All Downhill From Here

This is a long one, with lots of links to past posts, so if you’re in the mood for some reminiscing with me, get yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy the review. Hopefully in the next day or two I’ll post my 2006 goals and how far away Frostbite Falls looks to me this January.

Here are my goals and your comments from last year. The following is my reaction to how I did (the points I’m giving myself are kind of arbitrary, like in the theatre-sports type show Who’s Line is it Anyway.

“1. Maintain a long-run habit of a minimum of 10 miles once every 2-3 weeks all year, with the exception of perhaps one step-back month yet to be determined. “

Running 10 miles every three weeks means I should have 17 x 10 mile runs in my log. I can only find 10, which gives me 58%. I did, however, get in 6 x 8+mile runs over the course of the year, for which I’ll give myself some points: .8 x 6 = 4.8 + 10 = 14.8/17 = 87% In balance to my reaching for the 8 mile runs, I’ll resist giving myself extra points for the 4 x 11+ mile runs I did in preparation for the July Half Marathon. That feels better…
Total 87%

“2. Smash through my 59:59 10k goal in a certified-distance 10k race. I will plan ahead and work the plan, and the plan will involve regular hills and speed repeats. I will train diligently for and race in at least one, maybe two March 10ks (Frozen Nose & Toes & St. Patrick?s Day). I?ll also race the usual Mother?s Day 10k and probably a June one as well. Other 10ks to be added as necessary.”

I did not work hard enough on the 10k thing to achieve this goal. I clocked in at 1:00:16 at the St. Patrick’s Day race, and didn’t try beyond that. I’m claiming family and financial obligations for not pursuing this goal harder, but I could’ve if I’d really wanted it. I just didn’t elevate it enough on my life-priority ladder. I’m not beating myself up over it. Considering the lack of speed training I did last winter, and the fact that my family is still in one big, loving piece, the PR I set at St. Patrick’s Day is fine with me for now.

Oh yeah, points:
0% for smashing through the 59:59 time.
0% for not doing speed work in training for the Run Walk n’ Roll & the Catch the Elves 10ks.
49% for keeping pretty darn focused and achieving a PR in the St. Patrick’s Day race.
I’m not averaging these points out – it’s straight addition here.
Total: 49 %

“3. Other Race Distances: Depending on how my 10k training goes, also train for a half *M*. Which half *M* is yet to be determined. I will race the 15 km part of the Gasparilla Classic as part of the Chick-a-Fil relay in Tampa, Florida in February. I will race either the Robert Hamilton 10 miler in August or the Moose Mountain 10 miler in September.”

Okay, this is more than one goal, here. Remind me when I set the 2006 goals to set one goal at a time! For the sake of points, I’ll break it down into parts.
a) Gasparilla 15k in the relay: Nailed it! Not only that, but I had an awesome time running with Carlene and received Bessie as an award! How cool is that! 100%
I give myself an bonus 100% for travelling to my first destination race.
Total of a) = 200%
b) Robert Hamilton or Moose Mountain 10 milers: Achieved neither: 0%. I was sluggishly slow in recovering from a road-rash incident in July and I let it zap my motivational momentum for the summer. I did volunteer at Robert Hamilton and had a darned good time, though.
I will average these points, for a total of 100%.

“4. Depending on when I achieve Goal #2, commence training for a local road (not trail) *M* and complete it. Do the aforementioned upright and smiling, on the same day, without seriously injuring myself.”

I’m exempt from this goal, as I didn’t achieve Goal #2, so I’m deferring it to the 2006 roster.

I did, however, train for and complete my first HALF Marathon distance instead, with resounding success, and on the final weekend of my residential move, to boot. I’m boosting my marks with this one as follows:
Training for the Half: 100%
Completion of the Half: 100%
Still being able to see Little Runner finish her Marathon Mile: 100%

I’m averaging the above together for 100%, and adding in a bonus 100% for Changing Residences at the same time.

Total: 200%

“5. I will ride my bike for a minimum of 10 miles at least once a week and maybe more frequently beginning in May, as soon as the mondo snow storms subside.”

I should not make summer-cycling goals in the throes of winter. I do remember getting on the bike a few times, but for no more than 6 km at a time.
11 miles of logged biking / 520 goal miles = 2.1%
Ooch.

“6. I will read the G.I. Diet book and think seriously about cutting down on my sugar levels, right after I finish all of the chocolate I received for Christmas. (so? sometime around March?) I will motivate myself to strengthen on my abdominal and upper body muscles. Results of this will be measured by my eventual need to buy Size 10 pants and sleeveless shirts.”

Apparently the influx of chocolate erased this goal from my consciousness. I actually found the book lying around yesterday, I still haven’t read it. Although I did buy new pants this year, they’re no smaller than last year’s, and these abs and arms have done no more than is absolutely necessary to keep my balance in XC races.

0%. Nada. Zip.

Average of my marks? 73%

I realize that much of my saving grace came from my emotional attachment to some bonus grades. I also said the following about my attitude towards goals in the comment section last year: “…I need to be flexible and forgiving with them. I can?t beat myself up over them if they don?t work; they are tools, not torture devices.”

I think this B grade is pretty generous, considering the big fat 0’s in there, but overall I’m feeling more confident about distance running now than I was a year ago. I like that. I think I can set some better, more achievable, yet still challenging goals for 2006. We’ll see!?