Setting Realistic Expectations (Page 2)

Everyone's reality is different. I set a goal for the Danskin to finish in 1:30:xx and I finished in 1:31:09. I missed my goal by 10 seconds. Yeah, I am a little bummed because I think I could have done better in transitions. But missing my goal is motivating me to keep going until I make my goal.

I chopped almost 6 minutes off my time from the previous year. Aim high, I say, and if you miss the goal, then make your excuses, and get on with it!

The goals are only there for ourselves. No one else cares about our milestones as much as ourselves.

My sister probably thought I was nuts when I told her that I - a 43 year old, new to running and 30 lbs overweight woman - was going to run a marathon next year. I've only run one 5k race in my life and that was when I was 22 years old. I showed her the Marathon Training Plan that Max made for me and suddenly it didn't seem so unrealistic to her (she did say "Does this guy know you're 43?" but with a hint of humor).  She has told me several times during her trip this week that I have inspired her (the better athlete) to take up running again.

Dream it, plan it, do it. And avoid anyone who shits on your parade.

Or keep the Taco Bell and get a plan that includes at least 3 runs/week!

If you keep the Taco Bell, I think you'd HAVE more than 3 runs/week...

Yeah, tell him REAL athletes have forsaken Taco Bell for Chipotle's* !

* If you can believe what you read on BT.com

Edited by the bear 2005-08-03 9:25 AM

Taqueria Quetzcoatl is 15 years ahead of Chipotle's. But Chipotle's will do in a pinch.

I am telling you people they put crack in those burritoes.

Which is certainly better than putting burritos in...

OK still thinking about this. I don't think I really peed in his Wheaties and probably made an overstatement in my colorful description. I will admit I met his statement with some scepticism and that is the way it is. If I ruined his dream for life then it wasn't a very important dream.

What I want to know, now, is what is wrong with getting pee in your Wheaties every now and then? It's been done to everyone here at one time or another and we are still here. Still motivated and still focused. If someone I don't know tells me that I am an idiot for __________ then so what? Is that going to stop me? Should it? OK there is a point of realism too. I mean if I wanted to run away and join Cirque de Solial someone should stop me. I have no balance at all and I am overweight and not likely to get thin enough in this lifetime and am short. Someone looking at me like I am a loon every now and then for this does not really bother me that much.

I have had people ask me "So when, next year, is your first triathlon?" They have a hard time wrapping their brain around my having done one. My Dad asks me what the prizes are for winning at various races and is dissapointed that I am not "trying to win". He cannot concieve that I would do anything I had no hopes of wining at. My Dad does not get it, is not going to get it and I cannot educate him so I smile and indulge him. I hope he is alive when I complete my IM because I do not want to miss the look on his face.

Skeptical comments do not diminish me. They may, however, make me think about what is really important to me and I will either dig in despite him or re-think the goal and decide if it is truly important to my well being and personality.

Also a friend asking me if I can really do something is not someone telling me "You can't do that, are you stupid?" It's a friend asking me if I am willing to make the sacrafices to meet a goal knowing I may or may not attain that goal. Support does not have to be instantanious. It can be won over time little by little as goals are set and met. Asking someone if they are crazy is not as diminishing to someone who is motivated as it might appear on the surface. While we would all like unmitigated support from everyone around us for all of our dreams I can think of very few people in life who truly have that.

My children have dreams and goals and plans. Some will come true, if they work hard. Some are unrealistic. Telling my kids that "You can do anything you set your mind to" is, ultimatly, untrue. What I can and do tell them is "If you are willing to make the sacrafices you can be your best self". My oldest child wants to be as tall as Michael Jorden. A good goal to have, however my oldest is also incredibly short with short birth parents. I mean VERY short birthparents. He is not going to be tall. I tell him that he may not be as tall as MJ but he can eat the things to give his body every opportunity to get there.

Telling someone you love to carefully evaluate their goals should not be the ruin of them and therefore banish you to being left behind as someone who is unsupportive. It should merely be seen as an invitation to share in a dream and ultimatly help the people you love achieve it.

"Make me a believer, give me your dreams and show me how they can come true and I will do everything I can to make it happen for you".

Edited by nliedel 2005-08-03 9:49 AM

Bottom line: BT is probably not the place to look for realistic expectations. Have you noticed that everyone here is sorta mental?

Yeah I put it out there that I am fat, 41 and run a twelve minute mile and want to do an IM in two years and only two people said "Ummm are you crazy lady"..

The rest of us didn't have to ask...

(Yeah I put it out there that I am fat, 41 and run a twelve minute mile and want to do an IM in two years and only two people said "Ummm are you crazy lady"..

You are cordially welcome to:

BITE ME! HA!

)nleidal

Realistically, I'm also two years out, and at my age well, let's just say I think Max is a superman for his recent IM. But two years is my goal. So Nancy we'll do it together.
Nothing mental about that. Now as for those black helocopters that keep following me....

Any time I have a Team in Training workout session, my husband asks me, "So how did your TIT workout go?"  Or he'll ask me "are the TITs working out this week?" 

My husband is a grade A tit twit!

SEE TIT! SAY IT! EMBRAAAACE IT! It's a word people. Sure it's one of the seven dirty words you can't say on television but come on! Ya know what else I think, as long as I am being all non pc and offering to pee in cereal... BREAST FEEDING SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAPPEN ANYWHERE ANYTIME! Whip it out and feed the kid. Don't go to the bathroom for crying out loud. I don't want to eat in a jon why should my kid?

OK there ya go. I said it! Whew, feel better now.

BTW I called Mark and apologised for peeing in his Wheaties. It's all good. I told him to make a plan and stop making excuses too. He needs an a$$ kicking if he wants to get there.

OK, OK, stop with the pressure already, I'll admit it:

I'M THE BIGGEST TIT SUPPORTER IN THIS AREA!

There, i said it and feel so much better for it.

[OK there ya go. I said it! Whew, feel better now.

Uh, I was still talking about Team In Training. But I hope that "whip one of those babies out and feed me" thing works out for you.

Edited by the bear 2005-08-03 10:14 AM

Uh, I was still talking about Team In Training.

Ahhhhhhhhhh.... can't... hold... it... in...

BOOBIES!!!