Tag Archive | goals

You Want Me To Tell You What!?!

We all have goals.

We all have dreams.

We don’t always verbalize them though and put them out into the universe.

Even someone like me who seems to tell everyone more than they want to know. There is just something too scary about doing that. When I ran Philly, I had a goal in mind, but I really didn’t tell anyone. I did say that I would like to finish in under 5 hours. What I didn’t tell anyone was that in my mind, I really wanted to finish around 4:45.

Guess what?

I finished Philly in 4:46:20

Guess What?

In my mind, I wanted to finish around 4:45. I told that to no one. It was between me, myself, and I. It was less scary that way. This time apparently, I have to put it all out there. Now, I don’t mean here on the blog out there. I mean I have to tell my coach. She wants me to start thinking about and tell her Monday the following:

A: The dream race on the perfect day goal

B: the hard but doable goal

c: the day sucked but I’m still happy with my race goal

In my mind, I know what I would like the answers to be. I’m just not sure If I want to lay it on the line like that. My Coach says that this is her way of making you stay accountable. I’m not sure that I want to be accountable. She also said that A does not need to be feasible YET or it can just be something that is possible but ambitious. I think I will go with the later. I also have to be careful because if I put too ambitious of a goal, she might think that’s what I want to run in the NYCM next year.

So I think I know how I will answer these questions in my mind. I just need to see if I have the nerve to write them for her.

Do you say your race goals out loud?

Turning Goals into Accomplishements

Apr30

I said yesterday, I’ve got Plans. Well, I really don’t have solid plans as much as I have direction that I’m moving towards that will develop my somewhat rock solid plans. That’s something though:)

First Step

I finalized working with a running coach and even paid for the first three months. Now I feel funny saying that I am working with a Running Coach as it just doesn’t sound right to my ears. Me, working with a Running Coach. Ha. I was introduced to her by my running cohort Dawn. We all rode down to the Philly Marathon together. I thought that Caolan was amazing just based on her personal record. We became Facebook friends after Philly and she added me to one of her Facebook groups that she moderates. Then after I got into the Marine Corps Marathon while still running all my 9+1 races, I started thinking about how can I put this all together. This is where Caolan comes in.

I’ve purchased online training plans before. So why not work with an online coach? I’ve filled out all the initial forms, we’ve emailed about what I’m looking for and what my goals are, and we’ve even connected through my Garmin Connect account. She is in the process of putting a plan together for me. That is both exciting and scary. Now before you think, “OH MY GOD, THAT MUST BE SO EXPENSIVE!” Let me just say it really is not. Working with Caolan will be cheaper than what I spent on Crossfit each month. That being said, I still will need access to the YMCA for cross training as we both agree I need to swim as a great cross training exercise. Luckily we have a family membership.

Next step

I bought myself a handy dandy Training Journal. Yes, I have online training logs, but I really am old school. I still buy monthly planners at Staples for the year. I just need to write it down in my own hand. There are lots of types of Training Journals out there. I bought the Runner’s World one. I just like the way it is set up. I will start using it once I start working with Caolan.

Step Three

New shoes and orthotics. I don’t have my orthotics yet, but I did get new shoes. They are lovely and I will do a review of them next week:)

Finally

Breathe and know it will all come together just the way it is meant to.

You can set all the goals you want to but if you do not create a course of action, you will never reach them. You have to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.

So I’m walking the walk now.

Readjusting Goals and Expectations

Feb17

With all goal setting, it is important along the way to take stock of how things are going and how expectations are meeting reality.

This is where I am today.

