H&F goals/races for 2024

[Susie]

I am starting to think about races and goals for 2024, and would love some inspo.  What's everyone thinking about doing?

Loosely:  I want to do a spring HM doing the same training plan I did in the fall, but hopefully with fewer "adjustments" for calves/etc., and then move up to the next level of Hal Higdon plan for a fall HM.  I want to do a sub-2:00, but am not concretely sure when that might come together.

There's a popular local downhill HM, but on Apr 13, it's really early.  I'd be fine with the Jan/Feb miles, but the idea of 7-11 mi long runs in March, which tends to be our snowiest month, leaves me less sure.  I'm also thinking about what I might like to do the rest of the year.

[sadlebred]

Honestly, I don't know. With my surgery coming up my spring focus will be solely on recovery. I hope to participate in a few gravel (bike) races early in the summer and cyclocross in the fall. Maybe do a few 50 mile rides and plenty of riding with friends.

[wawa]

I want to do some more bike packing/touring and have two weekenders on the calendar.
Planning on two tri's this year - taking it easyish and just having fun with them. First one will be in May.

My something new this year is a timed "ultra" for my birthday - it's a 6 hour race, so the leaders will be out there doing well over a marathon, but I will be thrilled with myself for 20 miles. (it's a 5 mile loop) Mostly it just sounds like fun, and I've talked my mom, husband, best friend and another running friend into doing it with me. For some of those people this will be a social occasion where they just chill at base camp and then maybe go run a lap and then chill at base some more and then maybe run another lap...continue for 6 hours. Similar to how we treated the 12 hour bike event we did a few years ago where we sat down and made sandwiches and ate them and cheered watching the leaders lap us repeatedly before we decided to head back out for another loop, which was an absolute blast.

That's what we have penciled in so far.

[laterz]

I am signed up for another half in the spring. I *really* hope my Achilles cooperates. I'd like to improve my time slightly, but I can live with being slow. I've toyed with a sprint tri in late summer, but I haven't really thought it through.

[scm1011]

2024 Goals:

1) Keep up the strength training routine I started in September
2) Spring half (sub-2:00)
3) Fall full (no time goal)

I did not get a lottery spot for Chicago (again, I've tried the last 3 years with no luck). I'll try the NYC lottery once its open but that one is even harder. Sooo I'll have to decide which one to aim for at that point. Philly perhaps, its late November so peak training wouldn't be in the terrible summer weather.

[breezy8407]

No races for me. Since I've been doing Peloton, I've set activity minute goals since it tracks your total minutes across all modalities. My 2023 goal was 18k, and I will hit that today. I will probably do the same for 2024.

I've also had a goal for a the last few years to hit 10k steps each day, so I will keep that up as well. 

[brooke77]

I have a few races lined up and will probably add another HM (or marathon?)

February: 15K. I haven’t run regularly since October, so this one will just be for fun.
July: HM. This will be my third year doing it. I would like a course PR.
October: I’m running Chicago Marathon with a charity. I ran it this year and would like to beat my time.

Overall Goals:
I would like to work on strength training and speed work. I would also like to run with my running group once a week. I’m usually a solo runner, but it’s nice to run with other people every once in awhile too. I am going to try for NYC marathon lottery. If I don’t get in, I am going to try to PR a local HM.

[Susie]

Love hearing the plans!

I just registered for the 4/13 HM - Helderberg to Hudson.  It's a downhill, fast course.  I'm loosely hoping to go under 2:05, after a 2:08 this fall, but really, any un-injured finish is fine with me.  I fully expect that some of my long runs are going to be snowy slogs.

After that, maybe a 10 miler on 5/26... a fall half seeking sub-2:00 if the spring one goes well... we'll see!

[gt7301b]

This is the year of the 5k for me. I turn 45 in July so I plan to run a bunch of races with the local running club that has 5 year age groups in the fall/winter, maybe one a month. I am going to actually do speed work this spring!

[scm1011]

Dec 26, 2023 12:51:09 GMT -5 brooke77 said:

I have a few races lined up and will probably add another HM (or marathon?)

February: 15K. I haven’t run regularly since October, so this one will just be for fun.

I'm doing a 15K on Feb 4th and I think you're local to me - is it the same one in L? 

[brooke77]

Jan 6, 2024 13:44:17 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Dec 26, 2023 12:51:09 GMT -5 brooke77 said:

I have a few races lined up and will probably add another HM (or marathon?)

February: 15K. I haven’t run regularly since October, so this one will just be for fun.

I'm doing a 15K on Feb 4th and I think you're local to me - is it the same one in L? 

I’m doing the Atlanta Hot Chocolate 15K. Same day 😀

[scm1011]

Jan 6, 2024 15:57:23 GMT -5 brooke77 said:

Jan 6, 2024 13:44:17 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

I'm doing a 15K on Feb 4th and I think you're local to me - is it the same one in L? 

I’m doing the Atlanta Hot Chocolate 15K. Same day 😀

Oh yeah, I forgot you moved! 15Ks are relatively rare so funny we have one on the same day!  

[wanderingback]

I’m about 14 months post partum so I think I’m ready to get back in to racing. I was very active during pregnancy but didn’t run, so def starting from scratch. I’m giving myself grace. Thankfully my building has a nice gym so I have been working out and I do run for 15-20 minutes on the treadmill.

Anyway, I think my goal will be to do a half marathon this year.

[wawa]

Adding to this with an additional item - I think I'm...signing up for an end of year marathon.
my sister wanted to do something with me, she likes lots of miles and we make bad choices....so.....December Marathon?
we can most likely bump down to the half if things go sideways over the course of the season, but I'm kinda into it!

[jane6672]

Definitely doing the June half I usually do, that’s a small local one I do for fun so no specific goals.
I want to run ~15 miles a week because that’s a good base if I do decide to train for some other half, but not so much that it cuts into my other activities.

My goal for the next 3 months is strength. The last 1.5 years I’ve been dealing with various injuries or recoveries from a procedure, etc. I’m cleared to lift heavy things again, so I want to build strength to complement my running and for injury prevention all around.
I just started 5x5 strong lifts, doing it 2x a week (instead of 3x) so I still have enough time and recovery for my other active hobbies.

@@
We’re TTC this year, so plans for later in the year are dependent on how that goes (or doesn’t).