When Is A Goal Too Ambitious?

from http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2008/12/05/goals-for-writing/

Some of you may have noticed the lack of a New Year’s resolution post or even a post related to my goals for the year. That is because I have been going through a difficult time in relation to goals. In an earlier post  I had discussed the idea that my major goal for the next year or so was going to be to qualify for the Western States 100. Then I learned that the qualifying standards had changed. This made me have to reconsider my plans for qualifying as well as my running plans for 2014.

Initially I had decided that my new goal would be to run a qualifier at the Hallucination 100 at Woodstock. For several reasons, that would be an optimal qualifier for me. However, I also decided at about the same time to move from MI, initially with the plan of going on the road, which quickly got changed to buying a house in FL. These will be good moves for me running-wise, I believe, in the long run. In the short run, however, they put me three months behind in my training. Now here it is January, and I am not yet even averaging 20 mpw  consistently and have not had a long run of over 10 miles in longer than I can remember – not exactly an optimal state for an ultrarunner trying to prepare for a first hundred miler.

This was the condition I found myself in as I sat down to think about goals for the new year. I was in a dilemma: do I push ahead with my goal of qualifying for WS at Woodstock or do I adjust it to reflect my current conditions?

This is a difficult question. We live in a society that rewards the lofty goal and that has a “don’t give up on your dreams” ethos. This is fueled by social media wherein these lofty goals are publicly applauded and where terms like “awesome” and “bad ass” can make a runner feel really good about setting such goals. In addition, these same sites reward completion over performance, If one can drag themselves across the finish line, regardless of how poorly executed, the adulation is forthcoming. There is the push to do more and more, often before people are ready. “You ran a half? You should do a marathon?” “You ran a marathon? You should do an ultra?” The increasing distances and new experiences become things to check off and stickers to put on the back of a car to be part of the crowd.

This is the type of thing that causes many runners to over-reach, to do too much too fast, and which ultimately leads to injury and burnout. Many of the people who get caught in this cycle do not become lifelong runners. On that side of the coin, there is the argument that “Woodstock is still 9 months away. You can be ready by then. Go for it!”  

On the other side of the coin there is the knowledge that a 100 mile run is not something to undertake lightly. If I was coaching an athlete in my position, I would probably advise against doing a 100 miler so quickly when the previous year’s running base had been so sketchy.  If this were the end of 2012, when I had just completed many 50ks and marathons in the previous year, the situation would be different, but that is not the runner I am today. Today I am a runner with neither the aerobic base nor the strength to tackle a run like that. I am also a full 12 lbs overweight. That is an issue that cannot be ignored. One hundred miles is a long way to carry an extra 12 lb weight. I mean doesn't it make sense that when one is tackling the biggest physical challenge of one's life that one should be in the best physical shape possible? 

There is also my desire to not just “do” 100 miles, but to do it well. Yes, I could possibly (not probably) “complete” the 100 miles with the 9 months of training I could put in starting at the place I am now, but it likely would not be pretty. It might make a good story, but it would probably not make a good race. Not only would I suffer more than I need to and put myself at increased risk of injury or failure, but I probably also would not produce a performance I would be proud of or even feel good about. What is the point of doing it if it is a miserable experience that I can’t feel good about later? At least for me the pats on the back from others don’t really mean much if I do not feel inside that I did something that is worthy of the attention.  

This leaves me in a position that is pretty uncomfortable. It is hard to admit that one is not ready to pursue a goal, or that the goal may be too lofty at the time. Still, if I want to be sensible about it, that is the truth of the matter for me right now.  

Adding to the discomfort is the fact that being in this position is my own fault. I allowed myself get to this position. I am solely responsible for not making the time to train, for not making better choices, both in relation to training and diet. There are all kinds of good reasons why I didn’t, but the fact is that if one is going to set a serious goal like running a 100 miler, one has to accept the other end of the stick – that one’s lifestyle must be committed to supporting that goal. This is not just true with running. It is true with anything – the bigger the goal, the bigger the commitment that must go with it.

This leaves me to figure out a set of new goals that will get me to the goal that I ultimately want to achieve – the Western States qualifier (which will now have to be another 100 mile race).  This is a key step for anyone who has a goal that is too ambitious for them at a particular time.  One must determine what is needed to get to a position to pursue that primary goal and set goals related to reaching that position.

