The ‘Ol Bucket List – Race Edition

I think every runner has a few races that they want to run before their legs fall off. Admittedly, I haven’t been running very long – yet I’ve already begun to compile my list of desired races. Without further ado, here are the chosen ones:

1. Steamtown Marathon – It’s a close marathon (3 hours) that has the small town feel with a copious amount of volunteers and spectators. I read all about the pounding down hills and the completely inappropriate uphill ending, but what I haven’t read is one bad thing about this marathon. As long as you train for hills, you will be able to handle the course. Plus, I know the informational emails from the race director are hilarious, I really nerd-ed it up last week and read all of last years emails in the marathon’s online forum. Count me in. I need to be entertained while simultaneously being reminded that three months prior I thought signing up for a 26.2 mile run would be a good idea.

2. The Krispy Kreme Challenge – Run two miles: eat a dozen donuts: run back two miles: all under an hour. Participating in this race means breaking the holy vow of veganism (amen), but I don’t think I can resist. It’s not even that I secretly covet Krispy Kreme donuts, it’s more about pushing my body to the most un-athletic limits possible and still being able to brag about my tough weekend challenge to those who naively believe this race is just being sponsored by the donut giant. I might even rig up some sort of glazed donut medal for myself – because any race where Homer Simpson has a legitimate chance of winning is a race that obviously merits a medal.

3. Big Sur – Everyone knows that the majestic scenery is the reasoning behind running this particular race – so there’s no need to really expand here. Let me clarify why this race won’t be happening anytime soon though – Big Sur is not a race for the frugal or economically challenged and I just paid for my McDonald’s coffee this morning in dimes.

4. Gold Rush Days Burro Race – This race takes place in Colorado and is part of a weekend that celebrates the old west gold rush. One of the festivities is running 12.5 miles with a burro that may, or may not, feel like running with your sorry arse. I’m all about the quirky races, and now that I’m aware of a race where I can run with a stubborn burro exists, the comical implications are boundless. Unfortunately this falls into the same financial pitfalls of traveling that Big Sur is in – so unless I can convince the alabaster runner to plan our yearly vacation around me pleading with a stinky horse-wannabe to run, while A.R. blisters in the sun, this race might boil on the back burner for awhile.

5. Zombie 5K – as long as I can find a zombie race within a 60 mile radius of Hellam, I will be more than happy to sign up. I’m pretty lenient on the “requirements” for this race – just so that I can dress up as a zombie and run aimlessly around on the course. On the other hand, I could run as a victim and test the theory whether or not I would ever trip my husband during a zombie attack and leave him for dead. Final decision: he would want me to leave him – I’m fairly certain this exact situation was addressed in the wedding vows.

As I grow as a runner and hopefully pick up the speed a little bit, I believe this list will mature as well. For right now though, I’m content with these little racing nuggets and can’t wait until I can start crossing them off.