Goals for next year?

I was thinking about setting my goals for next year, and I was wondering if anybody else had started to torture themselves with next years goals yet.

I have my A races, Wildflower and Vineman.  My goal with them is to finish, but that really starts with the first event the swim.  Ultimately my goal is to not drown, followed by not having to grab hold of anything or flip over and float on my back.
I also want to take 16 minutes off of my 1/2 marathon and run a sub 2 hour 1/2 marathon.  Both of my marathons this year were on pretty hilly country roads.  I think I'm going to take a little help on this one and run a 1/2 marathon on a flat course and follow a pace group.  It's kind of hedging my bet a little, but 16 minutes is a big chunk of time to take off.


But a more mundane goal I have is to run 1095 miles.  This equates to 3 miles per day.  I'm going to start off negative on this one right off the bat, because I'm having surgery the end of the year and the doc says 2 weeks before I can run again.  So I'm going to have some makeup work to do right from the get go.

Then somewhere in the back of the dark shallow place I call a brain, I have the glimmering hope of finishing a local sprint triathlon and having a podium finish.  Oh and this time I don't want to be in third place because there were only 3 athletes in my division.

So what would you like to accomplish for next year.

Best wishes

Scott

my goal will be to kick ass next year.... seriously.  and that doesn't mean podium finishes or personal records (i'll get the PR's, i don't think i will podium at all), it's just means to keep motivated and focused on what is important, my health and family.  racing is a great way for me to validate my training, so of course i'm going to race a bunch too.  the big ones right now are the ATL marathon in March and the IMFL 70.3 in May... other than that, i would love to do one or more of the ultra relays and get into trail-running a bit more, and maybe some of the more interesting and fun events like the muddy buddy... anything to mix it up a bit.

I have a list of events that I would like to do but, in light of some recent news in my life (deployment), I am holding off on posting any race goals for now. I will say that one of my goals is to maintain a regular workout schedule for the entire year no matter what.
 BTW Scott, there is no shame in finishing 3rd out 3 in your age group. Think of all the other people your age who didn't have the motivation to even start the race!!
Good luck with your goals this year!

Eric

Thanks,

I know there is no shame, and it's great that I can even fini****
But I'm my own biggest competitior and critic.  I see this as absolutley doable.
I took over 22 minutes off of my time from the previous year.

I think what I would like to do is transition from trying to complete the event to trying to compete in the event.  Even if I don't place, I want to cross the finish line huffing and puffing with nothing left in the tank.  I have to get over that fat man mentality of making sure I conserve enough energy to finish.  I know I can finish, now it's how fast and well can I finish.

Thanks again,

Scott

 I'm going to enjoy NOT doing 3 marathons and a half so close to each other.  I'm getting a little burned out on the amount of long runds I've been doing, lol.  
My A race is going to be Ironman CdA and the Detroit Marathon.  My girlfriend is thinking she'd like to try do a 1/2 marathon @ the Flying Pig in Cincinatti.  If she's up for it I'll probably do the full and run with her the first half.  
Other than that I'll do a smattering of local tri's and probably not get a 70.3 in.  Possibly the Rev 3 at Cedar Point but there's some exciting news coming in the next couple of weeks that makes everything else I've listed seem that much more overwhelming, lol
--Dan

White Rock Full Marathon!!!! Just finished the 1/2 there, yesterday.

My A-race for 2010 is the Syracuse 70.3 Ironman.  But, my main goal for the year is to avoid injury by incorporating more strength training, stretching and core work.  I'll do a couple of half marathons,  a handful of local races and the Irongirl sprint triathlon.  I will probably forgo a marathon so I have more time to develop my swimming skills.

Cassie

P.S.  Almost forgot, I want to be one of Rob's "other fools" running the Gettysburg to Wasington, DC Relay in April.