I feel overwhelmed just reading some of the goals and resolutions I see flying around the blogoshpere lately. While I am historically not a resolutioner, there are some tweaks I will be making to my plan this year. Actually I’ve already made some of them back in October with the #OneSmallChange Challenge. January 1 is an arbitrary number in my humble opinion. Ok, enough with the preaching.
Learn to swim: Not sure how this will go, but I will try. Tomorrow, if this snow ever decides to stop, I’ll head out and get a swimsuit more appropriate than the frumpy mom-kini I’ve been accused of being partial to. I suppose I’ll need a cap too, right? Pretty sure the last time I wore one it resembled this:
(source)
Lift ‘heavy’ once a week: I’ve been doing this for a few weeks now and slowly I’m regaining my confidence in the free weight area of the gym.
As I age, I think keeping/building muscle will pay off in spades. I feel like a million bucks after lifting sessions so I guess human growth hormone/testosterone or whatever other feel-good juices are being released.
Fresh Meat: I’ve noticed that I tend to do many of the same races year after year. Nothing wrong with that, I guess, except that I’m bored. Here’s how the schedule is taking shape so far:
2/9: Cupid’s Love Dash 5k (repeat)
4/5: Lincoln Presidential Half (NEW!) They had me at giant penny medal
5/4: Flying Pig 3-Way Weekend: 5k, 10k, Half (NEW!)
5/31: Soldier Field 10-miler (3-peat)
7/24: Espirit de She 5k (NEW)
10/12: RnR Denver (repeat but I couldn’t resist) Who needs air anyway?
11/4: New York City Marathon (NEW)
Let the record show I did not register for the March Madness half. I’ll admit I sat here at 6am yesterday when registration opened (cuz that’s what I’ve done the past 7 years) and watched it sell out in under 30 minutes but it just wasn’t in my heart to pull the trigger. The time is now to stop doing the same old same old.
New Training Plan: You may know I’m a die-hard Run Less Run Faster girl. It’s been very good to me. But I’m doing something different that I’ll be unveiling soon. Something that, wait for it, has me running a 4th day. I know, the horror!
So there you have it: kind of all over the place, for me anyway. I could add some weightloss goals and food journaling in there but who am I kidding? I think I’ve taken on more than enough.
Any exciting changes for you this year? Destination races? Do you set and achieve big goals?
Some great goals for the year!
Change is good, and fun. I like your line up of races and the fact that you are scratching some that aren’t doing it for you anymore. And yep, at our age, weights are SO important!
Learning to swim is huge! Will you be trying some tris in the future?
i’ve wanted that penny medal for 2 years now! but it will be a while before I repeat a state just for a better medal. i am actually going to track my food but mainly for stomach issues to see what my triggers are and trying a new runners diet program. not really a diet-more of a lifestyle- haven’t finished the book yet but seems like something I would like (i don’t like diets that take away food groups).
I need to learn to! Good luck!
I usually go with keep improving. I do a lot of destination races and set big goals for myself, but the real priority is to keep enjoying life and being healthy. If too much traveling or overly demanding goals get in the way of that, I have little problem giving them up.
I’m going to Ft. Worth for the CowTown marathon with my sis-in-law. Actually, she is doing the marathon and I’m going for the 50K.
Can’t wait to hear how the swim lessons go!!
I so need to learn to swim! You’ve got some great things planned for 2014!
I signed up last night for any races that were open. My schedule so far:
March 8th: Shamrock Run (4 miles) done this many times!
April 26th: 5k back in my hometown. Hoping for 3rd year as age group winner
May 4th: Mountain Goat 10 miler (again, multiple times, but my favorite race always!)
June 8th: Keuka Lake Intermediate distance triathlon (first time at this distance)
June 22nd: Syracuse 70.3 Ironman triahtlon (first half iron man)
July 13th: Boilermaker 15k-registration not open yet (did the 5k last year with friends)
July 20th: Delta Lake sprint triathlon (3rd time, but I love this course)
August: Duathlon (TBD)
September: ? half marathon in Rochester, NY
October: ? half marathon in Syracuse (if I don’t do Rochester)
PHEW: I think that will be good. Maybe some smaller races in there if I feel like it. 70.3 training starts the end of March, Mountain Goat in February. I’m still building my swim base now, starting coached pool sessions next week:) I can help with your swimming goal, if you want. I’m not an expert, but I know what you mean about venturing into new territory.
