Fitness Goals for 2012

As my pregnancy starts to enter the final stretch (about 6 weeks to go!) and 2011 begins to wind down, I'm thinking about my goals for next year.

Last month I revisited my goals (well, really only one) for 2011. I didn't reach my goal this year, but I will set my eyes on it for next year.

So my first goal in 2012 is to run a 5K under 30 minutes. My official time for my very first 5K was 38:51, about a 12:34 pace.  In order to reach my goal for 2012, I'd need to run faster than a 9:40 pace.  I need to shave about 3 minutes off my pace.

Is this doable? I think so. With proper training I should be able to hit this goal, right?

How I plan to accomplish this: Well, if baby arrives by its due date, and labor & delivery goes smoothly, I should be able to start a light exercise routine 6 weeks after birth, so early February.

I plan to take it very slowly so that I don't cause any injuries to myself.

I can't really predict how my body will feel at that time, but I think I'll start off with 30-45 minute walks.  Of course I'll listen to my body and stop if it's too painful, but I think that's a good foundation.

Once I'm able to work up to 45 minutes, I'll use the training plan I used earlier this year.

I'll walk for 4 minutes, run for 1, and repeat for 45 minutes.  I can slowly build to walking for 3/running for 2, walking for 2/running for 3, and so on.

Using this training plan I was able to go from not even running for a minute to running almost 2 miles, no stopping by the end of April (so about 3 months). That was HUGE for me! HUGE!

I'm also going to make some time for strength training and cross training.

I know runners that run more than triple my goal distance are usually involved with cross and strength training as a way to avoid injury and help the body become more efficient at running. Well, if it works for them at those longer distances, it should help me as a beginner runner with my short distance (short being relative to 10+ miles- 3.1 miles is still pretty tough for me!).

Basically I'm taking the same goal and strategy for 2011 and pushing forward in 2012.

Another Goal for 2012?  Sign up for a longer race! After my first 5K, I realized that I'm closer to my goal than I thought.  So if I reach my goal in the summer, then what? Do I just give up? NO WAY!

I call this my back up goal, for when I knock my first goal out of the park.

I'm going to run a longer race (so anything longer than a 5K) before the year ends.  No time goal- just finish.

I've been reading a lot of race recaps lately and I'm still unsure if I want to run my longer race here in Hawaii or travel.

I love to travel so if I can fit in a race with a vacation, I'd be a happy camper!

Have you started thinking of your goals for 2012?- I've been thinking about them, but only have 2 set in stone.  Both are fitness goals and I think I want to also have a blogging goal and a new mommy goal.  I still have time to come up with something!

How are you goals for 2011?- Well, as I wrote in a previous post, I did not reach my 2011 goal.  However, I revisited my goals in October and have been on track for a healthy pregnancy.  I've had a few spikes in my glucose levels but my doctors aren't too concerned.  So far, so good.