Dreams & Goals

Running Goals

These are time goals, listed in order of priority:

• 5k XC - 16:29 (also for the 3mi. course at Franklin park... kind of an old nemesis of mine)
• 3,000m Steeplechase - 9:18
• 1 mile - 4:29
• 800m - 1:59
• Marathon (Boston) - 2:59:59
• High Jump - 1.85m (6'1") (OK, so it's not "running," but I've always loved the event so it makes this list)
• Icosathlon - 10,000pts (20 T&F events over 2 days)
• 5,000m - 15:29
• 10,000m - 34:59
• Half-Marathon - 1:24:59

Non-time Racing/Training Goals
Again in the order of priority, some of these exist more in the realm of "dreams" than actual "goals."

• Train to a level where I can comfortably race for distances up to 12km over varied terrain, as this is the race distance for championship-level cross country.
• Run a race (road, track, cross country) in each of the 50 states and each of the 7 continents.  As of 2011, I've managed 5 states - Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, and Kansas.  I would like to make sure I've participated in the biggest, well-known events around the world (such as the Boston Marathon or the World's Best 10k in San Juan, PR), and also find the out-of-the-way local events that, while not necessarily famous, still offer a great running experience!
• Complete a Tough Mudder event.
• Complete a ride-and-tie event (see http://www.rideandtie.org/ for details on this unique sport!)
• Complete a 100 mile ultra marathon... once.  Probably the Western States 100, or maybe the Vermont 100, which features endurance horse riders on the course at the same time!
• Complete the Ironman Triathlon in Kona, Hawai'i.

Design Goals
I'm always tinkering with new ideas.

• Build a custom running track of my own design: a 400m/500m track that allows variety in the old adage of "run fast, turn left" and has multiple options for the steeplechase events.  I would like to build a smaller (4-lane) version of this same track on my own property, just for personal use (inspired my the 4-lane track on the Nike campus in Beaverton, Oregon).
• Design and build a cross country course, after the example of the LaVern Gibson Championship course in Terre Haute, Indiana (and others around the country).  I think one of the greatest shames in the running culture is the demise of cross country running after graduating from school, and this course would be used not only for high school and college but open to public events on a regular basis.  The course itself will depend on the plot of land, and in the meantime I tend to craft courses on any spot of ground that tickles my fancy.

Travel Goals
You name it, Sarah and I probably would like to go (and run!) there, and in style!  Our list is long, but here are a few top highlights.

• Mediterranean cruise
• Italy - Venice, Florence, Rome, Venice... and did I mention Venice?
• The Greek Isles
• Castle-hunting in German
• Spain, including a trip down El Camino de Santiago
• A tour of American Civil War Battlefields
• Alaska - self-guided land tour followed by a cruise down the Inside Passage
• Tahiti and the South Pacific (probably soon after the aforementioned Alaska trip)
• Visit all 58 National Parks
• Cruise to... where ever!  We love cruising!