Challenge Announcement, Part 2

on March 4, 2009

I intended to start Part 1 of the personal challenge this morning by doing 20 minutes of Level 1 of 30 Day Shred…. but I could NOT figure out how to work the DVD player! I never touch the TV in our house (there are so many buttons that its like a spaceship). Once Husband wakes up, I’ll get him to show me how to work the darn thing!

I’m going to try to fit in my first 30 Day Shred workout during lunch, so I better get to work early!

Breakfast was basic, but yummy.

Just WW French toast, syrup for dipping, and strawberries.

Mmmmm! Morning sugar makes everything better.

Challenge Announcement, Part 2

The moment Gasparilla Weekend (Race Recap Part 1 and Part 2) was over, I immediately felt…. lost! I had no new races in mind, and I really hate not having a race scheduled for sometime in the near future!

There are tons of 5Ks going on in the next few weeks, but by in large, race season is OVER in Florida for the summer. It’s simply too hot here to have long races during Spring and Summer. That’s why I was THRILLED to find this race….

Together with Meghann and Abbie, I’ll be completing a 15 mile trail race on April 11. Well, Abbie is actually aiming to complete the 50K, but unfortunately my poor knees are NOT up to a challenge like that — 15 miles through the wilderness will be enough for me!

This race takes place at Croom, which is within the Withlacoochee State Forest. The forest was named one of the "10 Coolest Places in North America" by the World Wildlife Fund. Isn’t it pretty?

The last time I did a trail run was August 2008, when I completed the Moss Park Forest Run 10k (recap is pretty funny, it’s from the early days of the blog!). Trail races are entirely different than road races — they require a different type of mental alertness and are physically more demanding… but, they are also more relaxed. People aren’t as focused on setting personal records. There’s a limit of 250 racers, so it will be a small and calm race.

The longest distance I’ve ever run is 14.0 miles, but I know I can do this 15.0 mile trail run!

So, this race will be challenging on many levels! I’m going to continue to recover this week, and will officially restart my training next week. Expect a training schedule on Monday!

My name is Caitlin, and I’m a race-aholic. 🙂

{ 46 comments }

Meghann March 4, 2009, 5:04 am
My name is Meghann and I’m a race-aholic too. We are each others enablers! lol
Jen March 4, 2009, 5:04 am
Good for you! You are very inspirational 🙂
Leah March 4, 2009, 5:34 am
How exciting, another race!
Looking forward to hearing about it as usual!
Hope you get the dvd working! Enjoy your day!
Amy March 4, 2009, 5:38 am
I love that you two are raceaholics! Race season will kick in up here in New England soon and you girls are totally motivating me to sign up! Yours looks like such a cool race. I love trail runs! The XC girl in me loves them more than road races. 🙂
kilax March 4, 2009, 5:45 am
The trail run sounds great! I am the same way – I love having a calendar full of races. I didn’t realize it was too hot to run there in the summer. I should be grateful for our full-year race schedule here in Chicago.
Mica March 4, 2009, 5:49 am
That race sounds so cool, and the picture of the park looks amazing! Ah, I want to do it now!

On a random note, when you said “Meghann and Abbie”, I totally thought you were taking her dog along for a 15-mile trail race.
Laura March 4, 2009, 5:50 am
That race looks really cool!
inmytummy March 4, 2009, 5:59 am
You sound like me. I have to call my boyfriend all the time while he’s at work to ask how to work the DVD player! He’s always unhooking wires and stuff.
Kelly (Meg's sister) March 4, 2009, 6:01 am
I so want to do this with you guys! I’ve been looking for a half marathon to train for and like you said running season is over in Florida. I think I’m going to register tonight for it. I was planning on coming to Orlando that weekend anyway. Good luck with your 30 day shred!
teacherwoman March 4, 2009, 6:04 am
I am doing the 30-day challenge… and will be doing day 3 today. Oy. I am a little sore, especially in my butts. It might have something to do with doing my PT exercises two times a day on top of that! Good luck! I look forward to hearing what you have to say about it!
VeggieGirl March 4, 2009, 6:07 am
Your breakfast = perfection, not basic. I am always tempted by it!!

Haha love you two race-aholics!! 🙂
bb March 4, 2009, 6:08 am
That race looks fun! Good luck with the shredding in the next 30 days.
Annie March 4, 2009, 6:21 am
I’m so excited for you guys!!
Petite Noonie March 4, 2009, 6:25 am
Oh that park is so pretty! That will be an awesome race!
seesaraheat March 4, 2009, 6:30 am
How funny, I am making french toast with strawberries for dinner tonight!! Looks delicious. That’s awesome that you found another race to do. I’m doing a 5k on Saturday which is kicking off race season for me (a 10k in two weeks, 10-miler in a month, then a mini at the end of April) and I’ve already got the bug. There’s another half-marathon where I live in October and I’m thinking if I can train over the summer, I could work it 😉 Have a great day, good luck with the DVD player.
Justine March 4, 2009, 6:39 am
Yay another race! And you’ll set a distance PR for this one (or while training) as well!
Victoria March 4, 2009, 7:05 am
Sounds like a great challenge! Good luck with the training!
Meg March 4, 2009, 7:10 am
What a fantastic race! I hate when I can’t get the DVD player to work at home.
thecleanveggie March 4, 2009, 7:10 am
french toast is the perfect way to wake up in the morning 🙂

