Well... I have little to add to everything the other TE gals have said...

Just want to stress that it is very important with goals to make them SMART...

Specific
Measurable
Acheivable
Realistic
Time-bound

With emphasis for you on Realistic and Achievable
When we make goals too big, they become things that just disilliusion us.

Example... I started training for a 10km fun ride with my youngest children in September 2004
One of my goals in 2005 was to ride 50km
One of my goals this year is to ride 100km - so far this year my longest ride has been 83km.

The point of my post is to remind you that steady riding at steady speeds is extremely important as part of your training programme.
So is patience.

While I have no interest (at the moment - never say never, huh?) in entering a 100km or 100mile event, and prefer to focus on short rides which mean most of my training rides are 20-50km long, I do wish to know I can do longer rides... I do wish to be able to go on some of the training rides my partner and eldest son do (their Sunday rides are often 120-160km long)... so I have set my goals.

But I have set my goals acknowledging my age (41), my limited training base (nearly two years), limitations on my training (I work a 40 hour week and have five children which both take a considerable amount of energy and time).

Next year my goal will be an imperial century (100 miles/160km)...

Have fun, relax and enjoy the little milestones - added up they become huge!!!