# What are your fitness goals for 2014? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 8, 2014, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299 "2014-01-08T19:10:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/43 "2014-04-17T23:54:19Z")
It took me until February to figure out what they would be - but my goals this year are to lower my half marathon time (I’m not fast and I’m likely never going to be fast, but I do hope to be less not fast for my goal race in October than I was last time I ran a half marathon) and to increase my flexibility. I’ve done pretty well on sticking to my running schedule. Not so much on stretching. ---
**Author:** ![troubledwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@troubledwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troubledwater)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/44 "2014-04-18T00:10:43Z")
Made it. (10 consecutive pull-ups). Managed 11 consecutive chin-ups, once. I got slowed down a bit by what may be iron deficiency, so maybe I can bump those numbers up a little more. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/45 "2014-04-18T00:31:08Z")
I started Couch-to-5k. I’m on week 5 and feeling good! I chose a goal race June 19. Short term goal: complete the program and finish my goal race. Long-term goal for 2014: 9 minute mile over the 5k distance (right now I’m running about a 14 minute mile). ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/46 "2014-04-18T00:32:53Z")
> [@Cell\_Guy](#): > > One [DDP Extreme Psycho Pushup.](http://therealddp.blogspot.com/2012/04/ddp-yoga-psycho-extreme-pushups.html) > > I may not get there but I know my overall fitness will improve along the way. I also have a calisthenics related goal, but nothing too extreme. I’ve been trying for over a year to work my way up to a one-legged squat. That’s my goal for this year as well. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/47 "2014-04-18T00:43:22Z")
Checking in, as per request. 🙂 > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > 1. 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. > > 2. 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. > > 3. 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. #1: Haven’t made this yet, in part because I broke my right wrist in mid-February (which slowed down my training – I could run with the cast on, but it was awkward), and in part because I’ve only run one race so far this year. Still hopeful on this one. #2: Also still hopeful on this, but haven’t run that distance yet this year at all. #3: Success! I’ve been below 170 for the past month, and have been able to hold at 167 for the past 2 weeks. Next goal is 165. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/48 "2014-04-18T18:35:55Z")
Avoid gaining more weight. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/49 "2014-04-19T17:00:12Z")
Yay, this thread! Had to go back in time and see where I was: December 2012: [QUOTE=Spice Weasel] To make exercise a daily habit, even if it’s just a walk around the block. [/QUOTE] May 2013: > [@](#): > > My primary fitness goal right now is to do a day hike, like a 9-5pm kinda deal. > > The other thing is to master the burpee. Burpees are the bane of my existence because they target every physical weakness I have. I’m going to get to the point where I can do them in one fluid motion. 1 year, four months of daily fitness later… As of now, my longest hike has been 6 miles, but I’m very confident I could do a day hike. I bought some serious backpacking gear including a 65L Osprey rucksack and a sleeping bag and had my first overnighter scheduled for next week, but I had to cancel due to an unexpected out of state move. I am still practicing carrying weight in my bag, but you can damned well bet I’m not spending all that money on that gear and never using it! Right now my fitness goals for 2014 are to do 100 burpees in 25 minutes, and to do an unassisted pull-up. My burpees have improved considerably but I have a long way to go. I’ve transitioned from the largest pull-up band to the medium band and no longer require a spotter, but it’s going to take some time to get that unassisted pull up. My coach is also helping me to get rid of some of this stubborn weight that remains. I consider the weight loss a fitness goal since I want to do it specifically so that I have an easier time while physically active. I’ve lost 20 pounds since I started, but it would be easier on my body to lose another 20. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/50 "2014-04-19T18:43:23Z")
My goal is pretty much the same every year: be fit enough for strenuous day hikes (10+ miles) in the Sierras. If I can make it to North Dome or Clouds Rest without being sore the next day, I’m doing good. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/51 "2014-04-19T23:17:33Z")
First trail run of the year today! 🙂 First tweaked ankle of the year today. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/52 "2014-04-20T00:15:29Z")
Going on over 6 weeks of daily exercise, after a few years of 4-6 days/week. It becomes a little bit of a superstition (ooo, can’t slack today, it’s been 45 days in a row!). At minimum, 30m stairmaster every morning together with the anti-SADD light, usually a 1-3 hour snowshoe or vigorous hike each weekend day. Goals are basically to keep it up and hopefully step it up. I added a few short weight-lifting sessions a few weeks ago, then switched to Daily Burn videos on the Roku for the last week. It’s been nice to change it up! With the Daily Burn, I’ve been using the beginner series to get back to some basic “mobility and stability” training. Feels good. Stairmaster is great for when you just want to grind out the kinks, get the morning “light” and keep the brain on track, but I feel like I’ve finally got that covered and need some upper body and balance work. Let’s call it a goal to add in one day/week of yoga and three of strength training, including weights and/or DB body weight training. I’ve been at my goal weight for a while and don’t need to lose any more, but I’ll make it a goal to eat more veggies (we joined a CSA for this summer, I’m very excited!). (I have to say, it might be a coincidence, but I’ve only had one minor migraine since I started every day exercise, and it used to average one a week. Coincidence? I’ll take it!) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/53 "2014-04-20T05:08:51Z")
