What’s next in running?!
NOTHING! I am taking the summer off!
Ha, kidding. You guys know me. I’m badly itching to get back to running. I’m just waiting for my quads to give me the okay, and for the scab on my knee to be in a good spot (whatever that means).
I’m over feeling upset with how Grandma’s went. I’m done thinking about the “what ifs” and questioning my mental game (could I have powered through?). There’s no point! Instead I’m thinking about what a fun weekend it was, and feeling VERY proud of my friends’ races!
That doesn’t mean a fall marathon isn’t in the back of my mind, though. If I have a healthy summer, and registration is still open for the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon, I will consider registering for it. Consider.
Otherwise, the only thing I am registered for right now is the Gear Western Country Half Marathon in Long Lake, Minnesota on October 13th. We have a family wedding sort of nearby in Minnesota that day, and my mom suggested I do a race while I am there, so here we are… I’m all signed up in the “running/galloping hobby horse division” of the race!
The race has submitted an application to Guinness World Records for the first and fastest half marathon while riding on a hobby horse. The unofficial record is 1:27:55! I won’t be competing for the record, but think it will be humorous to run the half with a hobby horse (you can run a 5K with the hobby horse too). A few rules:
- You must provide your own hobby horse, OR rent one. My mom is making mine!
- The pole of the hobby horse from its neck to the ground must be at least half as tall as the runner. The horse head must be larger than the runner’s head. The horse head must have the appearance of a horse.
- Hobby horse runners have to start in the hobby horse corral. (Will it be fenced in? Ha ha.)
- Hobby horse runners have to gallop the first and last 100 meters of the race, and in specially designated gallop zones.
- The hobby horse runner must have the horse between their legs for the entire race, either carrying them with their hands, or with a harness.
I already have my horse’s design and name figured out, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise! Here are some horses Mom designed for Gina and Steven to try to convince them to come, though. (That didn’t work, ha.)
So that’s it, for future race plans. Maybe some 5Ks will pop up, but I have nothing in mind!
Themocracy
I’m glad you’re feeling better about the marathon. It’s definitely ok to grieve when it doesn’t go as planned and when you put in the effort. It sucks.
Isn’t the Milwaukee marathon the one that’s had a short course the past few years?
That hobby horse half sounds like a hoot! I can’t wait to see pics as I anxiously await my race the next day.
It is- 2x in a row!
https://www.google.com/amp/fox6now.com/2017/10/18/milwaukee-marathon-officials-course-set-incorrectly-race-distance-was-4200-feet-short/amp/
It does suck! Even though I only trained for it for about 6 weeks or whatever, ha ha.
The Milwaukee Marathon has had issues its first two years. Milwaukee Lakefront is a different race I’ve run before, that doesn’t have issues! I was talking to Bobbi about Milwaukee and she asked if I was going to consider the new one and I said no since the course has been effed up! LOL.
I will send you all the pics!!!! I’m so excited your your second IM!
Oh! So many Milwaukee marathons! Lol then that could be a good one to do!
Only 6 weeks of training- your training for the half seemed more like 26.2 training to me 😉
Right! I wonder how Lakefront feels about the other one kind of tarnishing the Milwaukee marathon name!
Aww, thanks! 🙂 I was definitely at the right weekly mileage!
I’m dying over the hobby horse half marathon! I’m jealous. 🙂
Ha! Maybe there is something like that near you! 😉
That hobby horse half marathon has to be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard of! (Not in a derisive way – in a hilarious way). It actually also sounds kind of hard?? I’m not sure I could run with a hobby horse for 13.1 miles! I’m so amused by the specificity with the rules, too. I would hate to get disqualified because my horse’s head was too small, or perhaps looked too much like a donkey rather than a horse! 😛
It was so ridiculous I had to do it! Ha ha ha. Gosh, it would be horrible if that happened and you were disqualified cause your house was “wrong”! What if my creativity means it doesn’t look like a traditional horse??!
I did LOL and did NOT believe you for one second that you’d stop running! I like that you’re keeping options open for a future race, and that hobby horse half is going to be interesting. Someone needs to video you as you run…and don’t forget the gallop zones!
My mom is SO excited to spectate that one, so I bet I will have lots to share after! HA!
Ahaha, you’re going to do it? That’s amazing! Will you have to practice with your horse (or just a dowel) beforehand? What if it chafes?? It seems really hard!
Yeah! I am registered! I am definitely going to practice with a dowel. I will have to make sure it’s nice and smooth and that I have glide up and down my inner legs!
I love those sketches….but I’m nervous at the idea of running with s hobby horse.
I don’t think it will work this year with your schedule; but the Detroit Marathon is nice: you run over the Ambassador Bridge, through London Ontario, then through the tunnel back to the US side. No horses though, kinda a tough call 😉
Oh yeah, I have heard lots of great things about that one! Looks like it’s the weekend after the horse race 😉
Its always tough when a race doesn’t go to plan but I’m still surprised you finished with your poor knee.
I cannot wait to see pics of the hobby horse and the race 🙂
Thanks! I was thinking, I fall all the time in trail races and it’s not a big deal. Why was it here? Maybe cause I was going for a goal time – I am not at trail races.
You and me both! ha!
Okay, so, are you going to use a harness, or hold the horse with your hands? I see pluses and minuses here…change to your running form? Lack of control of the stick leads to intense chafing? If you do some dry runs, please post pictures 😉
I am thinking with my hands, but that could mess up my steps! HAHAHAHAHAH. I will have to experiment. I will definitely share pics, ha! I hope it doesn’t change my form or make me chafe so much that it’s not fun!