2020:Goals

Before we can move forward, we need to know where we are coming from… The main objective last year was to stay injury free. I managed to get that checked off my list while also reaching new heights in personal bests (PB’s) in the 5k, 10k*, and even adventured into the world of trail running, all while keeping the goal of learning how to swim in the background. 2020 will be a hard year to follow up, but I’m willing to give it a shot.

GOAL #1 : Continued focus on maintenance and recovery.

As I continue to strive for faster times in my runs, it’s important to remember the goal of prehabilitation and recovery (PR). I’ve been pushing the boundaries ever so slightly, inch by inch in my training and while I continue to reach for new highs in every aspect, I must remember it all starts with the some PR. The old saying goes "better to show up to the start line under trained than not making it to the start line at all because your over trained". I have had my fair share of experiences with over training and over reaching the past few years (trying to do too much in too little time) which always resulted in a nagging Iliotibial (IT) band pain. Since then, I have a little voice in the back of my head when I start out every run and bike ride I start.

GOAL # 2: Race Goals

Running - shooting to make it an official 10k PB. So you see “*” above next to the 10k? Towards the end of last season, I pushed and trained for a 10k PB, but the weather was not having it last November on race day. I passed up the chance to race, but I later went out for a 10k time trail on my own. I picked the time and route, however, no people to run against, no fans, no fancy finish line or time clock, no medal at the end of the race, and no post race banana. Just me and my Garmin on an open back road doing a 5k loop twice. So I need to make it official. In April of 2020, I am targeting a 10k race towards the end of the month.

Later on in the fall I’m looking to attempt a half marathon. My goal in this one is to finish. I want to survive and make it through a full 12 training plan injury free. That has always been my initial goal (go through a training plan first injury free and next race take go for a PB).

Biking - As for biking, I have no real race at this time to push for, no 8 hour race century pin to die for this season, no 24 hour team ride, no stage race in Colorado, nothing. My main goal for this year on the bike is to have more focused rides instead of just going there and hammering every time I sit in the saddle. I do have a few big goals set for 2021, so I want to maintain and push my bike fitness between running training blocks.

Swimming - As for swimming, not really a goal in the pool anymore, but I am attempting my first Try-a-Tri in June 2020.. So I guess my main goal will be to get comfortable in open water. It has been a long year getting comfortable in the water, learning how to swim, learning how to breathe (in the water). Every time I used to think about swimming I would get a little bit nervous. But now I think I have got to the point where it is no big deal. No real panic, just me throwing on the swim jammers and stepping onto the pool deck.

So as we step into 2020 the year goals are as follows:

April - 10k race (sub 40 PB)

June - Try-a-tri

July/ August - Try-a-tri #2?

October - Half Marathon