Wednesday, October 04, 2006

I'm a maniac

I joined the Marathon Maniacs this week. I first noticed the distinctive yellow singlet at the North Olympic Discovery Marathon last year. This year I've met more maniacs and have discovered that their calendar is the best around (because it includes obscure ultra's too!). I just barely qualified with NODM, the PCT 50k and McKenzie River, but then Portland sealed the deal.

I'm taking it easy this week. I tweaked my left knee during the marathon. Nothing too serious, but it's just starting to feel better today. I've iced it some, but the heating pad has really made the difference. Yesterday, Janet and I walked during our normal run time and I think I'll hold back and just walk again tomorrow morning. Then I'll test out running on the trails this weekend.

What's next? I was considering Autumn Leaves, but I'd rather my next long race be on the trails. Right now I'm dreaming about long runs on Wildwood again. There are so many runs I'd like to do in 2007. I'd like to complete as much of the Oregon Trail Ultramarathon Series as possible. For marathons, I'm looking at Eugene, Yakima River and Haulin Aspen to name a few. And I'm interested in trying out some shorter trail races too.

So many races...so little time.....

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

oh cool!

Darrell said...

If I lived up there in the Pac Northwest I'd totally be a Maniac, too. Congrats and enjoy the comraderie.

Rick Gaston said...

Hi Sarah, thanks for stopping by and the well wishes. Huge congratulations on the PR at Portland.

Unknown said...

Congratulations #355! I am thinking about Autumn Leaves, but have not completely made up my mind yet. I am planning on Eugene as well, but I don't like the fact that the price tag goes up to $95 after January 1st, butI'll probably still run it. I think it is cool to run the inaugural one.

Jack said...

Cool! Sounds like you are going to have some fun races in your future. I wish we had REAL trail marathons in Germany where I live - there is only 1 that I know about, the other are too civilized.

Ginger Breadman said...

I saw someone wearing one of the Oregon Trail Ultramarathon Series t-shirts during the Portland Marathon. I laughed to myself thinking what a non-runner must think. Run on the treacherous Oregon Trail? Didn't people die? And not just a marathon, but an ultramarathon? And as if that's not enough, an ultramarathon SERIES? Pretty funny. I hope you post more about it if you're running some of it. I like your goals.

Olga said...

Welcome to the place where insane feel normal!
Did I steal this line from their website? Don't recall...
I'll be most likely volunteering at Autumn Leaves. I also like your goals, OR series are fun, I did all but McKenzie and Waldo, so next year for sure. McDonald runs a favorite there.

seagull junker said...

If you run Autumn Leaves just wear road shoes. It is 75% paved bike path. Easy to crew yourself because of the 5 mile loop. I will be slugging out ten of them. Can't help but doing this one as it is only 10 miles from where I live.

The Oregon Trail series is great. All well put on races. Waldo is my favorite. Super well put on race. It might be the 100k masters championship next year also. Some big guns might show up if that happens. And next year it will be closer to 62 miles! (66.36 for the last five years.)

Just think you might be running the same course in Eugene as the ones that are running in the Trials in 2008! Pretty cool.

Have fun.
tom

Ryan said...

Great report below...way to jump in and conquer Portland!! Congratulations on a great finish!! Nothing like getting ready for another year of races. The marathon maniacs looks like a cool club...congratulations on meeting the criteria that's quite a feet in itself!! I wonder if a 50 miler would qualify as back to back marathons??

Sarah Elaine said...

Remember that 80's song? I'm thinking of a variation, "She's a maniac, maniac, running all those marathons!"

OK, so I won't quit my day job just yet.

Congrats on becoming a maniac!

Backofpack said...

Good deal Sarah! Hope that lovely shade of yellow looks good on you - I'm sure it will! I guess you could go for the black, but it just doesn't stand out as well. Anyway, congratulations from both Eric and I.

Kim said...

Hey this maniac thing looks pretty cool I'm going to check into it~~

Joe said...

Sarah, you do capture the MM bug well and I'm so glad you qualified!! And, you are so very right, "so many races, so little time"!!

Enjoy your recovery time!