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Yesterday I wrote about staying on track with your training by creating a personal challenge and goal setting. Well today I am announcing to the world my personal challenge for 2008. My new years resolution if you will.
Ride 5000 miles in 2008
That’s my personal challenge now my goals to reach that are:
- Ride 96 miles per week
- Complete 4 century rides
- Ride the Flint Hills Death Ride (87 mile mountain bike endurance ride)
- Ride the PRBC Katy Trail Experience (Clinton to St. Charles)
Races count towards the mileage. Mountain biking also counts towards the mileage.
These goals and the overall challenge is very doable. The end result should mean I’m riding more often and consistently, making me in better shape to attack the racing season.
If you break down the 96 miles per week into a daily goal of 14 miles per day, its not that bad at all. That’s only a relatively easy hour on the trainer or my normal training after work rides.
If you factor in the longer 40, 50, or 60 mile weekend rides we typically do in the summer I should be able to knock out 5000 miles before it gets really nasty out in the fall.
My reward for finishing the challenge will be: New Fox 32 F100 XC Fork for my Specialized Rockhopper MTB.
If I don’t complete the challenge, I don’t buy the gear.
What is your Challenge going to be? Share it in the comments.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
will 12.11.07 at 4:53 am
Sounds Great. Good Luck!
Personally, I’d get less hung up on the weekly number, as some weeks you will do more and some less - especially if vacation or bad weather.
I love the idea of a prize at the end!
When I finished my 2005 Challenge, my wife surprised me with a little engraved Trophy. (my only cycling award!)
Travis 12.11.07 at 7:55 am
Glad to see the KTE on your list. You’ll love it.
Bradly Fletchall 12.11.07 at 8:27 am
Will-
I just like the weekly goal to help me stay on track. It just gives me something to shoot for so I can see how I’m doing.
Sometimes I get Dori syndrome real bad…you know…Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, oh look a fish!. Bamm training derailed.
The reward should be fun. I don’t need that fork at all. My Rockhopper is just fine without it but I would love to have it. So hopefully that will help keep me motivated.
Travis - I really wanted to do the Katy Trail Experience this year but scheduling didn’t work out for me. I’ll have it on my radar in plenty of time to make it happen this year though. I’m looking forward to it.
Levi 12.11.07 at 8:30 am
The Flint Hills Death Ride sounds cool. I’m planning to finally get into the enduro races myself.
Bradly Fletchall 12.11.07 at 9:01 am
Levi -
The Flint Hills Death Ride is not really a race just a long hard cross country mountain bike ride.
Several of the guys I ride with did it this year and they said it was hard but doable. They all completed the long course.
If you ride the whole thing you get a medal and the option to buy a jersey. If you didn’t finish it you can’t buy the jersey.
It is on tractor paths, rough double track, and some gravel roads. Not much single track on this one.
All of the guys said it was some of the best scenery they have seen in our region
Bern 12.11.07 at 10:18 am
Setting goals and stating challenges is really great for personal development and overall staying on track (no pun intended :D). Making them public is even better, I totally agree.
This year, while awesome in many aspects for me, I left health somewhat behind. Not entirely true, as I introduced the habit of drinking lots of water into my life (invaluable), and am still struggling with having a good breakfast. But exercise-wise: zilch.
Though I’m not sure what would be good goals for exercising yet (I have to experiment with it), I’ll definitely look into biking as a major one. And when I do, very soon I hope, I’ll definitely check into this blog for tips and insights.
Have a great day mister!
Bern
Bradly Fletchall 12.11.07 at 12:40 pm
Bern -
I’m glad you like the site. I’m also glad you’re thinking about making cycling part of your fitness plan.
The more cyclists the better.
Travis 12.11.07 at 4:36 pm
This is just a rough outline but personal goals for 2008.
1. drink more beer
2. read less
3. put 3500 miles on the bike
4. give less to poor children
all very doable
Mark Hohengasser 12.11.07 at 7:23 pm
What an inspirational article! Love the web page too!
Keep up the good work!
Mark
Bradly Fletchall 12.12.07 at 8:26 am
Travis -
Admirable goals indeed
Mark-
I’m glad you like the site. Its always nice to know people like your work. Thank you.
Henry Swankette 12.12.07 at 7:30 pm
I think Travis’ goals go together well. Less for the poor = more beer for Travis.
Travis 12.18.07 at 9:11 pm
Only a Swanker could truely understand the depth of these lofty goals.
chris 01.01.08 at 12:34 pm
I have made this goal as well. I have recorded it on 43 things. Join us if you like?
http://www.43things.com/things/view/1822416/cycle-5000-miles-in-2008
digdug 02.01.08 at 11:43 pm
Riding more miles = more beer! That’s my kind of equation….. my goal is for 3500 miles this year and I’m off to a good start this month. Nice work on shooting for the shorter term goals to hit the big target of 5k!