Smaller By The Day
Last year's goals:
This year's goals:
Yes, my goals are a combination of distance, time and weight. So, I've got kitchen and training duty mixed together, but they're obviously related. If you don't believe me, go buy a weight vest and run your next race with it on. When I was 315, it took forever just to go up 3 flights of stairs.
Improvements
Weight 100 pounds lost
5K 31:02 Sept. 2012 / 23:36 Sept. 2013 (Same Course)
10K 48:59 April 2013
HM 2:03:56 Nov. 2012 / 1:46:50 March 2013
MARATHON 3:57:33 Nov. 2013
Are we there, yet?
You have such an outstanding running history, George. Really impressive.
Considering where I am in my running career, I left out the unmet goals that are clearly well beyond my current capabilities like a sub-16:00 5K or a sub-2:45:00 marathon. I also limited myself to major running goals as LTH specified that readers would understand and relate to. Each year I've run I've had goals, mostly smaller goals and some not as easily quantifiable such as beating a long time rival. These minor goals have in one sense been far more important because they've been more immediate and provide the feedback and encouragement that the major goals arre attainable.
2024 Races:
03/09 - Livingston Oval Ultra 6-Hour, 22.88 miles
05/11 - D3 50K 05/25 - What the Duck 12-Hour
06/17 - 6 Days in the Dome 12-Hour.
My early goals were all mileage related run 2.5, then 5, then 10 etc. I want to get faster on everything I do but those aren't major to me except at some point maybe show up at a small race and place in my age group. I ran a 40:30 10k at age 20 and know I'm not getting back to that speed.
My major goal for years has been 10 marathons. I have run 7 official, and 1 not so official so want 3 more. I have only run 1 in the last 5 years, and at age 52 assume the window may be limited.Then I will want to do a bunch of halfs as 1 of my older friends does. I'm running just my 2nd half next week.
No more marathons
I have been running 5 years, but racing for only 3. Without racing, I don't think I would attach any goals to my running.
I’m with Lily – I need the races to have goals.
When I started back running in 2008, after a 23 year layoff, my only purpose was to run with my son who had started running on his HS team. As a freshman he did well overall in meets, but was usually the last one on his team to finish. I thought that by getting him in races outside of school he would maintain interest in running. It worked; he went from last to first and hasn’t looked back. As an 18 year old he raced, and won, his first marathon in 2:42. As a result of that race, I set a goal of getting my BQ so I could run with him in Boston. Missed it on my first attempt, but made it on the second. Will have to just be a spectator this year, but looking forward to 2014.
My race goals now are to get closer to the age adjusted times I ran as a 30 year old.
A sub 17 5K at age 61 becomes 20:57 (I’m at 21:44)
A 35:15 10K is 43:10 (I’m at 45:12)
A 1:20:59 HM is 1:38:20 (don’t have one of these lately)
A sub 3 hr marathon is about 3:36 (got one in 2 weeks – shooting for sub 3:45 – we’ll see)
I know what it will take to make these goals; lose another 20 pounds, hit the track at least once a week, and accept the pain for only personal glory (and an age group medal – woo hoo). Not sure I’ll make those goals, but I can at least shoot for movement toward them. Age group PR’s keep me motivated.
Boston 2014 - a 33 year journey
Lordy, I hope there are tapes.
He's a leaker!
At age 52 you're still a pup - I;ve got 9 years on you and in two weeks I'll be running my third marathon in the past 6 months. You can do it.
I’m with Lily – I need the races to have goals. When I started back running in 2008, after a 23 year layoff, my only purpose was to run with my son who had started running on his HS team. As a freshman he did well overall in meets, but was usually the last one on his team to finish. I thought that by getting him in races outside of school he would maintain interest in running. It worked; he went from last to first and hasn’t looked back. As an 18 year old he raced, and won, his first marathon in 2:42. As a result of that race, I set a goal of getting my BQ so I could run with him in Boston. Missed it on my first attempt, but made it on the second. Will have to just be a spectator this year, but looking forward to 2014. My race goals now are to get closer to the age adjusted times I ran as a 30 year old. A sub 17 5K at age 61 becomes 20:57 (I’m at 21:44) A 35:15 10K is 43:10 (I’m at 45:12) A 1:20:59 HM is 1:38:20 (don’t have one of these lately) A sub 3 hr marathon is about 3:36 (got one in 2 weeks – shooting for sub 3:45 – we’ll see) I know what it will take to make these goals; lose another 20 pounds, hit the track at least once a week, and accept the pain for only personal glory (and an age group medal – woo hoo). Not sure I’ll make those goals, but I can at least shoot for movement toward them. Age group PR’s keep me motivated.
Do I understand correctly that you are 61 years old? I never would have guessed... When you were saying "old", I was thinking old like... 50? You know... like LTH old. But, wow! Awesome running! Congrats on your 2014 BQ!
PRs: Boston Marathon, 3:27, April 15th 2013
Cornwall Half-Marathon, 1:35, April 27th 2013
18 marathons, 18 BQs since 2010
Yep! LtH is just a pup too. I think George is a year or two older.
Not sure how that happened - looked in the mirror one day and some Phat Old Man was stareing back at me.
One thing about getting older - those age based times get just a little easier - in a few months when I turn 62 I'll gain 10 seconds on my 5K time. Maybe by the time I'm 80 and can reach my goals.
As of March 7, I'll have a year into this running thing. My goal have changed dramatically month-to-month, it seems, as I have improved and then reassessed my goals based upon those improvements.
What have I achieved? One race, one BQ, and a lot of miles: I'm closing in on running 3,000+ miles my first year running (my runnerversary is March 7th). I'm pretty proud of all that.
