It's official. I am now registered for the Lost Dutchman 10k in Apache Junction, AZ, on Feb. 19, 2006. I had originally considered doing the half marathon, and maybe still will, but I did not want to pay extra for a race I might not do. I really think I need to take this running thing a little slower than last year to avoid the same overuse injury I have had for too long. The only thing is, running a half marathon, I can kind of "bury" my slow time with the distance. With a 10k, you are expected to be somewhat fast (or rather, I would like to be somewhat fast). But right here, the pressure is off from me having to get to 13.1 miles in 6 weeks' time. I can do it, but it wouldn't be pretty. And I'm not sure how I will do in the warmer climate. I am not a good heat runner anyway.

But if my luck is as it has been for the past 2 years going to the Myrtle Beach half, there will be an unseasonable cold front that will blow through about the time I step off the plane in Phoenix. Extreme temperatures have happened with every long distance race I have done except one. Every marathon I have done has been in below normal temps for the time of year. Every triathlon I have done has been either abnormally hot or colder than it ever has been in that particular month (example: at my first Olympic distance tri, it was 97 degrees by the time I went out to run; my second Olympic+ distance tri, it was 43 degrees in the middle of Aug.)

I need to not obsess about the weather. And only doing 10k will help calm my fears. Now I just have to actually run that far!