Michele your schedule looks awesome! Yay for 70.3! I recognize some of your races. You’ve been at this awhile–time flies! Would love any swim help I can get. : )
I love your goals!!! I’m not a resolutioner either….. but I love goal setting!
Muscle will definitely pay off with age says this 56 year old! 🙂 Great plan ahead for you!
Learning to swim will be good! I love, love, love to swim and just don’t do it enough.
Weights are great but I still haven’t bought a gym membership. BTW you look great, I can’t imagine that you would even need to entertain weight loss.
I registered for the Esprit de She 10K. I just need to make it there. 🙂
Carla I hope it works out and you can make it to Espirit de She! We’ll whoop it up! 😀
Your goals look awesome. I love new races. I had quite a few in 2013 and have one lined up already in January. Looking forward to reading about your adventures this year!
I’m with you; I’m not a resolutioner either! But I like yours. I learned to swim a few years back, and am so glad I did. For my first swim I wore an old suit that I didn’t realize had rotted; when I stepped out of the pool the outer piece was hanging off me, completely separated from the lining! Good thing I was swimming in the outdoor pool in the dark! I like mixing it up with new races too. Good luck in 2014!
Great goals and a nice mix of new and returning to what you know works 🙂
I feel the same way about races! I loved Seawheeze and the girl’s weekend in Cleveland and Indy Mini but I started feeling like ground hog’s day- the Bill Murray kind. I have a few repeats: NYC Half, North Country Trail/Michigan Wine Trail double, Quarryman, NYC marathon, Esprit de She but looking forward to new stuff, too! Like Houston in 2 weeks- gulp!!
I think running my first 5K is my only real goal for this year. Probably more towards the spring time.
Yes to the lifting – that’s a great goal. I think adding lean muscle mass is SO important especially for women. I have a few races that I know I’ll do – Half in March, 10K in April and another half in Oct. that’s kind of it for me though.
I don’t really have any goals set for 2014 other than to keep running and staying active throughout pregnancy. I’d like to run a half before the end of the year, post partum, but I haven’t made any real decisions yet.
More miles huh? I’m curious to learn more and find out how many miles total/week you plan on doing.
No resolutions for this girl, blyek! But I am going to Disney in a week for the Half Marathon, wahoo!
I am always up for a change of pace! I bought a swim cap last year that has a thermal liner to keep my head warm while swimming outdoors in the Winter. It does look like the one in your pic MINUS the flowers. I am sure you will find a cute suit. Lots around these days. Try a Swimco store if you have them – sometimes they even have good sales but their merchandise is good quality.. hey or how about Athleta? They have a lovely selection online and great prices right now too. Good luck with it.
Great goals! I hope you have an easier time learning to swim than I did. Stick with it, specially now that you made the goal public 🙂
lol, a 4th day! the horror!! I’m a sucker for goal lists personally – they (usually) keep me motivated and it always feels good to cross something off! Good luck finding a suit – I can’t remember the last time I bought one for exercise-swimming.
Awesome plan! I love all the things you want to do this year. I also want to try to do a destination race or two, even if it’s just driving a few hours away to Nashville. 🙂
You’re absolutely right about weight training as you age. My son’s told me that for years. It still doesn’t make me want to lift weights but I can feel really guilty about not doing it.
Hooray – DENVER!!! 🙂
I thing changing up the regular routine will be really good for you – a nice break from the norm, and I think exactly what will keep those pesty injuries away. Run more, injured less!
Happy Happy Happy New Year, my friend. Thanks for making 2013 a very special year for me.
Oh, and we MUST do that Thelma and Louise Half Marathon. Just sayin’.
xo
I’ve been wanting to get back in the pool, too! Great goal. And I’m really looking forward to hearing about your new training plan!
Looks like some great goals you have!