I am still working on this for myself in relation to the WS, but a good intermediate step appears to be a 6 month base-building period, perhaps culminating in a 50 miler. During that time, I will work to build my mileage back up to a steady 45 mpw and lose at least 6 of the 12 lbs of extra weight I am carrying around. Then, in June I can revisit and re-evaluate. I am not ruling out a fall 100, but I am going to have to see a lot more progress between now and then to consider it.

Because I know I focus best with a race out there on the horizon, I am off to search for a suitable 50 miler to get excited about and a few 50ks for the base building period (not to race, just to have some fun and company while I am training).  I don’t like the idea of putting my real dream on hold, but deep in my heart, I know this is a smarter plan that will ultimately get me where I am going in a much better position to succeed. 

Do What You Love... Love What You Do

I had posted this last year.
Guess I should have taken my own advice...

I have been MIA on the blog for a while. I have also been MIA from my training. I had some good training going earlier in the spring, ran a few  over 50 PRs for 5ks, and then basically lost interest. I had committed myself to running the Playmaker's Race Series for the season, but just this weekend skipped one of the races (after I had already gotten up and was ready to go) because I just did not feel like it. To put it mildly, I am in a running slump.

I would like to say that it is because I have been too busy. I have been busy, but not too busy to run.  I managed to watch the live version of the Tour de France every day last month, the whole three hours of coverage most days, but I did not manage to find the 40 minutes to run. 

To make matters worse, I didn’t even care, except for the fear that I would lose all my fitness and have to start over. As I have gotten older, starting over has become something I really dread and that fear is usually enough to motivate me to do at least maintenance level running.  So where did the love of running go?

That was the question I needed to ponder.  The problem is that my best pondering happens when I run.  Catch-22 there for sure.  My progress on the issue had come to a standstill.  

Then I was having an offhand conversation with a non-running friend I hadn’t talked to in a while.  He asked about my running. I said I was in a slump. He asked if I was still doing marathons. I told him about my year last year, and my quest for the belt buckle, and all the trail races I had run. Then I somehow began to talk to him about the Western States 100 and my desire to run it someday.

In response to all this, he said “Lori, this may not be my place to say, but you need to be trail running. Your voice got so excited when you were talking about it that you were almost giddy. You should be doing what you love.”  And, as soon as I heard it, I knew it was truth.

What did I do next?  Well of course I went out for a run, on the trails, to ponder that statement.  I asked myself as I ran “What do I love about running?”  Well the immediate answer was running trails, of course. And ultras. And competition. And my running friends.  And the cycling that I am doing on the side. “What don’t I love so much?”  Road miles, especially long road miles. Road marathons.  Large races.  Road 5ks.

So how can I put this into practice to get re-motivated and do what I love? 

Well, first off, I need to refocus my trail running/ultra running goals. If I am going to make the Western States 100 in this lifetime, I need to get going on that goal now, as it is a major one that will take at least a couple of years to accomplish. It requires a qualifying race (either 50 or 100 miles), a lottery to enter that can take years to win, and probably a practice 100 miler or two to prepare. (If I don't make the lottery, I have to re-qualify each year until I do.)  There is also a lot of preparation that will need to be done in the 9 months leading up to the race if I do make the lottery and gain entry. This is a long term process that will require a lot of focus and perseverance, but rather than sounding incredibly daunting, sounds like a heck of a lot of fun! That was a goal I could get excited about!

Next, I want to stay in touch with my running friends and continue my commitment to the Playmaker’s/New Balance Masters Women’s Racing Team. That means that I need to keep my speed up a bit even as I take the focus away from road running and racing. That will also help me to be competitive in the ultras, which is a win-win. I will also probably stick with cycling and possibly duathlons. I think the cycling adds a component, mentally and physically, that I would like to keep in the mix.

With every decision made, though, there are things that one gives up. When one door opens, another closes. I will probably never run the Boston Marathon or New York or Chicago, or any of the other popular runs that a lot of runners have on their bucket lists. I am just not into road marathons enough to do something like that again. 

I also will not be running many local 5ks or other “popular” races. I think Facebook is great for keeping a community in touch, but it also creates FOMO (fear of missing out) that causes some people, at least me, to sign up for things that they aren’t really into just because everyone else is going.  More than once, this has led me down the path of committing to something that I really was not into. I need to learn to say “no.”