One of my goals for this year was to have a Bib a month. I was very clear in my goals that Bibs would not carry over and only one a month would count on this. Well it is time to readjust this goal seeing as I feel like I live in the Frozen Tundra and there are no races this month. More to the point the races that were available, I could not do. I wasn’t overly concerned because my MRTT group was hosting a Frozen Booty event. I was going to do the 5K. First we had a problem with the location and it was decided to be less formal event at a local park. Then the weather took a sever dive and it was determined that everyone would run their own race and post their times. I still did my 5K. I even did it outside because I really, really, really dislike the treadmill. My time was not spectacular, but I did it. I finished in 31:03. Actually not bad considering I walked at some points because I didn’t feel like landing on my behind in the snow. But I did it. I also plan to count this as I submitted my time to the National Chapter of MRTT. Official enough for me.

One of my other goals for the year is to run a 5K in 25 minutes. As I’ve said before, my PR for a 5K is 27 minutes. I had hoped to know this goal out at the March 1rst 5K, but I really don’t see it happening. I’ve been running on the treadmill, but I hate the treadmill. This is not to say that I’m not going to try, but I think realistically I hopefully can reach this goal later in the year. This is not the only 5K that I will run this year and this is only a goal at a local 5K. If I don’t make it this year, I can always try again next.

As for my goal of qualifying for the NYCM, I do seem to be on track for that one. I’ve already done one race and I’m registered for 5 more. Along the way, my cohort and I are trying to make sure that we also run enough of the Borough series races to automatically qualify for the NYC Half Marathon next year. Wouldn’t that be nice. We’ve already got one qualifying event under our belt and are registered for others. With any luck, things will fall into place and next year we can run the half and full. That would be amazing to say the least! So must keep on running to make sure that happens.

It is nice too that I can already say that I’ve reached a goal by running a trail half this year. Thanks Dawn:)

So as of now, I am satisfied with where I am in my training and my goals.

and

No, I haven’t forget the 2 hour Half. Just not sure of when.

How are you doing with yours?

I’ve come a Long Way Baby

Dec11

As I am preparing my goals for 2015, I have been looking back at all I’ve done in 2014. Wow. It is hard to believe that I have only started on this journey because a friend wanted me to do one race in September of 2013. It was going to be a one shot deal, We were doing the Iron Girl Sprint to prove that we could (or at least that was my reason). To prove that just because I was getting older that didn’t mean it was over.

One and done.

Who knew where that would take me?

I sure didn’t.

Then somehow I kept going and by the end of 2014, I have an impressive tally is if I do say so myself (and I do)

St Barts 5K 3/22 27:17.6 Age 8/72 Average Pace 8:46

Superhero Half 5/18/14 2:09:24 897/1633 Average Pace 9:52

NJ State Sprint Tri 7/18/14 01:43:50 swim 15:36 bike 50:44 Run 31:17 Place 1099

5K Run & Pizza 7/23/14 (5 days after Tri) 30:44 422/1105 Average Pace 9:53

Iron Girl Sandy Hook Sprint 7/7/14 01:53:13 swim 20:03 bike 1:01:34 Run 27.54 356/833

Grete’s Great Gallop 10/5/14 02:20:04 Average Pace 10:42

Hat Trick

5K 10/18/14 29:39 793/1595 Average Pace 9:31

10K 10/18/14 57:19 605/1635 Average Pace 9:13

Half 10/19/14 2:06:08 1206/2311 Average Pace 9:53

Philadelphia Marathon 11/23/14 4:46:20 7600/10335 Average Pace 10:55

Now I didn’t post this to brag.

ok, maybe a little.

That being said, I still can’t believe that this Mama who never did anything is suddenly doing it all. But I do need to sometimes step back and look at how far I’ve come to appreciate it. I’ve said before how I am a goal orientated person and I am. I just never want to forget to just enjoy the ride too.

I think that this is how many people go through life. I admit that I tend to do this sometimes too, but I am trying to get better. It’s kind of like Christmas. Many people are so focused on “getting ready” for Christmas that they miss the beauty of the preparation for it. Yes, Christmas brings many “tasks” from decorating the tree, shopping, to sending out Christmas Cards. These tasks should be enjoyed and appreciated because there are many people who would LOVE to have to deal with the self imposed stress of the Season, but for various reasons can’t. If you are always focused on the end results, you miss the beauty of the journey.

