Goals: Am I a nutter?

platypus · 30 Apr 2007 at 16:33

Hmm. Ok. Where to begin. Now, I know everyone has their sporting goals, whether it be times, amount lifted or the like. This one will probably take some beating in the 'ludicrous' stakes, I can just see my girlfriend laughing her head off/getting ****** off when I tell her that I'm on the verge of deciding that this is going to be my life for the next 5 years.

For those of you that don't know, I run. A lot. I like it, it seems to like me, aside from the odd niggling injury. I also like having hair-brained ideas, with often little chances of them coming to fruition. I enjoy running marathons, some for speed, others for completion (eg hard conditions). I was thinking the other day, however, that as my current goal is sub 2:45, what actually could I achieve? After 2:45, you can bet that my next goal will be sub 2:40. And its even possible that I might get sub 2:30 sometime. Hey, I'm still young, I'm extremely fit, all the signs are good.

So then I got to thinking. Could I, by 2010, run a ~2:20 marathon? And if so, would that be enough to qualify for the GB athletics team, and possibly even run the marathon in London, 2012? I've no real idea of what it would actually take - like I said I'm known locally for my crazy schemes. One thing I do know is that if I decide to do it, I sure as hell would train like mad to do it.

Just a thought fellow sports enthusiasts!

Gooner14 · 30 Apr 2007 at 17:09

platypus said:
like I said I'm known locally for my crazy schemes.

I live locally and have never heard of your 'crazy' schemes!!!

Oh, and go for it, what do you have to lose?

firstborn · 30 Apr 2007 at 17:10

platypus said:
Hmm. Ok. Where to begin. Now, I know everyone has their sporting goals, whether it be times, amount lifted or the like. This one will probably take some beating in the 'ludicrous' stakes, I can just see my girlfriend laughing her head off/getting ****** off when I tell her that I'm on the verge of deciding that this is going to be my life for the next 5 years.

For those of you that don't know, I run. A lot. I like it, it seems to like me, aside from the odd niggling injury. I also like having hair-brained ideas, with often little chances of them coming to fruition. I enjoy running marathons, some for speed, others for completion (eg hard conditions). I was thinking the other day, however, that as my current goal is sub 2:45, what actually could I achieve? After 2:45, you can bet that my next goal will be sub 2:40. And its even possible that I might get sub 2:30 sometime. Hey, I'm still young, I'm extremely fit, all the signs are good.

So then I got to thinking. Could I, by 2010, run a ~2:20 marathon? And if so, would that be enough to qualify for the GB athletics team, and possibly even run the marathon in London, 2012? I've no real idea of what it would actually take - like I said I'm known locally for my crazy schemes. One thing I do know is that if I decide to do it, I sure as hell would train like mad to do it.

Just a thought fellow sports enthusiasts!

Why is this ludicrous? You've stated your capabilites - If you are under three hours at the mo. sub 2:45 shouldn't be a problem in my mind if you put in the effort. Although why have you removed the Paris and London times from your sig? You ran Paris this year?

But, there's a world of difference in scraping in sub 3 and ~2:20.

I aksed in another post if you are in the MdS for 2008/2009. If you are I don't think training for this would help your marathon goals btw.

My short term aims are somewhat more conservative - sub 3:15 for a good for age time for the marathon and sub 1:25 for the half and sub 35 for 10k - I'd consider that not bad for an old bloke

Clipsey · 30 Apr 2007 at 17:32

lol thats hardly a 'crazy idea'
Its basically just aiming for a said time target?? Like you said - sub 2:20!

I think its a brilliant idea though dude! If you think you can dedicate enough time and effort to this then go for it - its all or nothing

Good luck

wassap · 30 Apr 2007 at 18:06

You always need a goal, and sometimes you need a silly goal to really push yourself, myself i would never have dreamed i would be able to run 13 miles, but now i can do it, i may even aim for the marathon in 2 years.

Go for it, nowt to lose, can i ask how old you are?

oddjob62 · 30 Apr 2007 at 18:36

This might answer your question about qualification for the Olympics
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/3/3_1/1532.shtml

platypus · 1 May 2007 at 10:37

firstborn said:
Although why have you removed the Paris and London times from your sig?

I was really disappointed with my Paris (2:56) and London (2:57) times, so I figured, move on.

wohoo said:
Go for it, nowt to lose, can i ask how old you are?

