my race schedule, but have two somewhat noteworthy developments to report:

1. I will NOT be participating in the Illinois River To River Relay in April. While it definitely sounds like a "once-in-a-lifetime, bucket list" type of experience, I just decided it is too much travel (likely with the whole family) for a race in which I would only run nine miles. Maybe some other year, but definitely not 2012.

2. I WILL be competing in the Bank Of America Chicago Marathon as originally planned, but will be running the entire race with my wife. Thus, the Boston Marathon qualifying attempt is out the window. On the one hand I am kind of bummed because I think I had a pretty decent shot at it, but on the other hand it will really be special for the two of us to cross that finish line together--and as I get older, I realize more and more how much more important family is than "individual glory."

O.K., that is it for now--much more to come later!

A Potential Race On The Horizon

O.K., rather than another boring training update, it looks like I may actually be placing a race on my 2012 calendar. It is the Illinois River To River Relay, which is an 80 mile, eight man per team relay race from the Mississippi to the Ohio Rivers. My brother-in-law did this same race a couple of years ago, and his team is looking for a runner or two (he is currently injured and another team member is due to deliver her first child a few weeks prior to the event).

The family and I were visiting Southern Illinois for Thanksgiving and I met a few members of my brother-in-law's running group that have done River To River 11 years in a row and rave about it. Basically I would be running three legs, each of which would be about three miles or so. I am definitely intrigued, although I am not 100% sure whether I will commit or not--it is a long way to go for one race. That said, just the prospect of racing again definitely got my competitive juices flowing. I will make a decision one way or the other in the next few weeks and let you know...