My Race/Place Bucket List Redux

Nearly six years ago I wrote a blog about my race/place bucket list. Since then we've done a lot of traveling, and I've run a lot of races. In that time my bucket list has also evolved as bucket lists are wont to do.

 As mentioned in that blog I ran the LL Bean 10k in 2012, and it was awesome. I ran the New York Marathon in 2015, and I don't know that any race will ever compare. In the last half decade I've completed a triathlon, and I've determined that marathons aren't for me. I may run another at some point, but for now I'm taking a hiatus from 26.2. So where does that leave me with running goals?
NYC Marathon in 2015. The best.
I'd like to run a race in every state. It doesn't have to be something significant - maybe a 5k - but I want to pin on a bib and run in all 50 states. I have a lot of work to do; I've only run races in 12 states. I turn 40 this year, and I need to up the ante and knock some more states off the list. I've run dozens of races in Michigan and West Virginia. I ran (most of) a marathon in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I ran the Double Road Race in Indianapolis, Indiana. I ran a 10-miler in Louisville and a half marathon in Knoxville. I ran a 15k in Florida and a half marathon in Virginia Beach. I ran the Pittsburgh Half and an 8k in Chicago. I've run dozens of 5ks and 10ks and other half marathons, but I've got a lot of states to visit.
Double road race, Indianapolis 2013
That brings me to my place bucket list. It's a weird list. I've been to all the big cites (New York, Boston, Chicago, LA, DC, etc), and I love them all. But now I want to focus on places that are smaller and really have been creative about creating great communities. Boise is at the top of my list. I have been to Fargo but want to go back and spend more time there. I want to visit Bentonville, Arkansas. Random? Yes. But the home of Wal-Mart is alleged to have done some fantastic city design work. 

 Paris still tops the list, and hopefully if I update this in six years I will have visited there. We're heading to Napa for my 40th birthday trip in October, and that is a bucket list trip. But I'm thinking Boise Half Marathon in 2019 (it's too close to Napa to do this year), and maybe the Bentonville Half in 2019 as well (it's in April). It should be easy to add races in Ohio and Maryland in the next year. 

 What I love about running and placemaking is that the goal line constantly changes. I'd never considered the Deckers Creek Half Marathon as one of my bucket list races, but it remains one of the best races I've ever run. I love the City of Knoxville, TN, and I discovered that while running. As I'm working hard to rededicate myself to this sport and my goals, i'm excited by the possibilites of the next year. Who wants to run with me?
The Deckers Creek Half is still my PR race. Love it. 

Comments

  1. Laurie DavisApril 23, 2018 at 7:28 AM

    When you go to Boise, plan to meet up with Cathy and Dennis, Katie, Audie and Jess. They all live there! Or at least let them know when you'll be there so you have "local" fan support. Jess' Dad runs all the time.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tell me About Your Third Nipple

Image
Last summer I had a friend describe me to a new acquaintance as such: he referenced a James Bond movie where Bond is impersonating someone who has a third nipple. Everyone who knew this person well knew about the third nipple, so he had to wear a prosthesis and pull it off. He finished the analogy by saying, "Samantha knows everybody's third nipple." It was one of the best compliments I've received in a while. Maybe ever. My entire life I've prided myself on sincere and purposeful interactions and relationships both in my personal and professional life. Have I always gotten it right? Absolutely not. But I put a lot of work into how I interact with humans. It's the reason I have solid groups of friends and acquaintances. It's the reason I've been able to build a successful consulting business. I put a lot of time and intention into people, and it matters. How do I do it...and why? If you know me you know I don't have a third nipple or  a colon. You
Read more

Can we Stop with the Negative Mom Culture?

Image
  A few months ago someone brought beverages to my house called "Mom Water". I'd never heard of it, and after looking it up (because you know I did not and would not drink it) found out it is fruit infused vodka water. It sounds disgusting.  On the Mom Water website they say they're trying to celebrate moms b ut I immediately jumped to the premise that being a mom is so terrible that we have to create a gross new wine cooler in order to cope. It made me realize I'm really over the negative mom culture.  I get it: being a mom is hard work. I've had late nights and early mornings. I haven't slept through the night in years. I've been thrown up on and given every virus known to humankind (except COVID surprisingly). My son was home for 15 months without childcare during the height of the pandemic. There were some very long days, and you bet I lost my patience. Sometimes I still do.  But it feels like we're in this place where it's trendy to compla
Read more

The COVID Destruction of Habits

Image
I love habits. Habits are my jam. With just a little research one can find tons of books and articles about the importance of habits for success. In February of 2020 my habits were down to a science. I woke up early to work out. I dropped my son off at daycare by 7:30 each morning and was at city hall by 7:45. I worked a full day of meetings before picking my son up (most days) by 5:30 pm. On Mondays I had city council meetings nearly every week. My habits were set in stone because my schedule was so busy. If anything shifted out of place my entire day could be shifted. That was not my jam. By mid-March 2020, when the world shut down, all my habits went out the door. In an instant habits no longer existed. There was no child care. There were no office hours. We were all home together for an extended period for the first time as a family. My husband and I had work to do, but it felt like summer camp. I would go for walks with the dog and my son between meetings. We would ride bikes, and
Read more