Pages

Friday, September 21, 2007

2008 Skate Dates and a Bold Prediction

This last Thursday I was out skating my usual 12 mile route and I said "This skating thing is getting really old...this really stinks!"

HOLD ON! WHAT? I said that? Yes.

Obviously I am burnt out. Quoting my sista..."Think?" I've been skating every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday since the end of April. I've skated 2 marathons and now the season is over. The burnout is settling in because I have nothing immediate to train for now.

Time to start thinking about next year. Here is a list of the 2008 marathon events on my radar screen:
  1. Baxter Inline Marathon - June 14th
  2. Big Granite (Ashland) - June ??
  3. Hermanton Half Marathon - July 19th
  4. Chicago Inline - July 26th
  5. Hayward Inline 39 mile challenge - August 9th
  6. St. Paul Inline Marathon - August 18th
  7. Northshore Inline Marathon - Sept 13th
I am shooting for the four in bold. Notice that I am going to do #5 - the 39 mile challenge. I'd also love to squeeze in #3 (it's only a half marathon) and it would be really great if my wife and I made a road trip to the windy city for #4, but we'll see.

So here is my bold prediction: At least one of you, reading this right now, will be skating at least one of these events with me. Somebody is going to contact me about getting into inline skating and I am going to teach you how to skate and we are going to train together. I will help you buy skates too. I will help you every step of the way. Whether you do a half or full, at my pace or yours, you will be an inliner in 2008.

It's up to you to decide...who's going to be?

5 comments:

theswamphare said...

Pat,

have you considered getting sponsors? Something like so many dollars per mile?

Just a thought; I'm sure you could think of a worthy charity. It would also offer additional incentive on those days you don't feel like training.

Swampy

kristi noser said...

Good Idea Swampy!

Unknown said...

Swampy, you telling me you'd pay me to train this morning? I will be starting 15 miles in about 30 minutes. My back is giving me trouble and I think $30 will help me deal with it. That's $2 per mile.

Seriously, I have thought of sponsors. But can't get over some reservations I have about the idea. I'll keep thinking through them.

theswamphare said...

Pat, that'd be sponsors for the events you train for...

Kim N. said...

Yep, I think its gonna be Carla.