2012 Goals

So a successful season can't be completed without goals, and while I floated by last season without very well defined ones, this season is rather different. Most training plans recommend 3 Goals for a season, but I am actually giving myself 4. However, my 4th Goal isn't so much a biking goal but more of a lifestyle goal. So here goes it, in this year I would like to:
- Qualify for 2013 Mountain Bike National Championships
- Complete my first 100 Mile Mountain Bike Race
- Podium in Cat 5 in the PACX Series
- Reach a weight of 170 pounds
I'll do my best to break them down.


Qualify for 2013 Mountain Bike National Championships
Back when I first got into mountain bike racing in 2006 USAC national where held at Mount Snow in Vermont. While I had friends who went up I didn't quiet feel ready for it. The alure of racing at a national level has always been there, and I was even kicking around the idea of going out to Sun Valley this year. However, I recently learned that national will be held at Bear Creek Resort in Pennsylvania in 2013 and 2014. Right in my own back yard. So my goal is simple, request an upgrade in my licence to Cat 1 and have a top 15 result in USAC qualifying race, which should be much easier now that the MASS Series has decided to become USAC Sanctioned.


Complete My First 100 Mile Mountain Bike Race
2010 was an embarrassing year. I set a lofty goal to complete my first 100 mile mountain bike race. After 5 Months of training I found myself in central Ohio to compete in the Mohican 100. I was greeted by torrential downpours, thunder, lightning, hail, and the chance of tornadoes. Restless night's sleep hearing the endless storm got the better of me and the mental game left me with a big Did Not Start, my first and only ever.

Podium in Cat 5 in the PACX Series
After years of being intrigued by the sport, I took the plunge this year and bought a cross bike. I was going to take a shot at a few races but before I knew it I was hooked, and raced in 6. Last year I did it for fun as a post season way to race bikes and drink beer. This year, while there will still be beer drinking, will be much more focused. I'm shooting for a podium in our local Pennsylvania series. I plan to finish up mountain bike racing at the beginning of August giving myself a month and a half to prep for a fun and challenging series.

Reach a weight of 170 pounds
My entire adult life has been a weight struggle. I've never been obese, but in college I came close to reaching the 230 pound mark. Around that time I rediscovered my love for running and literally ran the weight off. A few year's later, in 2005 I ran my first marathon, and approached the 168 pound mark. Since then I've seen my weight rise and fall, but mostly rise. Every winter I seem to reach a peak of around 190 pounds and then drop back down to 180ish by summer. This winter seemed to be worst than the past few and I nearly tipped the 200 pound mark. Enough is enough I say, life style changes are in order, and I'm also in a weight loss competition at work. So I've again set the weight goal of 170, and we'll see if I soot for lower when I get there. For now I am doing strict calorie counting, limiting myself to eating out twice a week, and not drinking soda.

So here goes 2012! It'll be fun to revisit this post in a year to see how well I stuck to my goals.And in the mean time I will be talking about them on here.