What to do After Record Snows? Plan for the Year

Columbus had record snows Friday and Saturday. It's beautiful outside and the main roads have all been plowed, but in our neighborhood the snow is still pretty deep. I can only imagine what the bike trails are like.

So, what does a person who needs to walk 8-10 miles this weekend do on a day like this? Well, she sits on the couch, drinking coffee from her US Air Force Marathon mug and tries to figure out which races she will be entering this year.

I am still considering entering a full marathon. A couple of years ago I had decided that if I did do a full marathon again, it would have to be a big event. Unfortunately, our family finances may not allow that. I have a couple of friends doing Portland in October, which sounds wonderful! It is the most walker friendly event ever! However, it is an expensive race ($100 entry fee), and by the time you add airfare and hotels, well, it adds up quickly. I have not totally ruled it out yet.

Other races I've considered have pretty strict pace limits I'm not sure I could maintain for 26.2 miles. Though I'm much faster than I used to be, and I am working on speed, I don't know if I could be faster than 15 min per mile for that long. (Marine Corp requires 14 min per mile. That is definitely out!) I finished my last two half marathons averaging about 14:30 per mile, but a full marathon is a little different.

The Columbus Marathon would be easy to get to, is fairly inexpensive (compared to Chicago at least), but I'm not so sure it is a good race for walkers who go farther than the half marathon distance. The half last year was great!

There are other full marathons within driving distance, but I worry about what it is like for walkers. I don't want to me out in the middle of downtown Cleveland by myself with no people anywhere. (Yeah, I saw it. I won't do Cleveland.)

Detroit is at a good time of year, and it was a very good half marathon. I'm just not sure I would want to do a full there.

I've done the US Air Force Marathon twice. I also entered the half about four times. I have loved this race every time I've done it. It might be cool to do the same marathon for my 50th birthday that I did for my 40th. I know I would finish faster and there are so many more walkers who enter this event, it would not be as lonely as it has in the past.

So, I have a lot to think about and will have to really examine my bank accounts before I make a decision. Regardless, the more I think about it, the more I am sure I will be doing a full marathon in 2010.
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Scheduled events to date:
Arizona Distance Classic, Tucson, March 28
Indy Mini Marathon, Indianapolis, May 8

Possible events:
Portland Marathon, Portland, October 10
U.S Air Force Marathon, Dayton, September 28
Detroit Free Press Marathon, Detroit, October 17
Columbus Marathon (or half), Columbus, October 17
News and Sentinel Half Marathon, Parkersburg, August 21