I’m working on dropping my LDL through increased treadmill and decreased bacon. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/54 "2014-06-17T20:53:32Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > 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. How’s it going fitness peeps? I’m doing pretty well in riding my bike - this month did a short course mountain bike race, a bike orienteering event plus the 10 mile time trial on the road that I wanted to do. Part of this is down to joining a good club earlier in the year - some strong cyclists in it that have helped my riding and been fun to go out with. The time trial in particular was good - posted 26.34. For a fat bloke on a fixie, that is a respectable first effort, IMHO, so I’m going to try and do a few more this summer. On the negative side of the ledger the weight isn’t looking too good. Typical exercise compensation mindset of going out for a hard 3 hr ride, then making up for it by tanning the pies and ale. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/55 "2014-06-17T21:24:29Z")
Well, I didn’t post in this thread originally, but I am doing a good job getting an average of 10k-11k steps a day. Also yoga 2-3 times week. I didn’t really start until about 2 mos ago though. ---
**Author:** ![InsomniaMama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ad7895/32.png) [@InsomniaMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InsomniaMama)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/56 "2014-06-17T23:52:54Z")
> [@InsomniaMama](#): > > 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. Well, I was within 2 minutes of my time 2 years ago. I’m happy, as the training season was cold, and there were some health issues around here. Still got beaten by two 70 year olds. What is UP with that? ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/57 "2014-06-18T20:51:31Z")
3 million steps this year. At the quarter, I was ahead of goal pace. Will be at 1.5 million steps by the weekend, so I should be ahead of the weather come December. Trail hiking is a new adventure for me that I wish I discovered 30 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/58 "2014-06-18T23:10:24Z")
Close my 250 lb gripper. On a good day, I can just barely manage to close the 200, but really I’m at the 150 level. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/59 "2014-09-29T18:49:19Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > 1. 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). > > OR > > Run a trail marathon instead, and enjoy myself. > > 1. Drop back down to my weight from two years ago. > > 2. Complete my first sprint triathlon > > 3. Enter a 5K summer series > > 4. Achieve a new PR at some distance OK, as of Saturday I’ve done a tri, achieved a PR at the sprint tri distance (cheating, I know) and am closer to goal #2 than I was at the start of year. No marathon/50K or summer series. How’s everyone doing on their goals? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/60 "2014-09-29T19:18:43Z")
Good job, **Telemark**. > [@Telemark](#): > > How’s everyone doing on their goals? > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’d like to do another 1,500 to 2,000 miles this year; lose about 10 pounds. (Before that sounds too impressive, it’s on a bicycle.) Not bad. Looks like 1,537 miles and dropped 10 pounds. I gained about 7 over the last fall/winter, so I’m down a few compared to this time last year. I started using a smartphone app this year to track my rides. It has a monthly goal of 1,250 km (about 750 miles) which I managed to do in July. That also means I slacked off a bit during the rest of the summer. Rode the whole Cape Cod rail trail, and did the Hub On Wheels 50 mile route; those were two long days but I managed them without too much difficulty. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/61 "2014-09-29T19:43:16Z")
Nice work Telemark. I went to support my wife on a sprint triathlon last month, looked like fun - was thinking about having a dig at one next year. Stuff ticking over nicely here - did a mountain bike event this month and rolled in 12th out of 150. Hard route - 30 miles of rocky trails. It was more for the enthusiast than the serious racer, but still v pleased with my time. Planning on entering a cyclocross race next month which is something I’ve wanted to get involved in for ages. Kept up the time trials but didn’t improve much on my first time. Really enjoyed these and planning on training for them next year (season is over now) - to the point where I’ve asked my wife for a turbo trainer as a birthday present. The enduros I had as a goal at the start of the year didn’t materialise - I would love to ride some in 2015 as that sort of technical riding is what it’s all about IMO. It’s a full weekend, though, with practice runs, and I don’t see myself having the time. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299/62 "2014-10-09T15:13:53Z")
Failed miserably on all counts! In fact, I haven’t quite maintained the level of fitness I possessed at the beginning of spring. Ok I say that, but them I remembered that I quite unexpectedly hit one of my goals, which was to place in the top half of finishers in a race. It was a 25k trail race that I have done for 3 years in a row (and my favorite race), and even though my time was pretty far off last year’s finish, I finished IIRC 30-something out of 80 or so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-fitness-goals-for-2014/678299.md?page=2)