This year is a bit of a daunting year for me.
Why? It's the year I move up into the dreaded 30-34 age group. There may be eleven months to go before I turn 30, but triathlon directors don't care. (So heartless. Those women are fast.) That may or may not be part of why I haven't decided on the annual triathlon yet. I'm not a real triathlete, just a runner who pretends to be one now and then.
Either way, it got me thinking about a few other things I'd like to do this year - both running- and non-running-related. Some of them are realistic. Some of them are more aspirational.
I'd like to...
- volunteer at a race - YES! If you're running the Twilight Ultra Challenge, come and say hi. I will have gummy bears (not these ones don't worry)
- race a distance that I've never run before (that can be 6k, 12k, 15, 30...50???). Instant PR!
- trail run at least once a month
- run Punggol Waterway again! - DONE! Fine, that was last year on Christmas Day. It's still pretty.
- run my first ultra (any distance longer than 42.2...and I have a particular event in mind!)
- run a 25:00 5k
- run a 55:00 10k
- commit to one strength/ conditioning class and one pilates/ yoga/ other 'body awareness' class at the gym once a week (it's like medicine for me - I haven't the patience to do this on my own and therefore need a class to kick my butt)
- go paddleboarding more. I tried this last year and it's great fun. ('Learn to surf' is on my not-so-secret adventure bucket list, and I figure getting used to standing on a floating board is a good place to start.)
- go on a bike ride longer than anything I've ever done before. Enjoy it.
- hike in Hong Kong again
- swim with the whale sharks in the Philippines
- visit Italy
- try five new foods or restaurants this year (visiting Italy might help with this...)
- keep a log of the books I read all year - and yes, that includes the trashy mysteries. YES! Inspired by Angela over at SF Road Warrior, I'm actually doing this. You'll get the occasional book review here, too! I'll also be rereading Annie Dillard's 'Pilgrim at Tinker Creek' and reading all of the 2013 Booker Prize shortlist.
- finally complete the Udacity course I'm taking, in very, very basic Python. (No, 'basic Python' was not a bad nerd pun.)
- make some progress on one of the passion projects I have for work
- complete two more Coursera or Udacity courses (please recommend!)
- camp out on a beach and watch the sun rise. While not moving. Usually when I see the sunrise it's because I'm running towards it.
- learn to be still.
Anyone have any other suggestions?
Why? It's the year I move up into the dreaded 30-34 age group. There may be eleven months to go before I turn 30, but triathlon directors don't care. (So heartless. Those women are fast.) That may or may not be part of why I haven't decided on the annual triathlon yet. I'm not a real triathlete, just a runner who pretends to be one now and then.
Either way, it got me thinking about a few other things I'd like to do this year - both running- and non-running-related. Some of them are realistic. Some of them are more aspirational.
I'd like to...
- volunteer at a race - YES! If you're running the Twilight Ultra Challenge, come and say hi. I will have gummy bears (not these ones don't worry)
- race a distance that I've never run before (that can be 6k, 12k, 15, 30...50???). Instant PR!
- trail run at least once a month
- run Punggol Waterway again! - DONE! Fine, that was last year on Christmas Day. It's still pretty.
- run my first ultra (any distance longer than 42.2...and I have a particular event in mind!)
- run a 25:00 5k
- run a 55:00 10k
- commit to one strength/ conditioning class and one pilates/ yoga/ other 'body awareness' class at the gym once a week (it's like medicine for me - I haven't the patience to do this on my own and therefore need a class to kick my butt)
- go paddleboarding more. I tried this last year and it's great fun. ('Learn to surf' is on my not-so-secret adventure bucket list, and I figure getting used to standing on a floating board is a good place to start.)
- go on a bike ride longer than anything I've ever done before. Enjoy it.
- hike in Hong Kong again
- swim with the whale sharks in the Philippines
- visit Italy
- try five new foods or restaurants this year (visiting Italy might help with this...)
- keep a log of the books I read all year - and yes, that includes the trashy mysteries. YES! Inspired by Angela over at SF Road Warrior, I'm actually doing this. You'll get the occasional book review here, too! I'll also be rereading Annie Dillard's 'Pilgrim at Tinker Creek' and reading all of the 2013 Booker Prize shortlist.
- finally complete the Udacity course I'm taking, in very, very basic Python. (No, 'basic Python' was not a bad nerd pun.)
- make some progress on one of the passion projects I have for work
- complete two more Coursera or Udacity courses (please recommend!)
- camp out on a beach and watch the sun rise. While not moving. Usually when I see the sunrise it's because I'm running towards it.
- learn to be still.
Anyone have any other suggestions?
What are you logging your reading with? Goodreads? Friend me!
ReplyDeleteHi Ciaran! Nice to see you here. I tried Goodreads once and couldn't keep up; I use a good old Google Docs spreadsheet because I will remember to update that! :) What's your Goodreads profile?
DeleteThat is quite a list! I usually only really think about my "sports" related goals, not other ones. I should do that more too...
ReplyDeleteI move into the dreaded 40 to 45 age group - the most competitive one!!! Not happy about that one at all. I'd be glad to be in your AG and be your AGE!!!
I have a theory about that 40 to 45 AG. People in that age group are more settled in other aspects of their lives - their careers are usually at a relatively settled place, if they have children the children are old enough not to need attention 110% of the time, and so on; so they have a little more time to be themselves, and that includes dedicating time to training! Perhaps that'll be true for you? :)
DeleteAge group changes give you a whole new local competition! I actually met a few friends that way!
ReplyDeleteYou're right! Although, races here tend to be very big and anonymous; and while triathlons do have proper age groups, most running races here don't seem to do that at all - it's just '18 to 45' or '18 to 35' and 'Masters'. Annoying!
DeleteI love your to-do list. I hope you get to tick everyone of those off.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'll keep you guys posted.
DeleteLol.....30-34 has definitely been tough! At every race, I'm like "Who *are* these women???"
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your resolutions!
Thanks! 30-34 is tough...but I have a feeling the folks in 35-39 and 40-44 are mentally even tougher, and that makes an enormous difference.
DeleteSaw your comment. If you figure out the secret, let me know!!!
ReplyDeleteI have 10 more marathons to play around with before I hit your 15, so there will be A LOT of experimenting! I'll let you know!
DeleteNice list! Yay for turning 30 this year too (she says, as she tries to convince herself that it's ok and there's no big crisis looming)! Mine'll be in August so I've got less time to stress about it. ;)
ReplyDelete...Tarawera! Tarawera! (Not to stress you out further or anything.)
DeleteSolid list. I vow to help. Will pace 5K and/or 10K, and DEFINITELY going to paddleboard. You think you'd go back to the same place, or try someplace else?
ReplyDeleteAlso...any brilliant suggestions for maintaining/upkeeping the reading list? I vow to do this every year, and every year...I lose track and abandon the project somewhere around March...
hooray, thanks! pace me at Venus Run, pretty please? :)
DeletePaddleboarding - I like that place, but I think I'll try Sentosa, the water's a bit cleaner.
Reading list - er - your guess is as good as mine; I have a Google spreadsheet AND Goodreads but I have a feeling I'll lose track in the next few months.