I enjoyed last year’s “What are your fitness goals for 2013?” and was waiting for someone to start a new one. You all failed me, so I guess I’ll do it myself!
Well last year I didn’t make my big goal, which was to run a 50k. I got my 26.2 mile training run in, but had a chest cold the week of the 50k.
Training for that took up a lot of time and I don’t care to repeat it again (yet), so I’m going to limit myself to half-marathons and 25k.
I think I’ve set some pretty aggressive goals for myself. Since I’m not trying for a longer distance this year, they all pretty much involve strength and speed.
1 - Improve my half-marathon time, which was set on the road, but do it on a trail. Did I mention I’m not fast? I basically need to hit 2:15.
2 - Improve my time on a rather hilly 10-mile trail I frequently run/race. My fastest time on that is about 2:15, I want to get it under 2:00.
3 - Bring my 5k down to 25 minutes. That’s going to be a leap, because right now 3 9-minute miles is pretty goood for me.
Planning to do a mini-triathlon (1500m swim, 22.5 mile bike, 6.2 mile run). It would be nice to lose the 5-6 lbs I put on over the last couple months. I’d like to get more limber.
I want to double my lifts. I think I can do it in a year but it might take two. I’m at roughly 100lbs press, 170lbs bench, 250lbs squat and 290lbs deadlift, so I’m still something of a novice. It sure would be nice to get to 200/300/400/500 by 2015.
I also want to lose about 20-30 pounds of fat while gaining muscle, or at least not losing much. That might be incompatible with my previously listed goal. Gaining muscle and losing fat are hard to do simultaneously, and some would say it’s impossible.
I’d also like to get back into running, starting with sprints and hill runs but working up to some modest distance (in the 15-20 miles per week range). Long slow distance can interfere with recovery from weightlifting, so this might also be incompatible.
Looks like I have to think about my priorities.
Basically, I want to be leaner, stronger, faster and improve my cardiovascular health. That’s not too much to ask, is it?
I’ll probably just continue to lift, add in some sprints/runs gradually, and try to tighten up my diet (fewer simple carbs, mostly). I may not reach all my goals but I can make sure I’ve started down the right path this year. But the subzero temps here in the Midwest aren’t really helping.
I only have one: grit my teeth for a couple of weeks until this year’s horde of ruddy-faced, hyperhidrotic New Year’s Resolutes inevitably dissipates and the gym isn’t so goddamned crowded.
10 consecutive pull-ups sometime in 2014 is my goal as well, and I can do 7 now, which is not shabby for a 45 y.o. woman.
It’s not that I think pull-ups in and of themselves are all that - although I am pretty stoked that I can do something that most female Marine recruits presumably half my age can’t- but having this as my goal will keep me from slacking off my upper body workouts in general. And my fitness goals are actually subordinate to my dietary goals (“stop eating crap”). My body is more likely to request legumes and vegetables when I get off the couch once in awhile.
Run a second 50K, this time without mid-thigh deep mud and water so I actually get to run the majority of the course. Beat my time from last year (which should be easy).
Already signed up for my third sprint triathlon. Want to improve my time from last year, which was already a slight improvement from the one two years earlier. Stretch goal: don’t get beaten by any 70 year olds. Sigh. I’m 45. Not much of a runner.
Keep getting stronger without any serious injuries. I made it last year, and if I can keep up the same pace this year, I’m going to be approaching legitimately strong.
My current numbers are 150 press, 220 bench, 260 squat, and 300 deadlift. Those last two numbers should be a lot higher, but I had to take a few months off back in 2012 due to a nasty case of sciatica, so I lost a lot of progress. My projected numbers for the end of the year are a 200 press, 270 bench, 360 squat and 400 deadlift, and I think that would be a good start.
I’m a newbie. Couch potato. Slug. Lots of health propblems. We joined the Y in November.
My goals are very simple in comparison to those above:
Lose 30 pounds
Improve my heart health/lower by blood pressure
Strengthen my body
I don’t run. That has never been my thing. I’m a swimmer - or better to say was a swimmer. My goal is to swim a mile without wanting to die.
My goals are more participatory than performance-related, basically keep riding my bike up hill and down dale, but sprinkle in some events - definitely some more mountain-bike orienteering events, plus a couple of enduros this year.
I would love to get fit enough to race cyclocross next winter but that is a bit of a distant dream [ I could participate in a cyclocross race tomorrow, but I certainly wouldn’t be racing it ].
I’m also going to try some 10 mile time trials - never been a proper road cyclist but the TT appeals for some reason. They start in the spring - 30 mins is the benchmark for a novice. I reckon I could just about do that now, might involve some blurred vision and vomitting on the bars. If I’m right then I’ll take it from there. If I post something like 35 mins then maybe I’ll give them a miss.
Break 25 minutes in a 5K. Should be doable, as I PRed twice last summer, with the second taking it to 25:23. With continued training, a flat course and good weather should let me get there.
PR in a 10K. I haven’t run many of these, but I managed to trim over 5 minutes off of my PR last summer (now 56:33), with a race in perfect weather conditions.
Lose a few more pounds, and keep them off. When I started running, 4 years ago, I was around 190. I’ve trimmed down to around 175; I’d like to get to 170 or below, and be stable there.
Thank you. Good to know that not everyone here is an athlete. I’m halfway to my goal of losing 40 pounds. I’m exercising 50 minutes per day/6 days per week. I don’t care about my abs, or how much I can lift, but I am looking forward to fitting into my old suits.
