new goals
Well, it’s been two weeks since the Regina Marathon and, interspersed with re-living that moment over and over and over, I’ve been thinking about what comes next. Here’s what I have so far.
Some Short Races: There are some 5k, 10k, 5 mile & 10 mile races around the 2nd and 3rd week in October. I’m pondering doing a couple of races then. I don’t expect too much since I haven’t done any race-specific training for those distances. However, I am wondering how my marathon fitness might translate in those shorter distances. hmmm…
Marathons: Of course I want to do more of them! After all, I’m getting faster and, at 40 years of age, I think I’m just getting started! In case you’re wondering, the goal for the next year will definitely be to qualify for the Boston Marathon. That would mean running a marathon in 3:20:59 - roughly 10 minutes faster than I ran my last one. That time works out to about a 7:40 minute per mile pace.
What amazes me about the Boston goal is that I’m even writing it down. It took FIVE marathons for me to get a 3:45 marathon and I worked hard in each of those marathons. However, what I’ve learned in the last year is that hard is not always right plus, now that I’ve changed how I train and acquired two PRs, a 3:20 Boston Qualifier seems attainable. Of course, it’s going to take consistency and dedication but, what meaningful goal doesn’t?
Strength Training: If you’ve been hanging around here for a while, you probably know about my struggles with chronic pain. Although things are currently much better than they were in that link you just saw, I’m still having some problems with my shoulder+neck thing. The good news? With the help of my soon-to-be-cousin who happens to be a Chiropractor and A.R.T. practitioner, I’ve finally figured out the root cause for my problem. Are you ready for this? It’s a RIB - a subluxated rib. What no one - no doctor or other chiropractor - ever figured out is that I have a really stubborn rib that has been the cause of all my grief. And how do I now know this? Because as soon as Dan pops that sucker back in, I have INSTANT and SUBSTANTIAL relief.
But, here’s the catch: Cousin Dan the Chiropractor tells me I need to get into the gym and strengthen my back, chest and shoulders so that, when he puts my rib back in, it stays in. So, I have some work to do. So be it.
So that’s it for the moment. What? You were expecting more? Well, if you’re so great let’s see your goals!
On another note, yesterday’s blast from the past was so much fun, I thought I’d embarrass myself some more. This picture was taken in 3rd year university (I would have been about 23). I have NO idea why I am dressed and posing like that but I THINK it was my roommate (Mary) that dared me. My kids just saw the picture as I was drafting this post. They think I looked “dumb”. Who am I to argue?
I’ll see if I can find a similar pic for myspace for you.
Comment by Adeel
Monday September 24, 2007 @
I had more hair than you in third-year, but I think we’ll be even at 23.
You went from 3:42 to 3:30 this year. That’s a big step. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing and good things should happen. You don’t need to change an awful lot.
My goals are a fast half marathon next month and then a sub-3 at Boston in the spring. I’d like to run a 35-minute 10k next year and a 16-minute 5k.