hope your DVD player starts working!
ConsiderEatz! March 4, 2009, 7:14 am
Wow, girl! You are a warrior! Good for you, best of luck! : )
HangryPants March 4, 2009, 7:20 am
Congrats on finding the race!
Dori March 4, 2009, 7:23 am
I am sure you can do 15 miles — good luck! Your french toast looks heavenly, I hope to make some on Saturday. I realized after I ordered the 30 Day Shred that my boyfriend doesn’t even have a DVD player, so I will have to relocate mine to his apartment! (I have no floor space in my own)
Thinspired March 4, 2009, 7:26 am
Whoa! This is going to be awesome. Good luck to all of you–crazy race-aholics!
Anna March 4, 2009, 7:36 am
I loooooove trail running! have fun!
fitforfree March 4, 2009, 7:40 am
exciting!! way to push your limits 🙂
bhealthier March 4, 2009, 7:48 am
I ORDERED IT! just like Dori did! how fun! I can’t wait to get it, it said it will ship in approx. 10 days but it ships from NC so it shouldn’t take 10 days to get to NC, right?

LOVE the new challenge! You are right, you can totally do 15 miles!

I wish there were fun races like that here- there are some but not as many fun ones yet.

I can’t wait to get my dvd w. jillian and shred with yall!
Brandi March 4, 2009, 7:49 am
that place looks beautiful!

i’m hoping to do a 10K trail run in June and am super excited 🙂
talieworld March 4, 2009, 7:56 am
Love your breakfast!

I knew you would be thinking about another race, can’t wait to hear more about it! 🙂
tfh March 4, 2009, 8:31 am
Ha, that DVD player situation is one very familiar to me…hope you get a chance to Shred at lunch!

And that trail run looks AWESOME. I’m so glad you have another race/distance to look forward to! I adore the challenge of trail races. Are they as hilly down there as they are here?
sarahdbelle March 4, 2009, 8:35 am
That sounds like so much fun. It’s gorgeous, too!
Sarah
http://sarahdbelle.wordpress.com/
Amanda March 4, 2009, 8:39 am
Ah I am jealous of this awesome race!! When I finished my half-marathon I kept thinking that a marathon may be too much for me, but I’d love something in between. Can’t wait to read all about your training!
Run Saraah March 4, 2009, 8:41 am
That looks like so much fun…what a beautiful place to run too.
Holly March 4, 2009, 8:51 am
LOVE IT!! I am doing a 20k trail race on March 21st, and trail running is so fun! I hope you like 30 day shred. I don’t do it every day but I do like it – I’ve only done levels 1 and 2 so far. It’s pretty hard!! 🙂
skinnyrunner.com March 4, 2009, 8:53 am
what a fun looking race! im definitely jealous.
Bec March 4, 2009, 8:58 am
Wow it looks beautiful there, should be a great place for a race!
Sharon March 4, 2009, 9:01 am
Yay another race!! Good luck & have fun! You can do it, Caitlin!
Elsa March 4, 2009, 9:06 am
Good for you! I can’t wait to read about your training.
Florida seems to have such cool and different races.
Jess March 4, 2009, 9:11 am
What a fun race! Can’t wait to see your training plan! Good luck with Jillian.
carolinebee March 4, 2009, 9:22 am
that is gorgeous! It looks like a scene from a disney movie or something 😀 Good luck!
redheadedjournal March 4, 2009, 9:24 am
Good luck!
BOBBI McCORMICK March 4, 2009, 9:49 am
me too! I love this post, and I love your heart! Man you are quite the inspiration my dear. P.S. I have questions coming your way:)
peanutbutterandjuli March 4, 2009, 9:51 am
I think I am going to live vicariously through your races 🙂 Looking forward to hearing about your many “Challenges” !
Emily March 4, 2009, 10:06 am
sounds like a fun race!
good luck with training!
Dana March 4, 2009, 10:13 am
I love jillian michaels! I’m reading one of her books right now… She is such a motivator! Good luck on your challenge!

A trail run sounds awesome… I want to find one to do! Race season is starting where I live… You guys def have motivated me!
alessa March 4, 2009, 11:11 am
that race sounds great! i have only tried trail running a couple times, but it really is so different. i cant wait to hear all about it!!
just me March 4, 2009, 6:35 pm
i’m so a rac-aholic but i don’t seem to have time for it…freak’n snail kite job!

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