Help with Athletic Goals

When I first started exercising - almost 2 years ago now - I signed up for a 5k race. Knowing tons of people walk it made it not intimidating. Trying to get to get as ready as possible really motivated me to push myself. Ultimately, doing the "race" was so much fun I did more of them. In the last six months I totally gave up all exercise due to other stresses in my life and I am just now starting all over. The 5k was really fun, and I will probably try to find another when I am feeling ready.

You can bike, rollerblade, jump rope, set up a course - think wood planks (or sticks, whatever you have) sprinting to them, hopping to them, etc.

See if you can increase your jogging time and decrease your walking time...or try something new! You can cross train with biking or swimming. Or you can try yoga, pilates, kick-boxing, Adding in new exercises will increase your metabolism, too! :-)

Well if you're lifting weights there always bench press xx lbs or squat so much.

Cardio goals could be hiking a mountain in your area, or pick the tallest building downtown and running the stairs to the top.

Or a combination of carrying a 25 lbs pack and running to the top of the tallest building :-)

When I started exercising outdoors last year, I started out with plain old walking. At first I could only do a mile or two at a slow pace comfortably. But I slowly challenged myself by walking a bit faster and a bit farther and by the end of the summer, I could do 5 or 6 miles pretty easily even started adding in little spurts of jogging. When I started running indoors on the treadmill this past winter, I found my pace for jogging was only about 4.3 mph but I slowly built myself up to 5pm and can do about 12 minutes straight at that pace now. Just start trying new things and challenge yourself a little bit every week or two.

I think goals should be very personal and mean something of significance to you.

That said, I've been athletic most of my life. And, like you, I'm all about goals. So when it came time for me to set a goal this year, instead of focusing on my usual strengths, I choose to focus on my greatest weakness bent and determined to make it strong.

What is my greatest weakness?

COORDINATION!

I can quite easily bust a move on the dance floor, but when it comes to step class - I SUCK!!

My feet and arms don't respond very well to the dictates of my brain.

Thus, this year's goal was simple. Master BASIC step. After that, master Intermediate, and then advance. This way my goal is not only challenging, but progressive, something to keep me going for a very long time.

And to make sure I kept to my athletic standards, I picked one of the greatest step masters of all time - almost everything she does is super advanced! A little bit intimidating I know, but I need that. Otherwise, I give up too soon and don't grow.

How am I doing since I first set my goal three months ago? Not too bad!! I've almost mastered basic step and feel a whole lot of confidence as a result - yeah for me!!!

My advice, if any, is think of something that means a lot to you and then find something that supports it in an athletic and challenging way. Don't make it too difficult but don't make it something that you'll master in no time at all either. You want something that will continue to challenge and grow with you as you grow.

Good luck, all the best, and let us know what you finally decide upon! I'm eager to know!!