I guess it is official then. I am switching my focus back from roads to trails. (I think I will finish out the Playmakers Race Series races because I am leading in my age group, but they will not be my focus.) My focus now is to lay out a plan for meeting my Western States 100 goal. I think I will go for a run and ponder my plan of attack… I will let you know what I work out. 

If you would like to learn more about the Western States 100, or if you just love running movies in general, check out either of these: 

Unbreakable: The Western States 100

Taking Stock: My Year in Running

Well, my year of crazy running is coming to a close, and like most of the other runners I know I am creating my racing calendar for next year. In case you too are at this point, I want to invite you to take a look at my previous post on goal setting called “Running Goals." It may give you a few things to think about as you are developing your own goals for next year.

Before I jump ahead to set new goals, though, it is a useful idea to take stock of what occurred this year, what has been accomplished, what the pitfalls were, and to think of where I want the running to go from here. 

This past year was my year of experiences. I turned 50 and a key goal was just to make it a memorable year. I decided to do that by indulging my passion for trail running. I discussed these goals in an earlier post “2012: Boned, Bloodied, Burned, and Bruised.”  I set out to achieve the belt buckle for running the series of four 50ks, which I did achieve. Along the way, I ended up joining Marathon Maniacs, accruing 10 marathons or ultras for the year, and just generally having a really good time traveling to races, running long distances, appreciating nature, and (with the exception of the Leading Ladies Marathon) not worrying too much about my times. Even though I had some setbacks, such as the DNF at the Martian half marathon or the Disaster at Green Swamp, and a few minor injuries, such as the thing with the IT band and the discovery that I had weak glutes, those things were definitely overshadowed by the fun experiences I had, the people I met and became friends with (you know who you are), the things I learned, and the amazing places I got to visit.

This year was also a success in another way. Writing this blog has been more fun than I could ever have imagined. I have met some really great people because of this, and it has helped me to reach out to other runners more. Many of the new friends I have made this year have come through interactions stemming from the blog. The blog has also given me the opportunity to encourage other runners to write. As a writing teacher, that has been one of the really fun parts of the experience for me. I had some great guest columns on other people’s race experiences and perspectives. In case you missed these, let me give you a quick list:

Special Race Report: Mango Madness by Leslie Miyasato  

Guest Race Report: Warrior Dash 2012 by Kathy Battle 

Inspirational Stories: Running after a Kidney Transplant by Anna Kaschner

Guest Race Report: Detroit Marathon by Rick Rogacki

If you are trying to decide on races for next year, those reports along with the others on the site (You can use the search function to find these -- just type “race report” in the search box on the top right of the page.) may help you decide.

In looking back at the year, I would have to say that my top three favorite races were the Blues Cruise 50k (Leesport, PA) , Dances with Dirt Gnaw Bone 50k (Gnaw Bone, IN) , and the Leading Ladies Marathon (Spearfish, SD).  What they all had in common for me is that I really loved the beauty of the courses, and they all had the small and friendly race feel that I love. I will probably go back to each of those in the future although I am not sure how many of them I will make it to next year.

All in all, I would say the running year 2012 was a success. Where do I go from here? What will goals will I set for 2013? That will have to wait for another post. 

2012 Goals: Bloodied, Boned, Bruised, and Burned

In my previous post on the importance of goals I promised that I would share my current goals. I am at that veteran runner stage where goals are sometimes hard to set. Last year I had thought maybe I would go after my marathon PR, which I still feel has some room for improvement, just because that is what I was used to doing. I even entered a marathon last year. However, it became clear as I was training for the road marathon that I really wasn't enjoying it like I used to. Part of the reason for the DNF I had at that race was that I just wasn't into it -- the training or the racing.

What I was enjoying was the trail running that I started doing last spring here in Michigan. My previous trail running had been in the California mountains, which are absolutely awesome, and in Florida, which is a big, hot, sandy swamp. Although I had loved trail running in California, I did not know much about Michigan and had no idea there were so many beautiful trails.

It was love at first run on the trails up here. The trails are soft, not too rocky (at least not compared to So Cal), and the greenery and wildlife are beautiful. In my mind, trails will always go hand in hand with ultras, so when I decided late last spring that road marathons were not doing it for me, ultras was the direction I turned.  I was entered to run my first trail marathon in August and the 50k at Woodstock in September. I was starting to feel motivated and passionate about running again. Then in July I ruptured my spleen on a trail run -- 4 days in the hospital and 8 weeks of no running. That set me back a bit.