The same can be said with Fitness Goals, Races, and self imposed challenges. As hard as they get, there are people who would love to be able to do what I do on my worst day (which really isn’t that spectacular even on my best day). I know that I am nor will I ever be an elite athlete and I’m ok with that. I appreciate that I have the ability to get out there and swim, bike, or run if I want. I have a brother-in-law who is in a wheelchair due to Cerebral Palsy. He is the happiest guy I know. He goes through life doing what he can and never complains nor does he show any indication that he wants to complain. Yet many of us who have no reason to complain often do. I am reminded often how blessed that I am. How even on my worst day, I’ve got it good.

So as I go about setting both my fitness and personal goals for next year, I want to remind myself to never forget that the journey is just as important as where I will end up.

Why I need to sign up for Another Race

Dec8

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I am a goal orientated person. I realize that I have been in recovery since my Marathon, but I think I have gone beyond recovery and went into sleep mode. Since Philly, I have ran for a total of two times. Twice, I say. A measly 8 miles total. Wow. Sleep mode.

Now, I know that I was supposed to take it easy, but there is a difference between easy and standstill. I think it might be time to re-grease the wheels, take the breaks off, and hit the road again soon. If not the road at least cross train which I’ve done a total of once. Now I know part of it has been recovery. Part of it has been that my Hubby has been home on vacation, but a major part has just been that I’ve got no reason or desire to push right now which isn’t a bad thing either. Case in point, I went to bed Saturday night thinking maybe I would run the following morning, Yet, when I woke up Sunday morning I sat on the couch drinking my coffee thinking I will start tomorrow. Tomorrow has turned into today and I don’t think I’m running today. Monday is Crossfit day and then I have a whole list of household things that need to get done.

Now, I know that I do have a half in January, the Fred Lebow Manhattan Half. That being said, I think that I need to sign up for something else since I already know that my January half is more about fun and will not be any type of PR. Since I know I will I be running it that way, it is not motivating me. I also know that I won’t be doing the July NJ State Tri as I received a “Save the Date” for a family wedding which trumps the Tri. So I need to look ahead. I need to start planning out 2015.

I’m not sure where this drive is coming from as I’ve really never been a driven person. Not to say that I’ve been a lazy person. I’ve just usually taken things as they’ve come. But I’ve come too far and worked to hard to sit back and just wait for things to happen. No, I’m not going to loose it by taking a few weeks off, but I don’t want a few weeks to turn into a few months. We all know how easy that can happen. If I have a goal. A tangible goal. A goal that I’ve written out and shared. Then you know that I will do all in my power to reach it.

All studies do show that the best way to reach your goals is to actually write them down. I do take it one step further and not only write them down, but tell anyone who wants to (or even if they don’t want to) hear it. I put it on Facebook. I put it on my blog. I put it out in the universe.

Why do I do that? It’s really not because I’m “THAT” person, because believe it or not I can be very shy. It’s really because once I’ve told everyone, I won’t back down. If I’m the only one who knows, it’s easier to tweak my goals. Once I’ve told people though it has become real. I don’t want to have to say, “Oh I didn’t do that after all.”

Do you have a goal?

Do you write out your goals?

Do you share them?

What are they?

Edited to add

So I got a little flap from my sister because I said running the half in January was not a goal especially as she is training for one now. It is a very serious goal and running a half is an amazing accomplishment. That being said – At this time for me it really is not a goal, because I just came off marathon training where I was running major miles a week. Once I get back into a normal running pattern, things will return to as they should be. Please know that I‘m not trying to take away from any one training for a half because I’ve been there and I know how hard it is.

Also as I said we’re just doing this in half for fun and cupcakes in case I forgot to mention that:)

The Accidentally Running Mama

Run, Bike, Swim and Have a Life!