It is that time where we sit down and pen the goals for the coming year. I am not a big fan of making huge sweeping changes to my goals as I believe in setting one big lifetime goal such as qualifying for the Ironman World Champs at Kona. Then set myself small goals to help that journey to the big goal. So smaller goals would be to race a first triathlon, race a full distance Ironman, first in the top 50 in my age group etc etc.

In 2020 I set the following goals, which were mostly alined to running.

1. Run a sub 3 hour marathon
2. Run a sub 85 minute half marathon
3. Collect the 6 Star Medal in Boston
4. Qualify for the GB middle distance Age Group team

With all of my marathon and triathlon races cancelled I was not able to attempt the sub 3 marathon or race Boston to collect the 6 star medal.

I did, however, run a 1:24.35 half marathon at THE BIG HALF 2020 to tick off goal number 2 and my time at OUTLAW X 2019 was actually good enough to earn me a place on the GB Middle Distance Age Group team in 2020. Obviously, that race was then cancelled and my place deferred to the 2021 team but then I LOST MY GB AGE GROUP place due to moving up in age group with British Triathlon taking your age as at 31st December rather than age at race day. It was disappointing but rules are rules.

2021 Goals:

• Increase flexibility… LOTS of stretching
• Touch my knee with my nose whilst standing and holding a straight leg (more flexibility)
• Hold a 10 minute plank
• Eat a healthier diet… A lot fewer biscuits and crisps
• Ride at least 10,000km (6,214 miles) for the year
• Set a new full distance triathlon PB (currently 12:13.46)
• Secure a place in the NYC Marathon and fundraise for Dougie Mac (the hospice who looked after my father during his cancer battle)

I have gone for a slightly different twist to the goals for 2021 given all of the uncertainty around COVID-19 and whether races will happen and the pool closures making swim training mostly impossible.

That said, these goals do feed into the bigger lifetime goal of qualifying for Kona.

Increased flexibility, core strength and a healthier diet will help the overall strength on the swim, on the bike and on the run. I think cutting down on the biscuits and crisps is possibly the toughest goal I have ever set. I will need to be very disciplined early when cutting back but hopefully, once the routine of eating less crap is set in place, it will become second nature not to raid the biscuit tin when I get bored.

Again, riding 10,000km’s will help the bike strength in general. The main reason I set a distance goal for the year was that the first few months of 2021 are just going to be solely bike training. I go into 2021 with a knee injury which means no running and the pools are closed for at least the first 3 months so no swimming.

I have a guaranteed entry into the New York City Marathon which can be used for either 2021, 2022 or 2023. Ideally, I would like to secure a place in the 2021 marathon as it falls on what would have been my fathers 81st birthday. This goal is mostly out of my hands, getting that 2021 place depends on being lucky enough to get a start place which should be opened in Jan/Feb, this depends on field size, number of deferrals from 2020 and how many opt for 2021. If I get the place it is then dependant on whether international travel is allowed come November 2021 or if the race does go ahead. A lot of unknowns but the first step is applying for a 2021 place once (if) NYRR open registration early 2021.

Then that other goal of setting a full distance PB. On paper, I have 3 full distance triathlon in 2021. Challenge Roth in July, my A race for the year. Ironman Ireland in August and Ironman Wales in September. That PB was set 3 years ago, so I would like to think that I have improved my swim, bike and run in that time. No guarantees during a 140.6 mile race, a lot can happen but I think I am capable of beating my PB, even if the pools do not open before July. Again, Roth or any of these races could be cancelled.