Setting Goals

With 16 weeks (tomorrow) to race day, I've felt like it's getting down to crunch time. I keep thinking that's just 4 X 4, and that's not a lot of time! My challenge is to finish the race without it finishing me, but that's a bit too big and far away to actually "do," so I'm setting mini goals along the way to get me there.

My first one is to be able to do 4 miles at a 9 minute-mile pace, do 25 consecutive pull ups, and do 100 burpees in 10 minutes. I am planning to get there June 1.

Currently I can do 17 pull ups, but on the other two, I think my obstacles right now are primarily mental. I paced myself out to 4 miles in 45 minutes a few weeks ago, but I think I could beat that now. I did 20 consecutive burpees yesterday, but I think I could have done Anothee ten if I'd pushed harder.

To get to my goals, I'm increasing my run to the bus distance by getting off at earlier stops and increasing my speed. I should be running 1.6 miles most days (in three half-mile sprints) within the next few weeks, just on my commute. I also plan to map out a four-mile route around town to test myself on, maybe Sunday.

I'm also maxing out on pull-ups every other day. With a pull up bar at home and another at work, I can do a set morning, noon, and evening.

I'm planning on increasing my burpee count by two every day, which will get me to 100 (from 20) in 30 days.

I'm making a point of enjoying rest days, and trying to enjoy the outdoors on the beautiful spring days. Im also trying to eat right. After an early handful of digestive enzymes this morning (for the muscle-repairing protease) I enjoyed this: