As everyone is aware, races are all but non-existent nowadays with a few exceptions. For a person like me, and I am sure many of you, it makes finding motivation difficult. I like to have a goal race, develop a plan on how I will achieve that goal, and then go about executing that plan and adjusting through the process.

I was fortunate to find a trail race a few weeks ago. I have been running very consistently throughout this whole Covid thing with the thought that I would race when the opportunity arose. I thought that if any races were going to be held they would be a local 5k or 10k not the 30k trail race I entered. As they say, beggars can’t be choosers, so the 30k race is what I raced with no specific training except for my normal easy trail runs and a single long run of 80 minutes. Despite the lack of specific training I was pleasantly surprised with my result.

The race got my competitive juices flowing again and led me to researching what races have the highest likelihood of taking place in person this year. I want to have a goal race and create a training plan to chase goals. I have found two races that take place on the first weekend of December that I believe each have a 50% chance or greater of taking place. They are two entirely different races but with similar duration. One is a marathon and the other is a 30k trail race. My plan is to train for them simultaneously and choose as I get closer, but more likely the decision will be made for me if one is cancelled.

Having a similar duration allows me the flexibility to put together a training plan that will be compatible with either event. Granted, I will not have quite the training specificity that I have had in the past, but I think I will still be in a good position to have a really good performance in whichever event I end up doing.

What my goals for these races is still being determined. I am just excited to start the process and begin framing out my plan. Although it would be a tough decision, I hope both races occur and I have to choose one. That would mean the world is in a better place. As of today, I have no idea which I would rather do.

Do you have a race that you have lined up with a high probability of taking place?