One of my BHAGs (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals) is to run my 100th ultramarathon during my first year in the 50+ age group. That would be 2008. Given that I'm now on track with 94 ultras under my belt, I'm soon going to have to pick the run I celebrate as my 100th.
For nobody other than myself, here are my draft 2008 fitness resolutions:
Running events:
- Vancouver New Years Day Fat Ass 50K
- Squamish Scrambler Snowshoe Run
- Capilano Canyon MardiGras Night Run
- one of Dirty Duo 50K,Diez Vista 50K or Chuckanut 50K
- Mountain Highway Madness (3 laps, so I can count it as an ultra)
- North Shore Enduro (at least 50K)
- Squamish Brick
- XTC 50K
- Knee Knacker (assuming I get in)
- Bill's Great Peak Ascent
- STORMY
- Capilano Canyon Midsummer Night Run
- Forbidden Forest Run
- Stein Valley (the whole meal deal)
- Walk in the Park 54K (my 5th year, so they give me my own race number!)
- Mountain Highway Madness (let's just see after WITP)
- Go Deep or Go Home
- 2 hash house harriers runs (dates TBD)
It's a nutty idea, but it would also be cool to run my 100th ultra as a 100-miler or at least be able to say that in 2008, I ran my 100th ultra and completed a 100-miler.
Apart from the running events, I aim to:
- get my knackered knees back into shape so I run without pain
- go to at least 50% of the Capilano Eagles Tuesday workouts (yes, rain or shine, so that makes 21+ times)
- stretch more... to the point where I come at least close to touching my toes
- get in the pool once every other week (21+ times) and win the Duel at the Pool 5K
- get on the bike once every other week (21+ times)
- get into the gym twice a week (100+ times)
- get on the snowshoes once a week (while there is snow - 20+ times)
- get in at least 15 days of downhill skiing (including several at Whistler)
- share some of my experience with a few up-and-coming runners and race directors
- volunteer (help with Club Fat Ass and the Capilano Eagles as a board member)
- drink more water
By the way, if you get ambitious, you can also post your New Years resolutions on this site.
Comments
2008 New Years Resolutions - Scorecard
Argh... this past year was an injury-infested one. The will was there, but the bod didn't cooperate.
Starting 2008, my BHAG was to complete 100 ultras. I indicated I'd participate in 19 runs and named most of them and named the distance in some of those. Hard to score this, as while I didn't do all of the runs or the distances I specified, I *did* do shorter distances at many of the named events, volunteered at some I couldn't run and participated in others not named... all in keeping with the values of Club Fat Ass, n'est-ce pas? So, 5/19 is my totally objective score. If I am allowed to count volunteering or shorter distances, that score goes to 10/19. However, if I can count the non-named runs, then the score goes to 15/24 which, for being injured, ain't that bad.
On the "other" stated goals, my knees are no longer knackered so I achieved that goal, but since my foot is now pooched, I'm technically no farther ahead. I did make a comeback to the Cap Eagles toward the end of 2008, but am now back off the program (5/21). I touched my toes in December, but that's about when the foot went, so I'm thinking of swearing-off stretching. 'Got about 6 days in at Kits Pool and some more workouts at the local pool (12/21) and completed the 5K Duel at the Pool, but got my ass kicked. 2/21 on the bike (yikes), ~20/100 on the gym, 10/20 on the snowshoes, zero days at Whistler but ~20 at Grouse so did OK there, helped and volunteered a lot so that's good, too.
How'd I do? I'll give myself a 50% score with a purple heart and an A+ for effort.
Final tally!
Progress Assessment - 5 November
I got jazzed up at the adventure slide show at Kintec last night. Got me to thinking about how I've done so far relative to where I wanted to be in 2008.
Ya win some and you loose some.
Looking back at my athletic goals to date, this was a "loose some" year. I got injured in January with a soleus (calf) tear. I could do with being a bit more patient as I didn't let the thing heal, so it has torn eight (8) times since January. Also blew out of my bindings going down a steep downhill ski run in February. Hit the ice hard and broke some ribs.
That said, I managed to complete 2 ultras (NY Day and Knee Knacker) and participate in several Club events and other athletic endeavors. Still have a couple of months to go, as well!
Assuming that I don't wreak myself again, I'm going to aim to accomplish in 2009 more-or-less what I had hoped to accomplish this year. Draft resolutions are up!