DNS = Did Not Start

I like racing too much. I have decided not to do the Boulevard Road Race this weekend. I have been going back and forth the last two weeks and have finally decided not to do it. It's just not the right time. I asked for and got a lot of good advice from my "Team" regarding this decision. I know I am fit enough to do it but I am also signed up for the Xterra Mission Gorge 15k Trail Race on Sunday.

Originally I had planned on doing both but I don't want to bury myself... not yet at least. I think I will benefit more from 5+ hours on the mountain bike Saturday as opposed to a 2.5 hour hammerfest on the road. I am in the middle of another big week before some rest next week so I will be going into the trail race pretty beat down, but I really want to see where my running is right now.

This marks the 3rd race in the last couple of months that I have signed up and paid for and have not toed the line. Here were the first two...

1. Xterra Topanga Trail Race - 15k
Beth and I both signed up for this one. It was two days after Thanksgiving and only a month after Xterra Worlds. We both didn't feel like racing... so we didn't.

2. Xterra Crystal Cove Trail Race - 15k
I signed up for this one and it sold out before Beth could get in. I had just started to really run again and was definitely lacking the motivation to go hard. I ended up transferring my entry to Beth and had a good time watching her have a great race (1st Ag, 2nd Overall to Heather Fuhr!).

The only race I have actually done since Xterra Worlds was the 12 hours of Temecula back in November. The trail race on Sunday is going to hurt! I have been putting in a lot of miles and really building up my running frequency but nothing fast or really hard up to this point in my 2008 training. I figure I will just go for it from the gun and see how long I can go until I totally blow up... I really don't know any other way. This is the first stand alone running race I have done since the St. Patty's day 10k last year. We'll see how it goes.

Here's the elevation profile for sunday! That last climb is going to be brutal... if I make it that far.

Yesterday was Beth's b-day and even though I tried to get her to go out for a drink and dinner she just wanted to chill at home and eat some good food so we could get up early and hit Masters in the morning. She's on it! So I cooked a birthday meal and then took her to Golden Spoon for desert.

Dinner: Broiled Salmon, steamed veggies, and the chron salads.