Goals.

So I've been doing a fair amount of thinking about what 2010 will bring in regards to my random feats of athleticism (or lack thereof).

December has been fun...filled with lots of late nights and exercising my liver the way I used to do in college. I consider it libations training for New Year's Eve. The last thing I want is to be that girl who's all "WOOHOO!!!!" after two drinks. Because yeah...that's pretty much where I've been at since Ironman. With my luck, I'll end up on stage singing with The Black Keys and getting kicked out of The Riv. Sweet.

But all those shenanigans will soon be slowing down (not entirely phasing out, my friends will be happy to learn!) so I can get focused on the 2010 season.

For 2009, I wrote my goals down and hung them on my desk so I read them every day at work. I never once published them here, mostly for fear of accountability (I know, shame on me). Of the five goals--I solidly accomplished 4 of the 5...with that fifth one being a weight goal of dropping 10%...I ended up dropping about 8.5%, so I figure that's close enough. The others, training and race time goals, were all hit to my amazement.

So rather than withhold my 2010 plans. Here they are.

2010 will be all about improving three things.
three weaknesses.
three s's.

1. Speed.

2. Strength.

3. Spinning.

With speed, I've already seen great strides with my run pace within the last few months, but I've got some clear work ahead of me as I try to maintain that speed over distance. And not just on the run...but picking it up in the pool and on the bike, too. If I learned anything from Ironman training it's that I can't break myself, even when I'm going hard. Rarely do I really push myself to the edge physically and I've barely tapped into what I'm truly capable of. It's time to really lay things out on the track, be fearless and go balls to the wall during speed sessions to get myself to where I want to be. I need those mid-distance runs where I just cling onto the heels of someone faster than me and hold on for dear life. I need to learn how to pull 20mph into the wind on the bike. And push the swim to a point where people want to fall into my draft. Let's pick this shit up and claw my way rightfully to the middle of the pack, kids.

Strength? Good God, I am easily one of the physically weakest people in the sport. I've been looking into programs like Physio-Slow, CrossFit and Core Fusion to try and identify the right match for me to build strength. I'll start small with the weight room in our building to get a decent base in there...and then see where it goes. Lucky for me, I've got some folks in my camp who are willing to help me out so I don't kill myself in the process. With strength comes toning. And that'll help me build speed. And if I manage to shave off another 15 pounds in the process, more power to me. Though I'm forcing myself to be realistic with my weight.

And then there's spinning. Cycling still poses the greatest opportunity for improvement for me and I'm really looking forward to working hard with the Chief of Pain and Lara at Infinity and then joining in the women's group rides through Mox when the weather warms up. I plan on riding just to ride. And riding lots. And riding hills. And flats. And into the wind. And out of the wind. And really just getting back to those childhood roots where you'd bike as hard as you can (because you can), stand on the pedals and just FLY down hills fearlessly. All those organized century rides in the Chicagoland area? I hope to go to as many as I can. And I hope to see you there.

In regards to races, I've identified a few and will be updating that handy dandy little "upcoming races" section on my blog accordingly.

I'll kick the year off with the Shamrock Shuffle. I'm not so worried about this taking a high priority on the race calendar...but it does kick off the running season here in the Windy City, and there's nothing like running 5 miles in a sea of people through downtown.

Then in April, I really, really, really want to run a new personal best at the half marathon distance. We'll be headed down to St. Louis (where my 2:33 13.1 PR currently reigns) where I'll hopefully come home with a new time in the 2:20's. It'll be interesting to run this one by myself as the last time I was there I ran with my dad, which made pacing and all that jazz significantly easier and more fun. Maybe I should pay a friend to pace me at flat 11's for this bad boy? *cough*

And as of right now, that's it for road races. I may pick up a 5k down the line and try to go sub-27. Or perhaps I'll try me hand at the RnR Chicago Half since I get free entry (oh yeah...I forgot to share that exciting bit of news...perhaps another day).

In regards to tri's...I have a few tentatively on my radar.

Mike and I will return to Galena this year, but with a few friends in tow. It's the race I love to hate and hate to love. It makes every other triathlon you do that year feel like a piece of cake. The bike course is nothing but pure pain and misery with 1700+ feet of climbing over 16 unrelenting miles. It's the only race I've ever actually walked my bike *up* a hill or two. It's brutal. But awesome. And I've got a huge bone to pick with this course this time around. It's on.

I find it a little bit funny that I've done an Ironman...but never have I actually tried my hand at the Olympic distance tri (I used to blame the fact that I hated the 10k run distance--but really, I like going long or going short...the middle-ground stuff is just irritating to me...so it's high time I got over that). So...in 2010, I will give my first shot at the Olympic Distance, most likely at the Bigfoot Triathlon or perhaps Lake Geneva.

The Trek Women's Tri will be on my radar once more...and this year I get to introduce this chick to the fabulousness of the event. If I've put in the mileage necessary, I think I can go sub-1:30 for the first time ever. I really want to just push the pace on the bike and see how it all unravels from there.

And then, depending on how everything goes the first half of the year, and how I'm feeling about racing...I MAY pick up either the Racine 70.3 distance or the Steelhead Half IM. I also wouldn't mind heading back down state for the Great Illini Half IM again. Or I may suck it up and do the Chicago Triathlon. I really don't know at this point. We'll just have to wait and see.

I'm very much looking forward to things being a bit more lax this season. If I want to go out drinking on a Friday night with friends. I will. And I won't feel guilty about it. So with the exception of an Olympic Tri and the St. Louis Half...this year will be less about racing...and more about me enjoying the training process, redefining my body and working hard as much as I'm playing hard.

Good times all around.