What's a realistic goal?

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2009-09-02 10:45 PM

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Subject: What's a realistic goal?
I'm new to the forum, and I'm really in a rut and need to set a new goal.  

I used to be a runner, but after two knee surgeries I still haven't been able to run.  I think it may be possible if I can give it some time, but for the past year and a half I've been stuck biking and swimming.  It's actually been a fairly liberating experience--I never thought I could swim more than a lap and I've gotten much better.

I recently realized that I missed the challenge and focus that running races always gave me.  I had been having a really hard time motivating myself to work out, so I signed up for a super sprint tri.  It was awesome.  I had a great time.  I still couldn't run, but I really pushed myself on the bike, walked as fast as I thought my knee would let me and didn't end up with too bad of a time.  I think that even if I have to stick to walking for a while, training for a tri might give me the motivation I need.

Here's my question (finally).  I'm in the midwest, so soon it will be cold and it will be a long time before events are available, so I figure I should set my sights on something in late spring or summer.  I want to set an ambitious goal that will motivate me to at least keep in shape and really push myself through the winter, but I don't want to aim for something too ambitious and not be able to go through with it.

I'm 27, in decent shape.  In the pool I can comfortably swim 3/4 mile and push myself to a full mile if I try hard.  The open-water swim freaked me out a little, but I think I could work toward mastering that with more practice.  The furthest I've biked is only about 27-30 miles, and while I've done half marathons in the past, my running is at a stand still for now.

Any advice?  What can I handle given the fact that I'm looking at at least 9 months or so of time to train. 

Edited by TritoTeach 2009-09-02 11:00 PM

2009-09-02 10:58 PM
in reply to: #2386387

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Subject: RE: What's a realistic goal

Wow, 27 and out of commision on the run, that sucks. 

Anyway, I really think an Oly would be a decent challenge for you, its only a 10k so its not to long and the bike is 24m with a 1.5k swim, very doable with 9 months to go.

2009-09-03 7:04 AM
in reply to: #2386387

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Subject: RE: What's a realistic goal?
If I were in your shoes, I'd set a pure swimming goal, because it sounds like setting a goal that involved a lot of running could be setting yourself up for disappointment.  Find a long OWS (like 5K) and plan to do it.  Yes, you can become able to swim that far in 9 months, given that you can go a mile now, but yes, it will also be a goal that is sufficiently scary that you'll train for it!
2009-09-03 8:04 AM
in reply to: #2386387

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Subject: RE: What's a realistic goal?
I would look around for Tri's that have an Aqua-Bike division.  It's becoming more popular as there are many people who typically because of bad knees, can't do the run.  You may have to travel a little farther to find races but it would be a good event for you and give you something to train for.
2009-09-03 9:29 AM
in reply to: #2386387

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Subject: RE: What's a realistic goal?

For most of us, our satisfaction with hitting a goal is somewhat related to the likelihood of success.  We can set a lot of easy-to-achieve goals, but rarely find them very satisfying.  We can be hugely satisfied if we achieve that "near impossible" goal, but the odds are long.  The challenge is to set a range of goals, some easy, some more difficult, and some very difficult. 

If you've identified a race next year, you can set some performance goals to drive your training (e.g. average 20 mph on the bike).  You can also set some training goals (learning bi-lateral breathing, or swimming 3X a week).  You can set a goal to run in <30F, <20F, and <0F weather (assuming you're likely to get that cold). 

Sometimes it's fun to take incremental steps (I can swim 1200 yards, how about 1300?)  Sometimes, it's good to free your mind from that artificial constraint (how far past 1200 could you swim? Could you imagine going from 1200 yards to 4000 yards?   Obviously, you don't want to risk injury in the process. 

Spend some time contemplating what you want to achieve and how you'll feel if you do or don't achieve it. 

2009-09-03 9:37 AM
in reply to: #2386387

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Subject: RE: What's a realistic goal?
Hey, just wondering about your running. Are you not allowed to run (surgeon said no), or does it just hurt. I am just asking because I have had several knee surgeries now(I know there are many different surgeries, not trying to compare you to me) and running used to hurt bad. I just started really slow and really short and was eventually able to start running longer distance. The big kicker though, was that the more I started riding my bike, the less my knees hurt running.

 I had to quit a sport I loved and was really good at because my knees and body couldn't hack it any more, but have found that training for triathlon has really filled the hole. I hope you are able to find the same fulfillment. Good luck and have fun.

2009-09-03 10:15 AM
in reply to: #2386387

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Subject: RE: What's a realistic goal?
Are you able to do water running?  I've read that that can be an excellent way to maintain running fitness while body parts heal.  I'm coming back from patellar tendinitis (much less serious than 2 knee surgeries, no doubt) and found using the Couch To 5K Program to ease my knees back into running to be just what I needed.
2009-09-03 10:18 AM
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Subject: RE: What's a realistic goal?
TritoTeach - 2009-09-02 8:45 PM I'm new to the forum, and I'm really in a rut and need to set a new goal.  

I used to be a runner, but after two knee surgeries I still haven't been able to run.  I think it may be possible if I can give it some time, but for the past year and a half I've been stuck biking and swimming.  It's actually been a fairly liberating experience--I never thought I could swim more than a lap and I've gotten much better.

I recently realized that I missed the challenge and focus that running races always gave me.  I had been having a really hard time motivating myself to work out, so I signed up for a super sprint tri.  It was awesome.  I had a great time.  I still couldn't run, but I really pushed myself on the bike, walked as fast as I thought my knee would let me and didn't end up with too bad of a time.  I think that even if I have to stick to walking for a while, training for a tri might give me the motivation I need.

Here's my question (finally).  I'm in the midwest, so soon it will be cold and it will be a long time before events are available, so I figure I should set my sights on something in late spring or summer.  I want to set an ambitious goal that will motivate me to at least keep in shape and really push myself through the winter, but I don't want to aim for something too ambitious and not be able to go through with it.

I'm 27, in decent shape.  In the pool I can comfortably swim 3/4 mile and push myself to a full mile if I try hard.  The open-water swim freaked me out a little, but I think I could work toward mastering that with more practice.  The furthest I've biked is only about 27-30 miles, and while I've done half marathons in the past, my running is at a stand still for now.

Any advice?  What can I handle given the fact that I'm looking at at least 9 months or so of time to train. 


With 9 months, the world is open. I would try to get back to running, mostly by doing the walk 100yd run 100yd kind of thing, or walk 1 mile, run 200yds, etc.

If not, then there are a lot of aquathlons available, or if you really did an intense bike focus thing, you could be the bike (or swim, depending on what you like better) leg for a relay team. Open water swims, local time trials, any number of things are available.

John
2009-09-03 6:55 PM
in reply to: #2386957

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Subject: RE: What's a realistic goal?
I'm technically allowed to run if my knee can take it, but even with brisk walking I'm still at a point where my knee will swell and then my kneecap won't track properly, and then the irritation from that causes more swelling/pain and it becomes a vicious cycle that puts me out of commission. I don't mind knee pain, but I just can't control the swelling. I went through the whole PT thing and I've worked on building my quad and hip strength, but it's just one of those things I have to accept for now. I haven't given up hope that I'll be able to run again, but for now, I think that biking is helping the situation and I really don't mind having to walk. I appreciate the advice. Not running and doing road races left such a void for me, the thought of training for something challenging again is exciting.
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