2012 Goals Pt 3: My Goals
Jan 30, 09:13 PM
So this originally started out as one post about my goals for the year but as I started writing it just kept getting longer and grew into this 3-part monument to my wordiness. Now, a big part of why I’m writing so much is because this is more about recording where I’m at and how things are going so that I can look back and see how I did.
So what are my goals for this year? My goal is to complete the Giant Eagle Triathlon (Olympic Distance) in under 2.5hr. I want to swim with an average pace of about 50sec per 50yd, cycle at an average speed of 21.5mph and run at an 8min/mi pace. If I can do all that, I can finish the race a solid hour faster than my first attempt at an Olympic distance triathlon.
Wow. Those are some lofty goals for me! To compare where I’m at right now compared to where I want to be…My current swim pace is approx 55-60sec per 50yd (most recent swim was at 58.6sec/50yd). My best speed on the bike last year was in the 18mph range and I generally run in the mid 8min/mi pace.
Breaking it down, swimming will be quite a challenge to increase my speed. I know that it’s possible to go faster, but that has more to do with me getting better at keeping my form than almost anything else. When I do a 3000yd my first 500 has a pretty great pace but after that they start getting slower and slower. That’s to be expected, but I need to be starting out under 50sec per 50yd so that when I slow down, it’s still within my time. I also need to work on my cadence. I currently go at a pretty slow and steady cadence that can carry me to great distances, but that also means that my paces for a 1000 and a 3000 are not that different.
The biggest challenge with cycling will be getting my body used to riding in the aerobars for more than a few min at a time. I know that when I do ride in the aerobars I gain at least 1-2mph immediately, and that’s without being used to it. I need to start training myself to get used to that position so that I can get the power and aero benefits that will help me go faster. I also need to get a new stem for my bike. My current one is too long and it makes it harder for me to ride in the aero position as a result.
Running will be the easiest (relatively) of the 3 to meet. I’m already running at a mid 8min pace so getting that a little faster shouldn’t be too bad. The challenge comes from keeping that speed up for the whole 6.2mi course as well as being ready to do it in oppressive heat and after working my butt off on the bike right before.
So there you have it. My goals for the year. Stated as clearly as I can make them. What will I do after that race? Probably see about doing another race in August or something, maybe Buckeye Challenge again. Maybe I’ll try to train for a running race, like a half or full marathon. I don’t know. My goal is to make Giant Eagle my “A” race for the year. After that, it’ll just be about having fun.
Older Articles: 2012 Goals Pt 2: The Current Situation Newer Articles: Thinking about the coming 7 months