Set some goals!

I don't like resolutions. There's this culture of "start on January 1st, give up in three weeks, and hate yourself all year because you're not doing what you said you were going to do" that I can't get behind. I can't support the idea of expecting myself to fail. Nor can I support hating myself for doing what I expected myself to do. It's all a set up, and I just don't do it.

With that said, I do generally have an idea what I want to accomplish in the coming year. Of course, "the coming year" is from whenever I say it is, not from January 1. Right now I have a series of 10 goals for Crossfit. I've achieved 4 of them, and I'm definitely making headway toward the others.

One of my first goals was to run the 400 meter. That's it. No walking! Running has always been a trial for me, always something my body just didn't want to do. Even Mick, my box owner, admits, "you're just built for strength. You're not built for speed." Which is why I can deadlift 185# after only 4 months at the box, and I still struggle with that damned 400. Most of the time (not consistently yet) I can run the 400 one time. Most of the time.

So the 400 meter has become a series of goals:

*Run the 400 without walking 10/21/14!
*Run the 400 in less than 4:30
*Run the 400 in less than 4 minutes
*Run the 400 as part of a WOD
*Run the 400 in less than 3:30
*Run the 400 in less than 3 minutes
*Run the 400 in less than 2:30

My deadlift is at 185# as a 1RM, and I set a goal for 6 months:

*Deadlift 200# by 2/23/15

There are also goals that pertain to overhead/push press (103# by 2/13/15) and pullups (1 strict pullup by 8/23/15).

One goal that I have put on my list is a Level 1 Crossfit cert after 8/23/15. I want to give myself a year in the box, then I want to pursue a cert. My dream is to specialize, kind of design my own focus, if you will, on working with the obese and the injured. But, just like running, I've got to start with the basics. Level 1 cert is first.

I love having goals. I love having little goals, so I can achieve things regularly. If they get me to my ultimate goal, who cares how little they are or how often I congratulate myself on making progress? The more the merrier, I say.