2010 List of Feats

Last year I attempted to get in the best shape of my life. For the most part, it worked. But was it the best shape possible? I say nay! This year’s version of me is going to totally kick the ass of last year’s version. 2009 Nick better hope I don’t discover time-travel technology, or he is toast!

So here are the 2010 Amazing Feats:

1. Finish the Pacific Crest Olympic Triathlon in the top 10 of my division: Will this be impossible? Maybe. Will it be fun to try? Hells yes. My time last year was 3:02 (26th place). The top 10 time was about 2:49. If I can just do everything a bit faster—a couple of minutes here on the swim, a couple of minutes there on the bike, a minute off each transition and a few off the run—then this should maybe be doable. The field last year was 42 people in my division, so to be able to say I was faster than 32 other dudes would be pretty sweet.

2. Finish the Deschutes Dash in the top 5 of my division: I honestly don’t think this is possible. So why put it as a Feat? Because if I were to put one crazy-ass thing on here that somehow came true, this is the one I would want. Last year’s time was about 2:42, good for 14th. To get in the top 5 last year I would have needed to get 2:22. This would take significant improvement, especially on that brutal bike leg. I would need a 20 minute improvement over a shorter time than the PCOT, versus a 12 minute improvement over a longer tiem to reach Feat #1. So it’s a bit of setting my self up to fail, yes. But you know what, if I fail this and only get top 8 or something, that will still be a pretty damn good day.

3. Run a mile in six minutes: This would be 36 seconds faster than the fastest I have ever ran in my life. Do I have those 36 seconds in me? Not yet. But I think I might be able to find them  somewhere.

4.Run 10K under 45 minutes: I will need to be able to do this (and probably more) to get my tri goals. I would need to take 4 minutes off my previous best (and 2009 Feat-accomplishing!) time, which I think is tough but within the outer realm of possibility.

5. Complete a half marathon: Because I should have done it last year. How lame that I didn’t do it. Time to get it done. I might schedule this for Q1 before the triathlons start.

6. Complete a marathon: Because I am an idiot. This would be about 14 miles longer than I have ever ran in my life. But I always toy with the idea of doing an Ironman one day when the kids aren’t so kid-like, so if that’s ever going to happen I should start working on the pieces now. I will probably schedule this one for the autumn, after I am doing with the tris.

7. Do the P90X Fitness Program twice: Once in Q1, then again in Q4. I’ve already started the first time and am having a blast with it. Hopefully this strength training transfers over to my triathlon performance. I threw the Q4 one in there to make sure I was doing something those last three months instead of slacking off.

8. Improve 75% of my Q1 P90X Fit Test results by 50%: I was shocked at how lame some of my fit test results were. I’m hoping the P90x lives up to the hype and gets me in the best shape of my life. If so, then this should be doable (but barely- no way my flexibility or pull ups improve by that much). This is just for the exercises, not the body measurements.

9. Complete the P90X Yoga without stopping: I am very inflexible and have very poor balance. This video is yoga on crack. You can see the challenge. I’ve done the video twice now and both times have had to take frequent breaks. I really dig the video and will probably keep doing it even after the Q1 P90X and into tri training, as it takes a ton of strength to do these moves and will hopefully improve my flexibility and core. Plus dudes who do yoga are hella hardcore. Right? Right? I don’t have to do it good, or pretty. I just have to be able to keep doing it for the whole video.

10. Complete the P90X Ab Ripper X video without stopping: The 16 minute video has about 350 reps, all one right after another, 25 reps of each exercise. Again, I have to take frequent breaks during the video, sometimes only getting in 10 or 15 reps of a certain move. If I can get this one done then my abs will be basically made out of wood.

11. Do 100 push ups: Right now I can do about 20. That sucks. Every man should be able to say he was able to do 100 push ups in a row once. The P90X is push up heavy, so that should give me a good foundation to go after this one once Q1 P90X ends and I am doing all triathlon training.