Part of my 2013 comebetter attitude centers around setting specific goals.
I have personal, healthy eating, and running goals this year. I set 3 goals for each area and tried to make specific plans so that my goals are, in fact, achievable.
My 2013 Goals – Running:
- I will run 13 races in 2013
- I will complete my first tri (a sprint)
- I will improve my speed
To improve my speed I signed up for the 5 by the 5th virtual race series with the goal of running each month just a bit faster. Challenging my normal self who prefers to run slow (really slow) and long.
This is my first ever virtual race/run series so I am excited to see how it goes because sometimes I stink at pushing myself faster and just fall into my comfortable pace. It’ll be hard to “race” when I’m not in a normal race atmosphere.
Run number 1 – January
5 mile total = 47.57 pace
Average per mile = 9:35 pace
I was very torn by these results -
* Half of me was ecstatic!
Post injury and on this crazy road back I was just hoping to break 10 minute miles, something that really has not happened since my injury 4 months ago. Woohoo!
* The other half of me was a bit saddened.
I had to run so hard, push, struggle, and fight through those 5 miles and boy did they kick my a$$! It is hard to think about how difficult it was for me to hit a 9:35 pace and remember that at one point I pretty easily finished an entire half marathon (13 miles, not just 5) at a pace barely above 9 flat. Plus the day after my 5 miler I was pretty sore which did not used to happen on anything that short or that slow. Not sure if it is me being out of shape or being injured….hmmmmm
However, my glass half full personality doesn’t like pouting so instead I set some goals.
My For Sure Goal:
- I will run each of my 5 by the 5th races faster than the one before.
My Achievable (with hard work & recovery) Goal:
- I will reach 45 minutes by the last 5 by the 5th run.
My Pie is the Sky Goal:
- I will run my last 5 by the 5th at either:
- 45 minutes all hill (5 miles over and back on the Cooper River Bridge)
- 40 minutes on flat terrain
*Heck, I may even try both that last month.
* FYI – I have never broke sub 9 minutes on anything, close, but never quite there & hills are the devil!
Have you ever done a virtual race or run?
What did you find to be the pros and cons?
Anything I should know to help me prepare for this new undertaking?
I did the same virtual race and am doing Jill’s too! So excited for this year! Distance first, my friend, then speed
That is my comeback theory to a T.
Congrats!! Even though you had to push, it’s awesome that you were sub 10 when you didn’t think you’d be there. And I totally need to set some speed goals too!
It is so hard to set speed goals when so many times it seems like we runners just fall into our comfortable pace. Good luck!
That’s a great goal to get faster every time. It would be fun to find a five-mile race around town to test your skills during that last month.
I am not sure if there are any races, but I already recruited my super speedy training partner to run that last month with me as a pacer. She normally slows way down for me, but that last month we are gonna aim for FAST!
As for 5 mile races… there’s an 8K in October here, but I think that’s it. Kinda hard to find em, unfortunately. Guess it’s like this, gotta make your own. I think trying to get faster is a good goal for each month, as you get more into running and we get better weather (it was chilly the last day or two), and you recover from the injury you will get your speed and endurance back. I think you did great personally and I don’t think you’re slow either, you’re getting out there and that’s what counts, that’s the only way to get faster.
I am kind of focused on the distance first, getting back to that marathon healthy. I guess I will continue to work on speed as I try to add distance.
Awesome job!! I’m participating too.
It is really fun.
I added your url to my wordpress reader quite some time ago, but lately it hasn’t been posting your recent posts! UGH! I think I need to switch to google reader… I have some BASZ blog reading catching up to do!
Never done a virtual race before! I’m still a bit confused about how yours works (PS excuse my blonde brain right now since I’ve been in the lab all day), but if you think its helping you get faster and not get injured in the process, I say keep going! My normal pace used to be (for 4-5 mi runs) was somewhere between 9-9:30. Anything faster than that and I’d have to work SUPER hard. I have no idea what my current pace will be once I’m running 30 min straight again…
Can’t wait to read about your progress with the 5 by the 5th race!
This virtual race series (first I’ve done too) asks that you run a 5K or 5miler by the 5th of each month Jan.-June. Then you enter your times online for a chance to win prizes. It is just a cool way to motivate yourself basically.
So awesome! As always, love your attitude. Wish I had words of wisdom bit it took me over an hour to do five miles.
You did it though. You thought you weren’t a runner and you ran 5 freaking miles. WOOHOO! I am so proud of you.
You just made my day!
Well you deserve it!
Great job Abby! I think you’ll run sub-9 soon! Just keep adding speedwork, tempos, etc. You’ll get there!
The best advice I can give is to not start out too fast, but I don’t always listen to that advice, and you just have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. At least 5 miles isn’t too far
I too think I’ll get a bit faster, I just need to take it easy with this injury and try and get healthy and build up some distance. Then worry about getting faster after that. I just have to remind myself that I am not 100% right now and cannot compare times to when I was healthy, it is not fair to myself.
You’re getting faster already! I’m so excited that you’ve returned to running and recovering by leaps and bounds. It’s going to come back to you quick and you’ll be hitting those goals asap.
I hope so. Just wait for the stupid pain to stop, but you understand that.
This is such an amazing idea!!! Good luck with it. I’m sending all the energy I can your way for a healthy, injury-free season. Get out there and attack those miles, girl!
Thank you so much injury free is truly the number 1 goal.
I’m still not 100% so I am trying to take it a bit easy so I don’t get reinjured during marathon training. However, I am slowly trying to work into adding some tempo stuff and speed intervals. Right now they are so slow they don’t really count, but as I begin to feel healthier and experience less pain I hope to make them a bit faster, and faster.
Thanks Jenna.
I cannot wait to see the results!