by Jess Evans
March 1, 2018
March always feels like the real beginning of race season, even though I have raced 10 out of 12 months a year. When I sign up for a March race, I always have the nagging voice in my head saying, “did you train enough over the winter to really be in shape for this race?” But whether I can claim I am ready or not, I really look forward to being outdoors during this time.
Past March races I have done are the Death March and Conquer the Crossroads Rogaine in southern Indiana, and the LBL Challenge and The Breakdown in Kentucky. Definitely, the best part of all the spring races for me is being out in the woods. This is when spring is just budding out. I get excited about hearing the early spring frogs (wood frogs and spring peepers). I know I will see the first signs of spring as the purple flowers from the redbud trees just start to appear. Also, the elegant and fragile spring flowers start to gingerly make their way out of the soil. Some of the early spring flowers are Spring Beauties, Daffodils, Hepatica, and Trout Lilies. If you find yourself in a very pristine patch of woods, you’ll see the more rare spring flowers. It is a special time to be in the woods because life is returning.
According to Adventure Race Hub, March is bursting with adventure race life too. There are 13 races taking place around the US – and also GodZone in New Zealand, which is on my bucket list. Whatever may be your favorite race or your closest race, get out and do those races. You’ll feel better.
