Bucket List Update

In September 2012, I wrote a Bucket List.

I thought it would be fun to go back and reevaluate where my head was at six years ago. I have changed so much in these last six years and have many other things I'm focusing on and I figured looking at this list would make me laugh at its absurdity (I also need to do a bucket list regarding non-sports related desires. So many things to do in this life and so little time!).

It's actually not that crazy of a list!

1. Run a sub-4 hour marathon. I have always had the ability to run a sub-4. I just didn't really believe it...something just about every marathoner has struggled with. The only time I tried before this past year was back in 2012. Unfortunately, the weather was horrendous and I completely fell apart and didn't even come close. A few weeks after this, however, I ran a 1:51 half. I was in shape to go sub-4 at this time in my life but a combination of the wrong kind of training, horrid weather, and a crappy mental attitude made that impossible. I didn't believe I could or even try again until 2017. That's when I succeeded....TWICE in five weeks. Although my December 2017 race was about a quarter mile short I still consider it a sub-4. I was feeling awesome at that end of that race and it's just really unfortunate that it was mismarked. Let's just count my 10 minute warm up before the race and call it a full marathon, ok? Awesome, thanks.

2. Run an ultramarathon. Nope. Haven't done this. My last long trail race, a 30K at night back in 2013, kind of turned me off to trail races of any kind of significant distance. I like running trails, but other goals have gotten in the way of me making trail running a habit. I haven't tapped into the desire to run an ultra. So I would no longer consider this a bucket list item.

3. Boston Qualify. I didn't even get the qualifying times right when I wrote this post. I said I needed a 3:50 at age 45, and it was actually 3:55. Super cool I got to knock two items off my list in the same race. Now I really do have to run a 3:50, however, as the qualifying standards shifted by another 5 minutes. Seven years ago, you could run a 4:00 marathon as a 45 year old and it's now 10 minutes tougher. I'm actually really glad for this. It makes me that much more focused on quality training. Plus, hopefully this means most qualifiers can actually gain entry into the race, instead of 25% being denied entry. Oh, and that silliness I wrote of maybe not actually running Boston, but just qualifying? Ha! I'm definitely running that race! Go watch the Boston documentary and you'll understand why.

4. Complete a triathlon. I've done seven! I think? But I only competed for two seasons. That part of my life may be behind me, but you never know!

5. Run around Lake Georgetown in its entirety. Have not even come close, nor attempted this in any way, shape, or form. I think my longest run on the lake might be 8 miles. When or if I get into trail running, I will for sure do this. It's a little over a marathon, with a lot of technical parts, so it's not for the timid.

6. Run the Rome Marathon. I'd still love to do this, but it won't be in 2020. Funny thing is, this was actually going to be my husband's one-and-done marathon, but he ran his first this year. Yes, honey, I said your "first." You're going to run another one.

7. Century Ride. Longest ride is 53 miles so I am a very long way away from this goal. I don't know when I'll spend the time to build up to this, but someday I would like to. Cycling has not appealed to me in about a year. I actually have a bit of a fear of it because of the horrible attitude of drivers towards cyclist and the number of accidents that cyclists suffer with cars. I'm simply a little afraid of getting back out there.

8. Run Rim to Rim (to Rim?). I'm thinking one way across the Grand Canyon is plenty, and yes, I'd love to do it still!

9. Back to back marathons. Um...nope. This will not happen. I did back to back 5Ks and half marathons in one weekend and that destroyed me. I was injured for months and had to back out of a marathon because of it. Taking on something like that just doesn't work for me. So we can say goodbye to this item!

10. Complete an Ironman. Sooooo....this was a joke entry, but there was actually a few months last year when I decided that I was going to do an Ironman (clearly I was on drugs). Because I have not gotten back my desire for triathlons, I'm putting this on the back burner, maybe indefinitely.

So, six years later I have completed three of my bucket list items. I'm keeping four of them (Lake Georgetown, Rome, Century Ride, and Rim to Rim), and getting rid of the other three. With only four items on my list, I need some new ones. So here we go:

1. Run a marathon with my husband. We were going to do this in Boston, but the cutoff was so insane that he missed it despite a 4:43 cushion. Still bitter, still sad, and still frustrated as hell. But we will run a marathon together. I'm thinking either CIM next year since I deferred my 2018 entry, or Chicago in 2020 since we have guaranteed entry (unless they change the current rules), but we will see if I can convince him.

2. Qualify for New York City Marathon. It's already insanely difficult to qualify. I would need a 3:38 full or a 1:42 half and although 3:38 was my original goal for Boston, my injury has my time goal up in the air. I would LOVE to qualify and run it just once. I'll keep working at it.

3. Break 7 minute pace in a 5k. My best is 7:12 pace. And it was a short course, but details. It's not easy to chip away at 5K pace, and getting another 12 seconds per mile out of my legs would be pretty epic. I'd really have to focus on that kind of goal, however, and I'm just having so much fun with the endurance stuff right now.

4. Break 8 minute pace in a half marathon. I wanted to attempt this in Houston in January, but I have lost too much fitness from my injury layoff so it's really unlikely to happen yet, but I really really really do want to accomplish this! I need a fall 2019 half marathon, maybe?

5. Pace a marathon. I keep saying I'm going to be a pacer. I just need to do it! A couple more solid sub-4 marathons under my belt and I will feel more comfortable with the idea.

6. Win a race. I have actually come so close to accomplishing this. Not looking for an overall win (ha!), but overall female. Three times I have come in 2nd in a race, and 3rd twice. The thing is, if you're not a super fast runner and I'm not, it's really a combination of picking the right SMALL race and hoping nobody fast shows up! The shorter the race, the better for me. To actually outright win one would be the coolest thing, even if it's because of luck! Super long shot, but always a fun thought.

And now to come up with a non-sport related list....how fun! What's on your bucket list??