As I was on the couch for 8 weeks, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I really wanted to do in my running. One of those "someday I will" things I have had in mind for almost a decade is the desire to run the Western States 100. It occurred to me, as I watched the year click down toward the big 5-0, that if I was going to ever do that, I better get after it.

You are probably thinking, "Oh, then her goal for the year is the Western States." Well not quite. You see, getting into Western States is a long process. First a person has to qualify. That involves finishing another 100 miler, or a 100k race under 14 hrs, or a 50 mile race in under 11 hours. Once one qualifies, then the runner can submit his or her name into the lottery. The number of entrants is limited to 369, but some of those spots go to previous years' winners and other specially qualified runners, so the actual number of spots is less. The lottery is a long process.  It can take years. If you are interested in the process, you can check out their site.

So, yes, entering Western States is a goal, but it is a 3 to 5 year goal for me. I am not the kind of person who likes to be unprepared. I don't just want to run Western States; I want to try for the silver buckle that comes with a finish under 24 hours. The odds are already stacking up against me because I am getting older even as I type, but I am going to give it a shot. Once that long term goal was set, it was easy to work backwards.

With that in mind, I had to ask myself "How do I get there from here?" The answer is that I need to get into shape to run a qualifying event.  I decided to make it a two to three year plan, depending on how I progress and handle the mileage. This year, 2012, is the year of the 50k. The following year will be 50 milers and 100ks, and the next year 100 milers. I know that seems like a long build-up but remember that I want to "race" these not just finish them, and it takes me longer to build mileage than it used to. I would like to have a year of solid 40 to 60 mile weeks before I attempt the 100 miler.

Then I turned my attention to 2012. What did I want to do with those 50ks. Well I knew the answer to that question immediately. When I heard we were moving to Michigan, I was on the internet trying to find out if there were any running clubs or good races up here, and I came across the Dances With Dirt site. If you have never heard of Dances with Dirt (DWD)  , you really need to go to the site and read a little bit to get the flavor of the whole experience. The Dances with Dirt series is a set of races put on by Running Fit. It is a pet project of their "head goat" Randy Step, who is an awesome guy and a really crazy race director.

The courses are all in places with colorful names: Green Swamp, Gnaw Bone, Devil's Lake, and Hell. The courses range from difficult to absolutely ridiculous, including stream crossings, bushwhacking, swamp crossings, dirt ladders, and whatever other surprises Randy can arrange for his dedicated runners. The best part is that the races are a series: Bloodied, Boned, Bruised and Burned. If a runner completes four ultras in the series within a single year, there is a buckle.

Now, I have mentioned before that I am a sucker for bling. I will run myself nearly to death for a cheap plastic medal on a tacky ribbon, so you can imagine how I felt the first time I saw that buckle. I had to have it. My goals for 2012 were set.

The races in the series go like this: Green Swamp, FL (March 24), Gnaw Bone, IN (May 12), Devil''s Lake, WI (July 14), and Hell (September 22).   If I successfully complete the fourth race, the belt buckle will be awarded at the finish line of my "home" race in Hell.

Here is the plan. My odyssey will start with the DWD Green Swamp, sort of. Actually I fell victim to the FOMO I mentioned in the previous post and have entered a "training race" a trail marathon at Land Between Lakes in Kentucky , which is on the way to Florida, and which will be my last long training run before the 50k. That run is March 10.  My goal in that endeavor will just be to get that long run in at a sensible pace that does not leave me fatigued for the 50k (IT band willing). You will see that I like to use trail marathons as some of my long training runs for the 50ks. It is fun to get those long training runs done with company and aid.

I have a secondary goal that I should also mention. I still love road running and was not ready to completely give it up. I also did not want to lose all my road speed.  The half marathon is my favorite road distance, so I am keeping a few road half marathons in my schedule (Martian and Bayshore). I don't expect to set any PRs at these races, as my PRs at the half are times that I could only hope to reach with dedicated training for that event. What I am hoping for is to establish some "over 50" PRs for myself and maybe place in my age group if possible. Because of that you will notice that there are a few half marathons tucked into my upcoming races. Those are on my "down" weekends for the ultra training, the weekends where I would have run only 12 to 14 miles anyway.

