My race calendar has started to fill up nicely with the usual suspects in the first half of the year: The Chilly Half Marathon, Around the Bay and Boston. After Boston I've got the BIG one of the year: Ironman 70.3 Luxembourg. This will be my first half ironman in almost 10 years. And my first longer distance triathlon since IM Switzerland in 2008. To say I am a bit scared would be a bit of an understatement. Good thing I have a coach and an amazing team to guide me along.
The second half of the year is a bit of a question mark. I'd like to do Bala Falls and Toronto Island again. And of course there will be the Scotia Half. That might be about it. But it might not. Who knows. I'm not ready to commit to too much just yet. I have a couple of very lofty goals for 2014. Both of which scare the pants off me and excite me at the same time. Funnily enough I saw a post by Robyn Baldwin on instagram this morning that said: If your dreams don't scare you, they're not big enough. True Dat. With that being said, here are my goals for 2014:
Boston: 3:10 (or faster) That is a whole 6 minutes faster than I ran it last year. I feel like I am faster than I was last year. Scratch that, I know I am faster than I was last year. This year I won't be an idiot and kill myself at ATB either so I will hopefully head into Boston at 100%. Clearly I will have to see how my training goes. If I am struggling to hit my goal pace times, then I will have to re-evaluate. And, I will have to be ok with that, which is sometimes the bigger challenge for me.
Luxembourg 70.3: 5:30 or faster. I didn't know much about the course when we registered, other than you swim in the Mosel River, the bike course is somewhat hilly and the run course is a 3 loop flat course. I finally managed to find a course elevation profile for the bike. Looks like I've got to work on my climbing and descending skills. At least the beginning and ending are flat, ha ha.
Those are my two main goals this season. There is a third but I'm not ready to share it just yet. We'll see how things go over the next few months.
Boston training has started and 70.3 training will officially start next week. The first thing I noticed about my plan was that Ming is going to be taking me out of the gym. No more heavy lifting for me. I'm freaking out a bit but I know he has reason for it. So instead of Tuesday & Thursday lifting sessions, I'll be on the bike. He's not removing strength training from my routine altogether though, thank goodness. He'll have me doing a simple body weight routine a couple of times a week. I have gotten quite strong in the last 6 weeks and I've really noticed a change in my body, especially my upper body. I really hope I don't lose that. Only time will tell I suppose.
So that's it. 2 Big Goals for 2014. This is why I've dubbed it #TheYearOfBigThings
What are your goals for 2014?
12 comments:
What an exciting year! My big 2014 plan is my first Olympic distance triathlon. I'm excited!
Awesome goals to start 2014! I'm interested in tracking your progress. I am training with a new coach to get quicker and some of his methods go against what I want to do but I'm trying to be patient and have faith that he knows what he's talking about :-)
My goals:
Run a 1:45 half
Run my first full in Dec '14
Work less :-)
Meredith - working with a coach is all about trust as well as give and take. Your coach should be willing to take your feedback and adjust accordingly. Patience is important too! :) LOVE your goals btw...especially the work less one! ha ha.
So exciting!
My goals include finishing my first 70.3 (preferably sub-6)
Place top ten in my AG at Iron Girl Syracuse
Not die at the Rat Snake (I kid, but the bike elevation is terrifying)
Volunteer at IM Chattanooga to secure my 2015 race slot
Sub-2 half marathon
How exciting! Can't wait to follow along.
great goals! I look forward to reading about your Tri training! I'm considering tackling some tri's myself but not until next year... this is my year of Marathon PRs! Best of luck to you and I'll be sure to keep reading! http://confessionsofanamateurathlete.blogspot.com
Sounds like a very exciting (and tough) year ahead! But I know you'll succeed.
My goal is to do 3:45 at the Toronto (GoodLife) Marathon in May, and the ENDURrun in August, with my race times being within 5 minutes of my 2009 times (the best I ever ran it). Scary, but if I put in the work, doable.
Great and exciting goals that will be fun to follow - I'm supremely confident you'll blow them out of the water! My goals are to PB in Boston (a real PB would be great but at least to get a 'Boston PB' as I've not had the best races there), to do my first half-ironman (likely Welland), qualify for NYC marathon in a fast half (likely Niagara's women's event) and do a kick-ass fall marathon (likely R2H). I also want to do more shorter tri's this season as the MSC AG events were so much fun and GREAT training last year. Like you, I have one more goal (yes I think there may be too many but oh well :)) but not ready to say yet and depends how this season goes first. :) Cheers and good luck!!
Great goals and all the best for 2014!!
Those are two awesome, speedy goals, but you are such an amazing, dedicated runner - I know you will be able to do it!
YEAH Courtney! Love those goals!
Thanks Clarinda! I'm sure it's going to be a crazy ride!
Thanks Jeremy - good luck with your marathon PR'S! I'll make sure I check in on you to see how it's going. :D
That's AWESOME Paul! I know you can put in the work!! You WILL get there!
Holy serious goals Jody! I have no doubt you will nail all of them!! We MUST connect in Boston!!!
Thanks Robin!
Thanks so much Abby! You are too sweet!
You are my HERO!!! I'm so excited for you and 2014. Don't worry about falling short of your paces lately. This weather has been less than ideal. The fact that you even went out on those days earns you a big gold star in my books.
I hope to set some PRs this year since I wasn't able to do so last year because of my injury. A PR half and full would be nice but who knows. I try not to get my hopes up too high because I know anything can happen!
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