My Goals

The best way to achieve your goals and aspirations is to put them in writing and then share them with others.  I am a firm believer that if you share your goals with others it not only holds you accountable, but also invites support from those around you.  I have many goals for different parts of my life.  There are the family life goals, the financial goals, the spiritual goals, and the career goals.  Although those are very important to your life balance I will not dive into those goals here.  Instead, I would like to share with you my goals and aspirations and it relates to my fitness and racing. 

Some of these goals are broad and some are specific, but in the end they are attainable and in touch with reality.  I am getting older but I feel I am getting better.  Age should not be an excuse to marginalize your goals.  I want to be that 75 year old guy that I see at races that is still out there pounding the pavement and loving life.

These goals are as of September 2012 looking forward (updated May 2013). 

1.       Run a half marathon in 90 minutes (best time is 1:32:23)

2.       Run a 5k in under 19 minutes (best time is 19:25)

3.       Qualify for USA Triathlon Age Group National Championship race every year

4.       Actually race in the USAT National Championship race at least once

5.       Complete a marathon (COMPLETED APRIL 2013)

6.       Complete a half ironman race
7.       Complete a full ironman race

8.       Give back

Number eight is something I think about every now and then and wonder how I could give back to the sport of triathlon or how to give back to one of the three disciplines (swimming, cycling, and running).  There are a number of ways to give back to the sport through volunteering at events, introducing a younger generation to the sport, being a mentor, or being a coach.  I continue to think of ways to achieve this goal and hope that I can find a way to do that.

Triathlon is a sport that is results oriented.  However, there is much more beyond the results.  Completing a triathlon or an endurance event (at any distance or discipline) is very rewarding.  Between your first training session and the moment you cross the finish line there are a lot of setbacks, bad training days, physical & mental exhaustion, thoughts of doubt, and a lot of sacrifice to other parts of your life.  We keep chugging along because we know the rewarding feeling experienced when crossing that finish line.  That feeling that gives us a lot more than we could have ever imagined.  That feeling is really hard to explain and that is why I would like to help others experience that too.

No matter what you do always keep striving for more.  You don’t have to be the fastest or take home all the awards.  The main point is to get out there and do something.  Be your own hero.  It’s hard and it is a lifestyle change.  However, it’s a change that could change your life.  You will be amazed of what you can accomplish if you just stick with it.

Train.  Race.  Repeat.