Setting the Right Goals
that’s runnable
The 12th Edition of your favourite running newsletter
One of the great things about running is that you can engage with the sport in many different ways. There’s a lot out there to get involved with, local 5K Parkruns, city Marathons, Ultras in the mountains, or just a weekly run club, it’s completely up to you how you engage with the sport.
Something to Think About
Running is a sport that has many different types of events. You may be bored of the typical half marathon, marathon or local 10K. Think about whether there’s a different type of event out there that excites you. If your interest in the sport is becoming a bit stale, look for something new and different. You never know, it might become your new favourite thing.
Something to Ask Yourself
That goal you’re chasing, is it your own? Many people fall into the trap of engaging with events that don’t interest them. To be a runner, you don’t have to run a road marathon, for example. Why are you chasing the goal you’ve set? Is it because you want it, or do you feel some sort of external pressure?
Article of the Week 📄
This article "14 Meaningful Running Goal Ideas for Any Runner" provides a variety of running goals to inspire runners of all levels, from beginners to advanced. These goals include running a mile without stopping, completing various race distances, achieving a personal record, and incorporating cross-training or technology-free runs. You can expect to learn specific, actionable ideas to help you stay motivated, challenge yourself, and improve your running skills.
Track of the Week
I saw Olive Jones at Lost Village last weekend, and she was exactly the set we needed. This Dorset born, London dwelling soul/jazz/alt-folk artist has been on repeat in my headphones since. This week’s Track of the Week is:
Summer Rain by Olive Jones (2024)
Personal Lesson
Back in 2021, I ran a Marathon PB. Whilst I was proud (on a windy day) to get the PB I’d trained hard for, I couldn’t help but think how much I disliked the process. Whilst the goal was my own, a lot of the pressure I’d applied throughout was due to the fact I was chasing the goal partly to prove something.
Running road marathons is not the reason I got into running, but getting a “respectable” time in the distance was something that soon became “my” goal. This made the process less enjoyable for me. After getting that PB, I made a promise to myself that, going forward, I would only set goals that excited me.
Since, I’ve enjoyed the pursuit of my running goals much more. They’ve become an expression of who I am, and who I want to be. Much better.
Running - Life’s Metaphor
We often find ourselves doing things for the wrong reasons. Whether it’s for external validation or just that you think it’s what you should be doing, if you’re chasing goals that aren’t truly your own, it becomes difficult to show up in the right way.
Make sure the goals you’re chasing in life are your own. That way, you’ll enjoy the process much more and probably be more successful in reaching them.
Final Thoughts
Us runners are truly spoilt when it comes to the type of events we have on offer to us. There are orienteering events, ultramarathons, stage races, last one standing events, local 5Ks, 10Ks, Marathons and more…
You might currently be training for an event (like a half marathon) that you’re not actually that excited about. Maybe you’ve only ever done road races and you’re starting to find your training cycles repetitive and uninteresting. Or maybe you’ve never done a running event and you’re looking for something to try.
The good news is, there are far more ways to engage with “racing” than you might think, and you can find something that aligns with the reasons you run.
For example, when I look for a race, I’m looking for a challenge (because I like that aspect), I’m looking for great scenery (because I want to be out in big nature), and I’m just looking for something that captures my interest. That way, I know I can feel excited by the training because it gets me closer to reaching a goal I actually want to reach.
