The Race Schedule Goddess is not Cooperating

January 22, 2011

Dear Race Schedule Goddess Up There In the Sky Somewhere,

I understand that it is not realistic for the universe to plan around my world when it comes to scheduling races, but so far 2011 is sucking in terms of getting races on my calendar.

First, you move the location and change the date of a race I was looking forward to. Terrible. Then, you plan a half-dozen other races that I would like to do when things like mandatory weddings, family fun time and other minor life events are already set in stone.

Second, you try to tempt my husband by placing a race that is probably beyond my abilities three feet from where he lives in the summer. He, the non-planner between us, is trying to get me to register immediately for a race that is six months away.

In an attempt to make me hate you less, you schedule a duathlon close to where one of my awesome cousins lives. Family fun, plus a race! Sweet. But you jack up the price for 19 miles of on-road racing to $97.33. Seriously? The Boston Marathon costs only $40 more and it is the freakin' Boston Marathon.

You are leading me to consider options that I am not so sure I want to do -- the New York Marathon, for example. I know that I might not have the chance to do it again so maybe I should get it while it's hot, but 2011 was supposed to be the year of off-road fun. The 26.2 miles through NYC are awesome, but that race is the most on-road thing I have ever encountered.

In conclusion, please be more considerate when scheduling 2012 races. In return I promise to be good and to train hard for (just about) everything that I enter.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
Laurie C. Stewart