Happy New Year!
It's New Years Resolution time. Before you do that though, reflect on the past year. How many of your goals did you achieve? Most likely not as many as you would have hoped. First of all take some time to dwell upon your successes. If you didn't have too many successes perhaps you need to divide your goals into smaller increments. For instance, if you want to run an 11:00 minute 3200 start with a goal of 12:30. Then set up a goal of 12:15, then 12:00 etc. Workout goals should be set the same way.
A few years ago, I had an athlete who ran a 4:57 mile as a Sophomore and set a goal to run a 4:20 mile as a Junior. He was very upset the first meet when he only ran a 4:40 mile. He stomped off swearing when he heard his time. Wait a minute though, hadn't he just performed a personal record by 18 seconds? Had he started with some intermediate goals he would have had a splendid day. Eventually, his Senior year he ran a 4:25, so I guess he was a loser? The reality is this:
We shoot for the stars, and if we don't make it, we might just hit the Moon, which isn't too bad. And if we hit the stars, then we set even higher goals. The nature of our sport is a lot of failure mixed with success. Show me someone who never fails and I'll show you someone who is not trying hard enough and is not dreaming big enough.
So, as this new year begins, set some goals and make them big, but also set some intermediate goals. The shame is not being able to reach our goals. The real shame is not setting goals in the first place.
Winter training on Mondays and Thursdays at 3:00, in the fitness portable.
A few years ago, I had an athlete who ran a 4:57 mile as a Sophomore and set a goal to run a 4:20 mile as a Junior. He was very upset the first meet when he only ran a 4:40 mile. He stomped off swearing when he heard his time. Wait a minute though, hadn't he just performed a personal record by 18 seconds? Had he started with some intermediate goals he would have had a splendid day. Eventually, his Senior year he ran a 4:25, so I guess he was a loser? The reality is this:
We shoot for the stars, and if we don't make it, we might just hit the Moon, which isn't too bad. And if we hit the stars, then we set even higher goals. The nature of our sport is a lot of failure mixed with success. Show me someone who never fails and I'll show you someone who is not trying hard enough and is not dreaming big enough.
So, as this new year begins, set some goals and make them big, but also set some intermediate goals. The shame is not being able to reach our goals. The real shame is not setting goals in the first place.
Winter training on Mondays and Thursdays at 3:00, in the fitness portable.
posted by Milldog at 4:45 PM
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