Time to draw the lines in the sand for 2010.
Last year saw me injured for the first 7 months and on the comeback trail for the balance of the year. For the first time in 4 years, I feel as though I am starting the year with a fitness base I can build on.
2010 is going to be a year of taking care of some long-standing athletic goals and hopefully a peak performance or two. Top of the list is to complete my 100th ultramarathon run (currently at 99). Here are the specifics:
Running events:
- Vancouver New Years Day Fat Ass 50K - ultra #100
- Squamish Scrambler Snowshoe Run
- Capilano Canyon MardiGras Night Run
- one of Chuckanut 50K, Dirty Duo 50K, Diez Vista 50K or Elk/Beaver 50K - age group recognition
- Mountain Highway Madness (3 laps, so I can count it as an ultra)
- The Marathon Shuffle in Powell River
- North Shore Enduro (at least 50K)
- Squamish Brick
- XTC 50K
- Knee Knacker (assuming I get in) #18
- Bill's Great Peak Ascent
- STORMY (my 10th and I'm aiming to make it a 100-miler)
- Capilano Canyon Midsummer Night Run
- Forbidden Forest Run
- Stein Valley (the whole enchillada)
- Walk in the Park 54K
- Mountain Highway Madness (let's just see after WITP)
- Frosty Mountain 50K
- Go Deep or Go Home
- 2 hash house harriers runs (dates TBD)
- top 10 in Bagger Challenge
Notes and Upside (resolution contest judges take note!)
- 20 running events specified for my personal training and racing program. I figure volunteering is as good as running when it comes to measuring success for a wounded warrior, and so is substituting one event for another in case of injury.
- Participate in the Club. I'd like to be in the top 3 of the CFA Club points competition.
- I'll give myself double points for completing a road marathon and/or a 1/2 Ironman triathlon in 2010
Apart from the running events, I aim to:
- put the remnants of past injuries behind me and start a 20-year streak of injury-free running
- 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 can touch my toes with my palm
- get in the pool once every other week (21+ times) and survive the Duel at the Pool 5K
- get on the bike once every other week (21+ times, stationery bike included)
- get into the gym twice a week when I'm not running outside (50+ times)
- get on the snowshoes once a week (while there is snow or 20+ times)
- get in at least 10 days of downhill skiing (including at least 1 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 page.
Comments
Yearend Scorecard
It's the 27th of December. I'm overweight and lazy after an epic few weeks of Christmas parties. It's rainy, so little chance of my getting motivated to do anything in the next 4 days that would significantly impact my athletic year. I guess it's OK to assess how I did on my 2010 New Years Resolutions...
Running events
I completed the 50 in the Vancouver New Years Day Fat Ass 50K and it indeed was my ultra #100. Also participated in Squamish Scrambler Snowshoe Run, Capilano Canyon MardiGras Night Run, Mountain Highway Madness, the Marathon Shuffle in Powell River, the North Shore Enduro, the Squamish Brick, the XTC, the Knee Knacker, completed the STORMY 100-miler, Capilano Canyon Midsummer Night Run, Mountain Highway Madness, Go Deep, and earned top honors in the 2010 Bagger Challenge. Neither the Forbidden Forest Run, nor the Stein run happened, so I can't lose points for that. Didn't get in any other BC Ultra races, missed Bill's, got 1 hash run in rather than 2. However, since I did get in the Run to the Clouds, Burnaby Mountain run, the Seymour Super Fun run and Flash events or other adventures such as the House to Grouse run, the Tour de Howe Sound, the Cinny Bun run and got a 2nd place overall at the Pender Harbour May Day run, I feel as though I met or even exceeded my goals. 100%.
Other Stuff
The final tally is not in, but I think I will be near the top of the Club points competition. Tore my calf on the first day of the year and it was stupid to run a 100-miler without training for it, so I deserved the grief my knees dished out toward the end of the summer. Work conflicts got in the way of me being a good Capilano Eagle and I gave up on stretching on Jan 2nd so a couple of fails there. Finished the Duel at the Pool, but didn't get in the pool more than 10 times in total this past year. Didn't hit my goals for biking, skiing, snowshoeing or the gym. Did help on the Club Fat Ass steering committee, helped with STORMY and some other runs and made an effort to drink more water. I feel it's fair to say that I got through about 80% of my other athletic-related resolutions.
If I average the 2, that gives me 90%. I'll take it!
Early Self-evaluation
Usually I aim to check in on how I'm doing about 1/2 way through the year so I can still do something about it. Missed that step. Now mid-November and I'm thinking about what to shoot for in 2011. Probably bit off more than I could chew in 2010. Don't want to set the bar too high in 2011... after all, another year has gone by and there are quite a few kilometers on the old odometer. Not giving up quite yet though.
On running events, I'd give myself a 95%. OK, I didn't get an age group award at a leading local 50K, but I did get one at the STORMY 100-miler. 'Didn't make Bill's, WITP, Frosty and we didn't go for the Stein or Forbidden Forest run. I did do 1 hash, however, and bagged more peaks than my pals in the Bagger Challenge. Also did the Run for the Clouds, the XTC, Ann's run, House to Grouse, got a 2nd at the Pender Harbour run and participated in the Vancouver 100 which were not on my list. I figure they are equal substitutes. Might be able to push that grade up a bit with a FF run and a hash before year-end?
On upside, I feel I'm also doing good. Didn't participate in a big triathlon or road marathon, but did do a fair bit of volunteering and am on the leader board still in the Club points competition. I'll take 95% there, too.
On other, well, am battered, but not injured. Managed to muddle through 5K swim at the Duel at the Pool. Stretching still sux. Work prevented me doing speed workouts with the Cap Eagles on Tuesday evenings, but I rode my bike to work just about every day I worked. Down on ski and snowshoeing, but now that there's snow in the alpine, I might be able to improve my score there. Substituted lifting rocks and yard chores for the gym. I'll give myself an 80%.
Not as bad as I might have thought with 45 days left to do better!
It was a helluva year
Hmmmm....
Since the year isn't over, I'm aiming to give you a run for your money on goals reached for 2010. It IS, after all, a contest!
Love the ambition!
One Down, Lots to Go!
Kinda like sales, eh? You can have a great year and be #1 in the organization at the end of the year and the next day you're a bum again.
The good news is that as of 2 January, I have achieved 100% of my goals for 2010. Good luck reaching yours... and maybe see you before STORMY!
Well, you can bet...
You, my friend, won't be thirsty if you make it down (or I make it up) prior to Stormy! Best for 2010 in the meantime...