Forums >General Running>Craziest damn running goal you've ever set
Whats the craziest damn running goal you've ever set? Why did you set the goal? Did you meet it?
Today I decided that I want to run a Boston Qualifier in 2014. I've run one marathon ever, two years ago. And while respectable, it was nowhere near a BQ. It'll be a hard goal. I'll have to lose 20 pounds (at least) and pick up my pace quite a bit. Why did I set this goal? Perhaps it is because I'm regretting my decision to give up running after high school 20 years ago, even though I was pretty fast (4:23 1600M). Perhaps as I push 40 years-old I'm looking for a challenge. Perhaps I'm just deranged.
Anyway, what crazy running goals have you set for yourself, and why? And, did you ever meet your goal? What was the experience like for you?
Husband. Father of three. Lutheran pastor. Overweight runner. Political junkie. Baseball fan.
2013 Goals:
First goal: Don't get injured like last year; More ambitious goal: Sub-1:35 Half; Sub-3:35 Full
Three half marathons, one full, on the calendar this year
2013 Goal: 2013 mi.
The craziest thing? Considering the fact I am a 'relatively' new runner, probably signing up for a 24-hour race with a goal of 75+ miles. Then planning on doing 3 more of these 24-hour events this year...
The goal you have set is a tough one, but a good one, and I will wish you the best of luck!
The Plan (the big parts)→ /// April 20th: 24 Hour Race Hampton, VA (PR of 76.25 Miles) /// May 19th: Three Days at the Fair (12 Hour) in NJ (PR of 55 Miles) /// Sep 21st: NC-24 Hour Race in Ohio /// Nov 23rd: JFK-50 in MD /// Dec 31st: Peanut Island (12 Hour) in FL /// ∞
mileage hound
Qualifying for the US Olympic Marathon Trials.
Nope. Didn't do it. I truly believe there was a window where I was in shape to do it...unfortunately that window did not match with the timing of my goal marathon...which ended up being an injured and half-hearted effort.
What was it like? Well, the race I DID run at the peak of conditioning was an absolute dream. Unfortunately it was not a marathon.
2013 goals: Kick some arse. Moreso than 2012.
"If you want to be a bad a$s, then do what a bad a$s does. There's your pep talk for today. Go Run." -- Slo_Hand
"Determined is what I am. Maybe a little sick in the head? Ok who am I kidding ALOT sick in the head" -- rockenmamaof5
Qualifying for the US Olympic Marathon Trials.... What was it like? Well, the race I DID run at the peak of conditioning was an absolute dream. Unfortunately it was not a marathon.
Qualifying for the US Olympic Marathon Trials....
Still a dream worth having.
Mine is probably my current goal: running a sub-3 marathon this fall.
I'd have to put sub 24 hours at the Western States 100 right up there.
BAMF
BQ my first marathon, which right now is looking like next March. I'll see how I'm doing as the time gets closer, and may readjust my goal if needed, since there's another goal that I won't even mention in public right now. lol
-Dave
5k 19:26 4/27/13 - 10k 41:35 1/15/13 - 20k 1:24:55 2/23/13 - HM 1:28:10 3/17/13
Upcoming - ERR 10K 5/25 - OK5K 6/8 - MS 5K 7/30 - Strider Mile 8/17 - RnR HM 9/1
Signed up for a 24HR run in September. I plan to run 100 miles. That's Plan A. Plan B is not run 100 miles. I don't want any "sub plan" to become a bail out point where it is OK to stop.
My history is a half dozen marathons, a 50K in 2007 and a 50 miler in 2010.
Doing the Goofy Challenge.
Jodi
PR:
Half: 1:48 (March 3rd, 2013)
Full: 4:05:40 (March 17th, 2013)
2013/2014 Goals:
Sub-4:00 hour Marathon
Sub- 125 poundsSub- 1:45 hour half.
levitation specialist
Trying to BQ on my first full This coming May.
Why is it crazy?
Well, first......it's my first ever full & I am not fast. My times and effort say that I will be close, but the weather and how I feel that day will probably be the tipping point one way or the other(which sortof takes the control factor away and that scares me......not thinking about it......not worrying about it......okay, I am).
Second....l actually dislike long runs. I actually dislike the amount of time training takes from my family. I feel like it is another thing I have to make time for, whereas with lower mileage, I actually liked it. So I can't dedicate 5-6 hours to running each week, which is what 50+ mpw marathon training takes without guilt and missing things, things that are important right now. So in a way, I don't want to BQ because I cannot do this again next winter.
I think maybe someday, I can be a full marathoner and make it to Boston. But I don't know if that is 2014. I'm not sure I want it to be 2014!
But I love 10ks to halfs!
Will Run For Bacon
Yeah a BQ for me this spring as well.
A 3:05 just seems so damn fast but with my first child due about a month after my goal marathon I will never have as much time to train as I do now. This will be my third marathon and I will have to knock just under 22 minutes off but I will keep working at it. I will decide in May if that is truly a reasonable goal.
From where I sit, if you can do 50+ mpw in 5-6 hours, you're FAST.
Trying to BQ on my first full This coming May. Why is it crazy? Well, first......it's my first ever full & I am not fast. My times and effort say that I will be close, but the weather and how I feel that day will probably be the tipping point one way or the other(which sortof takes the control factor away and that scares me......not thinking about it......not worrying about it......okay, I am). Second....l actually dislike long runs. I actually dislike the amount of time training takes from my family. I feel like it is another thing I have to make time for, whereas with lower mileage, I actually liked it. So I can't dedicate 5-6 hours to running each week, which is what 50+ mpw marathon training takes without guilt and missing things, things that are important right now. So in a way, I don't want to BQ because I cannot do this again next winter. I think maybe someday, I can be a full marathoner and make it to Boston. But I don't know if that is 2014. I'm not sure I want it to be 2014! But I love 10ks to halfs!
The pain that hurts the worse is the imagined pain. One of the most difficult arts of racing is learning to ignore the imagined pain and just live with the present pain (which is always bearable.) - Jeff
5k = sub 21:00
HM = sub 100 minutes
Run = 3650 / 2 miles
Bike = 3500 miles
Swim = 150 miles
Race 1st HIM
Live Free & Run
- Running the Goofy Challenge
- Run a Half marathon (maybe a full marathon depending how I do with them) in all 50 states, Canada, England & France
Working on both right now. Will probably do the Goofy in 2015/2016
PR
5K - 25:12 on 9-29-2012
10K - 51:27 on 9-22-2012
HM - 1:59:16 on 5-12-2012
2013 Races
Shamrock Sprint 5K - March 16, 2013
Race the Runways HM - April 6, 2013
Stonyfield 5K - April 20, 2013
ColorVibe 5K - May 25, 2013
WOW'Fest 10K - September ??, 2013
Fit For A Cure 5K - September 29, 2013
Frozen 5K - December ??, 2013
Twitter: @TheGITM
Craziest goal? I ran 6 marathons in 9 days in 6 different states...
So crazy, I can't share it.
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