Races 2013

Races for 2013
If last year was the first taste of ultras, this will be the year of ultras. I've already logged 50K weeks since January and I'm now currently on 80K the last couple of weeks. This year it's not just about finishing an ultra, it's about finishing 3. Possibly 4 or 5 if I'm still running by October/November. The training has been fantastic and I'm more motivated to go out for a run than I've ever been before. I'm not sure what brought that about, but I guess the regular Wednesday run with the Bar Runners and the creation of that tiny community has helped. I also think that running in snow isn't as hard and a chore as it used to be. One key component has been focusing the training plan on time spent running instead of distance covered. The result of that has been higher average pace and longer distances without worrying about the weekly mileage adding up; bringing more enjoyment and less stress to running.

One of my favorite pastimes on the internet, apart from soccer and porn, is browsing for races, planing a season and setting up a training plan for the year. Unfortunately there are too many races and too little time and money for doing everything I want to do this year. I obviously have a bucket list, but that's for an other time. This year I've landed on this:

The Fitness Gauge:
Egersund Half marathon (21km, road), March 9
A half marathon is a perfect distance to open the season with and since there aren't a whole lot of them this time of the year I'll have to travel a bit as well - something I don't mind. Especially since I'll meet up with the Original Bar Runner Phil who has relocated to Stavanger in the west coast. I have genuinely looked forward to this for some time now.
Race Goal: I'll be very disappointed if I don't set a new PR on this distance and expect to see a 30 in finishing time. Hopefully having hardly run on bare asphalt this year wont be a problem(having already an excuse prepared).

First Test:
Påskemaraton (Easter Marathin, 42,2, road/gravel road), Drammen, April 1
Less then a month later it's the local marathon which I've meant to do every year, but never gotten to. It's a 10k loop around the river here. It's been a while since I've done this distance so if the sun is up it'll be a nice day out.
Race Goal: I'm not sure if I'll go for PR or just do it as a training run, at this point the weekly mileage is peaking and if I go for it I'll have to consider recovery and take it easy. I'm probably over complicating things and can set a new PR without destroying myself in the process.

The First A-race:
Vestfold Ultra Challenge (50 miles/83km, trails), Holmestrand, May 26
The first of my A races this year, and the longest one. It is the second edition and it has been moved to May after a pretty wet November start last year. Unlike Nordmarka Ultra Challenge this one was created with the intention of getting as many starters as possible to finish.
Race Goal: Just finishing is perhaps a too cautious goal, so not getting too far behind Matthew or in 12 hours is a more fitting goal.

Maintenance:
Nordmarka Skogsmaraton (42,2km, trail marathon), Oslo, June 15
Another race I wanted to do last year, this time it'll probably be training run since it's only a few weeks after VUC. I should be recovering enough to do this really slow and I think having a race to force yourself outdoors with is easier than going out for that distance in a training run. I remember how demotived I was after NUC last fall and I definitely want to prevent that trap again. I expect I wont be running much the the week after the race and then start slowly the second week after with a slow paced race on June 15.
Race Goal: going slow and easy

Possible Preparation:
Hornindal Rundt (38km, trail), Sogn og Fjordane, July 6
The full Hornindal Rundt is 70+ km in mountains in the west coast of Norway and gives 3 qualification points for UTMB, that's obviously too much just three week before the most important race for me this year, so I'll maybe settle with half the distance and save the full race for next year. It is very tempting, but I'm really not sure about this one. I might just head up to some mountains and run around instead.
Race Goal: If I do it, then just finishing would be enough.

The Race of the Year:
2 Caras del Aneto (67km mountain run), Aragon, Spain, July 28
I really wanted to do a race in the summer somewhere overseas, preferably in Spain, and I found one very quickly after searching the net. A trail race at the foot of the highest peak of the Pyrenees seemed like a perfect race. It has over 3000 meters of elevation gain and isn't too crowded considering the landmark that it is. Hopefully I'll get the chance to tag the peak in the days before the race and a couple of weeks travelling in Spain is non too shabby a vacation.
Race Goal: Finishing, because this will be tough.

Arctic Race:
Tromsø Mountain Ultra (50km mountain run), Tromsø, August 24
I've never been north of the Arctic Circle and this is an perfect opportunity. It looks challenging and I'm looking forward to experience a new place in my country.
Race Goal: Not sure, but 7 hours sounds doable.

The Fun Run of the Year:
Helteløpet (25km trails), Telemark, September 14
Third time is a charm, though this race has already charmed me. This time around we'll be 3-4 Bar Runners and making our mark.
Race Goal: Improving my time and dipping under the 2 hour mark

Pacing:
Oslo Maraton (21km, road), September 21
A colleague has been shooting his mouth about beating his friend and going under 2 hours, so I subtlety got him to put the money where his mouth is and he said he would sign up provided I did it with him. So I did and now I like to torment him with reminding him of it. The guy plays Bandy and is presumably fit, but he admits he has no stamina.
Race Goal: I'm expecting him to go under 1:50, but I haven't told him that yet. 

The last of the September Fun:
Fagerheikongen (25km trails), September 29
A friend of mine tipped me of this race last year, but as it was the week after NUC I couldn't do it. This year it will be perfect for another Bar Runners event as the Kris and Erik both have summer dwellings there. Hopefully the summer lasts a month longer in the south of Norway so we get to enjoy a nice weekend before the fall and the darkness sets in.
Race Goal: None yet

Possible Race:
Sörmland Ultra (50km trails), Sweden, October 12
If I'm still up for it, this one is tempting. I rarely scoff at a chance to visit Sweden and this could be an excellent excuse. But it depends how the season has been, if I fail on the Ultras this might be a last chance, if I'm still full of energy why not, but I fear I might be pretty worn out so we'll see.
Race Goal: None yet.

The Last Race.
Halden Ultraintervall (8x10km), Østfold, November 2
This one is interesting in that it is a completely different race. It's a 10km run every 3 hours for 24 hours in total. I'd like to try it and meet new ultra runners in a totally different setting. Since it is so late in the year it will be the last race and I get to push myself for a final time.
Race Goal: None yet.

After that I can take a month of running while waiting for the snow and darkness to fall before I'll start slowly preparing for Christmas, a new year and a new racing season in December.