So that is how the next 9 months are shaping up for me. I hope to take you along on the journey by providing video logs and race reports. I have to admit I am a little scared and am wondering if four 50ks are biting off more than I can chew, but only time will tell. 

How about your goals? What do you have planned for the upcoming season? 

Running Goals

As I mentioned in the previous post, I turned 50 this year. Turning 50 is one of those milestones that suggest that there should be some type of memorable goal to be set and achieved. I thought long and hard about the goals for this year, and I want to share those goals with you because part of what this blog will be is a chronicle of my attempts to achieve those goals. However, before I get to that, I wanted to reflect a bit on how the nature of goals changes over one's career as a runner.   

Runners are typically goal-oriented people from the start. Most runners come into the sport with a goal in mind, such as "I want to run a 5k," or "I want to do a marathon," or "I want to lose weight and get in shape."

For a new runner goals (and achievements) are easy to come by. The first year's steady stream of  running "firsts" keeps the beginner motivated and enthusiastic. The personal records (PRs) at all distances nearly every time one goes to a race continues to motivate a runner through a second phase. Eventually, though, for those who stay with it, goals become something that one has to put some thought into.

If you are still in that golden stage I hate to tell you this, but, sadly, it doesn't last forever. Eventually those improvements based on advances in general conditioning and fitness come to an end and further gains come only as a result of concentrated effort. That is when goal setting becomes important.  

For a veteran runner, clear cut long-term goals are a key to continued success. After that first flurry of  newness and PRs is over, runners can sometimes drift. Often with no clear cut "firsts" left to conquer and PRs getting harder and harder to come by, but with those training habits deeply engrained, runners continue running and racing, entering whatever race grabs their short-term attention and with no real plan.

This often leads to unsatisfactory results, which can cause some people to become frustrated and disillusioned, and it sometimes leads to injury as runners often attempt to enter races which they have not properly trained for but which sound "fun" at the time. Other runners stretch themselves beyond the limits of their training because the training has not been done with a particular distance or pace in mind. I have made both of those mistakes at various times in the past. My second and third year of running were plagued by injuries brought about by not having a clear focus and overextending myself in various ways as I did a little bit of everything, some of which I was not prepared for.  Not until I refocused with a clear cut goal, did I escape that cycle of injuries.  

For veteran runners goals can sometimes be difficult to set. The questions are numerous: Do I want to continue to chase PRs? At what distance? Do I want to return to old courses to try to set new records, or do I want to try new courses?  Do I want to try something a little different, such as trail running, ultras, track meets, adventure races, or triathlons? Finding the right answer to these questions can breathe new life into one's running.

However, finding the right answers to these questions can be difficult because there are so many options available, and saying "yes" to one often means saying "no" to others. There is a new term that has been created in this social media age. It is called FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). This is a big problem for runners who are socially connected in a running club or social network. There are a LOT of races out there, and all of them sound fantastic.  It is easy to want to do everything.  The problem is that you can't do everything -- at least not all at the same time.

           

As a beginning runner I had a hard time accepting this concept because in that golden first year or so, it seems like you can do everything and do it well. It was only when I hit that previously mentioned injury cycle that I realized the truth in the advice that some of the wiser veteran runners had been had been trying to give me about needing to focus and decide what I really wanted to achieve.

Now am I saying you shouldn't do some of those things that sound fun but which aren't on your plan? Absolutely not!  Anyone who knows me knows that I am often one to jump in and do those fun things. I dabble in triathlons. I will do a race because it has great "bling." However, it does mean that one has to keep the right mindset. I don't try to "race" those events. I am there for the participation. I try to do well, but I also temper my effort level and expectations so that I am not doing anything that will interfere with my more long term goal. Sometimes, if paced properly, you can do "races" that would not otherwise have fit the schedule as training runs with a particular focus in mind related to the long term goal. I will discuss that a bit more when I talk about my goals for the year. Also, if you stay with running long enough, you will have time to do many different things and set a variety of different types of goals. It just can't happen all at once.

(As an aside here, I have recently learned the joy of being a spectator or a volunteer at some of those races. It is NOT absolutely necessary to run in the races to enjoy them. Sometimes going and taking pictures can be a heck of a lot of fun, and your friends will appreciate the photos and encouragement. If you haven't tried it yet, you should. It's a blast.)

So, now with all that said, I am ready to tell you about my goals for the year. Unfortunately, that will have to wait for next post. I have to go for a run!