I've been a runner for over thirty years and a coach for nearly twenty-five. I'm always ready to learn new things, but I have a pretty good idea what I need to do to establish goals and set up a training program. What was going on here?
The easy answer is that I lost focus. That sports cliche is actually based in truth. It is rare that the winner of a marathon will confess at the awards ceremony, "I had no idea what I was doing out there. I was daydreaming the whole way." Successful athletes have a plan and ways to adapt the plan, and don't stray too far from it. Focus matters.
Beyond focus is a larger issue. You can't have focus without a goal. What was your goal for today and how does it match up with your bigger goals? If you know the answer, congratulations. You are well on the way to success. If you are like the rest of us, it's time to do some work.
I realized that for me, the lack of goal setting was not because I didn't know what to do. I've had plenty of experience setting and reaching goals. The reason was avoidance. If you don't set a goal, you can't fail, right? The problem is that you can't succeed either.
When I look at my situation, I also realized I was making the mountain too high by creating an endless list of things that needed to be in place before I could set goals. It's an icy winter, so it's too soon for speed work... My long runs aren't where I want them yet... I'm busy with work...Blah, blah, blah. I wouldn't allow those excuses in someone I was coaching, so why was I making them?
I don't believe that every action we take has to revolve around a larger goal. It's fine to be spontaneous. But the benefit of goals is that they help round things into shape, and help you make decisions on how to spend your time and effort. While reaching your goals can be challenging, having goals tends to make day to day decisions easier.
Part of the process for me is to remove clutter. That includes both physical and mental clutter. What are the things clogging your path? Start pruning, purging and organizing, and that path becomes much easier to follow.
There is also power in sharing your goals. You may want to keep a few to yourself, but sharing can also help draw in the outside resources you might need. Want to run a marathon in 2009? Find a training program and/or training group. Looking for a new job? Let people know you are looking. Want a new relationship? Put yourself out there.
I still have some clutter to remove, but I'm not waiting to set my goals. I'm turning them loose by sharing a few with you:
- I turn 50 in June, so I'm training for a marathon this year. I probably won't have a time goal, but want to use ChiRunning and enjoy the experience.
- I want to act on all your suggestions on how to make TSL events better than ever. That means I'm actively looking for more sponsorships.
- I'm looking to use my knowledge and skills to help others meet their goals. That means I'm looking for work, either projects or jobs, where I can add value (project management, writing, coaching, cone moving).
What are your goals? Share them on our Facebook page in the discussions section. By turning them loose you'll me amazed by the power that flows back to you.
Resource guide:
There is no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to goal setting and motivation. Here are some great resources:
Books:
Galloway Training Programs by Jeff Galloway
ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-free Running by Danny Dreyer
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude by Jeffrey Gitomer
The Passion Test by Janet Bray Attwood and Chris Attwood
Local Workshops and gatherings:
Live Dynamite with Cathy Paper and Maryanne O'Brien (they are both runners)
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