23, and yes, having a goal is great, but..

oddjob62 said:
This might answer your question about qualification for the Olympics
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/3/3_1/1532.shtml

..a 2:18 marathon :eek:

Thats ways away from 2:45

Haven't told my girlfriend yet, but I think my mind is already made up..

kmistry · 1 May 2007 at 10:43

Mate, I think the fact that you have done so well to get as far as you have is an achievement in itself

I would say its not unrealistic at all, if you're currently running it in 2:45, there's no reason why you wouldn't be able to get to that standard with hard work and dedication! Good luck with whatever you do mate!

Kiz

firstborn · 1 May 2007 at 11:34

platypus said:
I was really disappointed with my Paris (2:56) and London (2:57) times, so I figured, move on.

Sub 3 is nowt to be dissapointed about. I keep asking .... did you run Paris this year and how'd it compare to London as I'm considering paris next year - and maybe London as well, entry and dates permitting.

Cheers

daz · 1 May 2007 at 13:21

You need to make up more than a minute every mile. :eek:

I don't want to put you off, but I think you might hit a barrier at some stage. Keep doing your best and training hard though, find that barrier and try to smash through it.

platypus · 1 May 2007 at 13:25

firstborn said:
Sub 3 is nowt to be dissapointed about. I keep asking .... did you run Paris this year and how'd it compare to London as I'm considering paris next year - and maybe London as well, entry and dates permitting.

Cheers

The organisation at Paris is absolutely atrocious, and I'm astounded how they can get away with it. On a weekend when 25oC heat was predicted 7 days prior, and when it actually turned out to be 30oC, they ran out of water at some of the stops. Quite aside from that, the water stops themselves were a shambles - hundreds or thousands of runners cramming through small market stalled areas every 5km. Oh and 1 set of portaloo's on the way round that I saw. London on the other hand was fantastic.

I certainly won't be running Paris again - the spring marathon being mooted for next year is Barcelona.

daz said:
You need to make up more than a minute every mile.

I don't want to put you off, but I think you might hit a barrier at some stage. Keep doing your best and training hard though, find that barrier and try to smash through it.

Thats what I'm worried about, getting anywhere near that time is going to be hard. My current barrier is sub 2:45 - closest I've gotten is 2:47 in Edinburgh. I've got ~4 years though!

daz · 1 May 2007 at 14:15

What's the fastest mile do you think you could possibly do?

platypus · 1 May 2007 at 15:12

daz said:
What's the fastest mile do you think you could possibly do?

Fastest mile I've ever run is 4:09. Again, fair way off the world record (~25s), but I've got some time to train, and obviously you don't sprint a marathon..

daz · 1 May 2007 at 15:26

Well it seems like you've definitely got a chance then!

(If you had said your fastest mile ever was ~5 minutes, I think I would have said lower your hopes)

firstborn · 1 May 2007 at 15:53

platypus · 1 May 2007 at 16:21

Just noticed your sig btw; I'm pretty interested in doing the MdS..though I suspect if I go ahead with marathons I wouldn't be able too. However, how did you rate it? I'm booked on the transalpine challenge this year, which is a longer distance but easier (I reckon) conditions. How much training did you have to do for it? I am considering getting on the waiting list for it, but not sure I could run in that heat.

firstborn · 1 May 2007 at 16:52

platypus said:
Of the 15 people I ran with, no one has their correct time down btw.

Just noticed your sig btw; I'm pretty interested in doing the MdS..though I suspect if I go ahead with marathons I wouldn't be able too. However, how did you rate it? I'm booked on the transalpine challenge this year, which is a longer distance but easier (I reckon) conditions. How much training did you have to do for it?

Ok, I wasn't being an arse btw - when I was younger I missed out on a big event (for me at the time) due to similar. Think Paris is on my 'not to do' list.

The MdS is very special. I want to do it again but missed out on a place in 2008 and 2009 as the places went so quickly, within 20 mins for the 2009.

Whilst preparing for the MdS my training switched from the type you've covered in your sticky to constantly plodding along for hours (10 min/mile) with a 10kg pack - so training like that would not be very condusive to a fast marathon. Built up to about 80 mile a week, but it was all about preparing to run at a steady set pace to get me through. As such training proved very dull! I've been running for 25 years so had a good base to start from and changed my routine for the 12 months leading up to the MdS.

I do hope that the MdS dosn't become virtually impossible to get into as I've now set my sights on 2010!

If I were you I'd concentrate on blitzing the marathon and look to the multistage endurance events later on. But thats me.

Good luck with it all. Be very interested in how you get on in the transalpine as it's been mentioned a few times as a reunion event for 'Tent 90!'