I’ve been signing up for races, and thinking about the coming season. I figure if I write it all down, it may help to motivate me...

My most immediate goal is to get rid of the nagging muscle strains that have plagued me since sometime late last year. I’ve been stretching like crazy, and doing all sorts of exercises aimed at healing. Sometimes I think it's helping. Otherwise, I figure I'll just keep on running, even if I’m not feeling my best.

First up, in chronological order, I think I’d be nuts to pass up a trail race in Mine Falls Park, my regular stomping grounds. I think I will do that one, on March 24. I complain about 5Ks, but that’s because I’m slow. I do better (relatively speaking) over longer distances.

I plan to focus on races in the Grand Tree series, and I’ve already signed up for three:

Northern Nipmuck, 16 mi, Union, CT, Saturday April 7, 2007

Merrimack River, 10 mi, Andover, MA, Saturday April 14, 2007

Muddy Moose, 14 mi, Wolfeboro, NH, Sunday April 22, 2007 

April is going to be a busy month! I've never run any of those three, so I have only the foggiest notion of what to expect. I plan to just have a good time, and try to finish in good time. I have yet to register for Seven Sisters, 12 mi, Amherst, MA, Sunday May 6, 2007, but that's on my list of things to do.

I just today got the application for Nipmuck Marathon, 26.4 mi, Ashford CT, Sunday June 3, 2007. My friend Michelle has run it twice, and says it's a killer course.

The Greylock Marathon isn’t happening this year (last year’s was the first since 1998), and I’m undecided about going back for the Greylock ½ marathon June 17. I’d like to do it, but I’ll see…. I’m looking forward to a 50K day hike in the White Mountains later that month. That and Nipmuck might be enough for June!

I plan to do the GT Wapack Trail Race Sept. 2. It’s a 17.5 mile, out-and-back course starting at the Windblown Ski Touring in New Ipswich. The Wapack is a tough trail to run, so I expect that will take several hours.

Next up will be the Groton Forest trail race, 9.5 mi, Groton MA, October 21. I was very happy with my time last year (1:16), but it would be cool to beat it.

Last and the opposite of least will be Stone Cat in Ipswich Mass., November 10. I ran the marathon last year, finishing in 4:47. This year, I’d like to do three loops for 37.5 miles… maybe even the 50, if I have a good season and stay healthy.