What do I want to do yet? As of three months ago, my goal for the year was to run a marathon under 3:25, but I all of a sudden got a little bit faster so now I am setting 3:10 as my lofty goal for the year (what's the point in having a goal if it isn't somewhat challenging, though, right?). Hitting 3:10 would be sweet because that is the BQ standard for the equivalent men's age group that I am in. It's kind of cool to run as fast as the boys, isn't it?
In the coming years? Honestly, I really would love to see if I am capable of running sub-3:00 [I can't even believe I am saying that out loud - that sounds like CRAZY TALK!!!!]. I don't know if it is necessarily in the cards for me - i.e., if I have the talent to do that - but I am going to give it my all. I'd love to place overall in the top, I don't know, 5 or so women in some of my marathons.
What else, other than marathons? I would love to run ultras some day when I tire of the marathon thing, but I have a feeling that is a long ways away yet. I would like to keep running the miles I am now for as long as I am able to run them: I love, love, LOVE running lots of miles and doing long runs. I still have no desire/interest in racing shorter distances, although I can tell my shorter distance speed has improved based on my tempos. Sometimes I do wonder what I could do in a 5K, then I think of the pain that racing one would entail and I quickly squash the idea.
Hmmm, that's about all that I can come up with right now.
I started running in 2007 as part of a to drop some weight and get in shape. I became serious in 2008 when I trained for my first half. It was then that I decided my first real running goal was to run a marathon. After that I really got into it and started putting some goals in front of me. Ones that I distinctly remember setting and reaching:
1. BQ
2. Sub 1:30 half
3. Sub 3:00 marathon (I would have laughed at myself for even thinking about this back in 2008)
4. Sub 18:00 5k.
Upcoming goals I would like to accomplish:
1. Sub 1:20 half. PR was a year ago in Houston (1:21:14)
2. Sub 3:00 at Boston. Hopefully this year but this isn't a major goal. Just a nice to have.
3. Run an ultra
Other than the half I don't know if I will set a lot of absolute time goals for myself. I always will have a number in my head but I'm not getting any younger (48 now). I like targeting 80% age-graded times. I've had a few and that will keep me working hard.
Sometimes I do wonder what I could do in a 5K, then I think of the pain that racing one would entail and I quickly squash the idea. Hmmm, that's about all that I can come up with right now.
Sometimes I do wonder what I could do in a 5K, then I think of the pain that racing one would entail and I quickly squash the idea.
Go for a 10K - they are not quite as painful as a 5K. And I'd love to see how close you could get to that 40 minute mark.
I met my goal of a 10 mile run this morning.
Nice! Kickin ass...Takin' names my friend.
As of March 7, I'll have a year into this running thing. My goal have changed dramatically month-to-month, it seems, as I have improved and then reassessed my goals based upon those improvements. What have I achieved? One race, one BQ, and a lot of miles: I'm closing in on running 3,000+ miles my first year running (my runnerversary is March 7th). I'm pretty proud of all that. What do I want to do yet? As of three months ago, my goal for the year was to run a marathon under 3:25, but I all of a sudden got a little bit faster so now I am setting 3:10 as my lofty goal for the year (what's the point in having a goal if it isn't somewhat challenging, though, right?). Hitting 3:10 would be sweet because that is the BQ standard for the equivalent men's age group that I am in. It's kind of cool to run as fast as the boys, isn't it? In the coming years? Honestly, I really would love to see if I am capable of running sub-3:00 [I can't even believe I am saying that out loud - that sounds like CRAZY TALK!!!!]. I don't know if it is necessarily in the cards for me - i.e., if I have the talent to do that - but I am going to give it my all. I'd love to place overall in the top, I don't know, 5 or so women in some of my marathons. What else, other than marathons? I would love to run ultras some day when I tire of the marathon thing, but I have a feeling that is a long ways away yet. I would like to keep running the miles I am now for as long as I am able to run them: I love, love, LOVE running lots of miles and doing long runs. I still have no desire/interest in racing shorter distances, although I can tell my shorter distance speed has improved based on my tempos. Sometimes I do wonder what I could do in a 5K, then I think of the pain that racing one would entail and I quickly squash the idea. Hmmm, that's about all that I can come up with right now.
That's my girl! Go show those big boys!!! You truly rock, Heidi. And I will never tire of telling you that.
5K Specialist
That fact I used to look like this:
Now, I look like this:
Everything else I have accomplished in running pales in comparison.
Personal Bests:
800M - 2:38 (5/28/13) | 1 Mile -5:54 (5/28/13) | 3K - 11:55 (12/29/12) | 2M - 13:00 (12/1/12) | 5K - 20:00 (4/12/13) | 13.1M - 1:37:24 (2/3/13)
Go figure
Trying to find some more hay to restock the barn
Proud Calgarian
In my first ever race, I wanted a sub-50 10k, and I couldn't accomplish that one; however, since then I've gotten numerous others and every time I set some arbitrary goals, I seem to shatter them. If I were to look back, then there have been so many goals that I have hit over the past 2 2/3 years of running that I can barely fathom where I came from. It'll catch up with me soon enough, but until then, my goals for 2013 are listed below in my tagline. The first one I'll attempt will be the 10k in 4 weeks, I'm hoping that 37:30 is a conservative estimate and I can get low-37's. (not asking for much, eh?)
If's we're thinking long-term goals though, I'd love to:
- run a sub-250 marathon
- run a sub-120 half marathon
- place in the top 3 of a competitive race (800+ racers)
- run a sub-60 minute 10-miler
Hey, if you're going to shoot, you might as well shoot for the stars, right?
2015 Goals and PRs:
5k - 17:59 (18:05); 10k - 35:59 (36:42); HM - 1:19:19 (1:19:59); FM - 2:49:59 (3:05:46)