This Running Life

47.  I’m 47 today.  Doesn’t bother me much, except when I think about the number.  Just seems kind of high, doesn’t it?  I had more trouble processing 30 than I have other ages.  Thirty was “grown-up” time.  It signified to me that youth was at an end, and adulthood and responsibility and hair loss was eminent.

I thought it might be fun to work up an intermediate bucket list of things I’d like to run someday.

In no particular order, these are the races/distances I want to do in the near future:

1. Run a 100-mile race

Yes, I swore to myself after crewing at Burning River that I would never ever, ever, do a10-mile race.  the smell alone was enough to scare me straight.  But the ore I get into ultra and learn about the transformative experience that a 100 becomes to a person, the more I’m willing to commit to the effort. Obviously, Pinhoti in my back yard or Lake Martin nearby, are on the sub-list.

2. Run  50-mile and 100K races

Kind of a no-brainer if I plan to do a 100.  But I want to mark them off the list and experience this initial step toward 100.

3. BQ

Yah. I still want to qualify for Boston, but unlike 2010-2011, I no longer see every marathon as a do-or-die BQ event.  I put a great deal of pressure on myself in that 56 week period where I races 5 marathons.  I ended that phase mentally toasted and physically tired.  I’ve lost a little edge since then, but I needed to step back, relax, smile, and let BQ come when BQ comes.

4. Run one or more of the great city marathons: NY, Chicago, London, Rome 

I’ve done San Francisco, which I argue must be considered alongside the other big city races.  It doesn’t get its due.  Great city great race.  But I also want the experience of running through some of the other big cities and soaking in the  culture by foot.

5. One of the great multi-day events

I’ve become fascinated with stage races, multi-day endurance challenges that test you beyond a finite distance or time on one day. Something like the Transalpine Race  or the Trans-Rockies.  I’ll do some of the local stage races: Birmingham Stage Race and Chattanooga Mountains Stage Race.

6. Run across a state.

These types of formal-informal events are becoming more common.  I heard an Ultra Runner Podcast interview with a guy who ran across Tennessee.  The stories he told were funny and inspiring.  Running across Alabama maybe?  Perhaps one should start with a thin state then move up to a fat state?

7.  Run a half or full with my one or both of my sons

Goes without saying, I suppose.  I’ve run with them for shorter races.  Those remain my most cherished running moments.  When your child wants to do something you are passionate about, well, the feeling is indescribable.