shooting on goal

"what do I want to accomplish this year?"
Over the last year, I have gotten a few individuals (all friends, clients or future clients) who have emailed or talked with me and mentioned that they have used this blog as a motivational medium of sorts.
Truth be told, it acts as a motivational medium of sorts for me as well. It keeps me honest to my goals knowing I have to report here.
It has also gotten me back in touch with fellow fitness enthusiasts like BloggerLotto, Brunken (congrats on the Goofy Challenge) and Carcia. Its also has been a source of humor with friends who don't think, but *know* that I have a few screws loose.
Seeing this blog made me get up off of my arse before Christmas and start to resistance train again. And let the record state that my first set of UE dips included ONE concentric dip and 9 eccentric onlys. That is now up to 15 fast jump dips per set.
So, now into resistance training for a month, LSDs starting, plus already started my early morning 2:1 intervals on the dreaded FIELD 3, I have had some time to ponder my goals for 2008. Here are five in writing. Let me see what I end up being able to do:

Do an ultra.
There. I said it.
Damn the torpedos. Full steam ahead.
If the chance comes for the Nipmuck in June ~ so be it. If not, Rachel Carson. If not? The Fat Ass 50k.
Carcia - yinz hear this?
Do the Soapstone Assault ~ in 2008.
It didn't happen in 2006 and 2007 for no good reason other than I needed additional recovery from Greylock. If I train better for Greylock, then I can do the Assault. Simple. Better training.
Break 3 hours at the Northern Nipmuck 16.
It is an early season race, but that is no excuse. Build by 10% weekly, control recovery on the intervals, add in some early season hill climbs and maintain the resistance training for power and muscle function and I should be able to push hard for 180 minutes. It'll start the season right.
Race into the autumn.
If anyone can, I have to find a way to train all summer and be in some manner of fitness for the autumn events.
Do two new trail races this year - complete eight in oh-eight.
There are still many choices to pick two more from. I know which ones interest me, but which ones will 'life' allow? The Muddy Moose? Oxford Dam? Monroe Dunbar Brook? Northfield Mountain?

The next entry is my desired race listing. Then I can update the right-hand border of events and hopefully you all can follow along.

time to wake up

It all starts between your ears first.
The weather today is no different than yesterday.
The bed you slept in is the same.
Your socks go on the same way.
But each competitive season has one moment where inertia is broken and preparation begins in earnest. And that all has to start with an active decision first before any physical manifestation may occur.
Yesterday was that day for me for the 2008 running season and specifically for the Grand Tree Series.
My .mp3 player is even getting updated. Yeah, THAT serious.
* * * *
The 2007 season ended up well for me as you have previous read, oh intrepid reader ~ 34th place in the Stonehead ranking and a 54th over-all in the Grand Tree points rankings. Once again, Carolyn and I completed the Concept II Holiday rowing challenge of 200,000 meters rowed between Thanksgiving and Christmas and in doing so, I finished off my first 1 million meter threshold.
But, I have enjoyed my successes too much this winter, gotten nice and fat and enjoyed being lazy.
But, since the end of the rowing challenge, we've started the base resistance training program getting a foundation going that was sorely lacking in the early stages of the season last year. I have to wonder if this was the cause of at least part of the tender achilles and tight hamstrings last year. Already, they are more pliable than last season with the deep squats and other activities.
There have been disappointments also and one has to expect that if goals are set high enough to provide a great challenge, some targets are going to be missed. We haven't gotten to snowshoe for anything other than a run around the neighborhood during the big storms. 'Life' just won't allow it. I didn't get to run in the Soapstone Assault, nor any of the late summer or autumn trail events. I have set these down as goals for 2008.
And we all know that goals are always more successful when they are written and signed off on.
And that is what I'll do in the next few days. And they will be posted here for the world to see and for me to be regularly reminded of.
Until then, mornings are for interval work at FSA, resistance training in the basement, LSDs on weekends getting up to 180 minutes before Northern Nipmuck and getting ready to run with friends all spring and summer.
Email me when you have yours set.