Over the past few weeks I’ve spent a good amount of time thinking about what I want to accomplish this year. However, I try not to put much of a time limit on my goals. After years of injuries then pregnancy and postpartum running, I’ve learned that sometimes things take longer than planned. And that’s ok. My intention for this year is “be stubborn about your goals, but flexible about your methods”.
I actually don’t really plan on sharing my specific goals in this post. In the past, I was all about sharing goals on my blog. I had goals for the year, monthly goals, and I posted check-ins every month to share how I was doing with my goals. I don’t plan on going back to that right now.
Even though I wasn’t in a great place with my running over the past few months, I still felt like I wanted to dream big for this year. And why not??? I’ve gotten so conservative thanks to injuries to the point where I have started to question what I can accomplish. Of course I need to be very cautious to avoid injuries, but I think I am a much different runner (and person) than I was a few years ago.
As a part of my planning for the year I’ve reflected on what I want to accomplish, how I can get there, and what challenges could get in my way. I thought I would share a little bit about this process.
Goal Setting for 2020
I started by just jotting down my dream goals and thinking about what a reasonable timeline is to reach those goals. Some of them don’t actually have a timeline. However, when possible I try to put down something because this helps me develop a plan. For running, I hope to run a strong marathon in 2020, and I usually do the best with fall races. So I started to consider when I should run a marathon and how to structure races and training leading up to that point.
I started to get more specific, thinking about some short term goals for the next few months. This included my base building and training plan for a spring half-marathon. With non-running goals, I tried to identify what I could work on each week or month to reach my goals. There are some blogging things I want to work on so I wrote down what I would like to accomplish in January so I can set aside some time each week to work on it.
Addressing challenges
A few years ago my life pretty much revolved around running. I had more time than I realized to run, strength train, see the chiropractor, meal plan, etc. Things are much different now. Time is my biggest challenge.
I’ve mentioned this before but lately I have had a really hard time staying focused during my short windows of time to get things done. It really helps me when I have a plan of what I want to accomplish each day. I get up a few hours before Grayson, so I try to plan out how I will spend that time. When I drafted my training plan I tried to include all the little things I should do a few times a week so I can make sure to fit them into my schedule.
Flexibility
Most of all I need to work on being flexible. “Be stubborn about your goals but flexible about your methods.” I love this quote and it’s definitely something I plan to work on this year. Just because a plan isn’t working doesn’t mean you need to give up on your goal. It just means you need a different plan.
When I wrote my training plan I included a ton of things I would like to include each week. I know they won’t all get done. It’s sort of like my “ideal week” with things like yoga, spinning, mobility work, etc. I also considered what my priorities are so that I can focus on certain things first. But I will also have other things I can add in if I find that I have more time or if I can’t get out for a run for some reason.
I feel like I am in a much different place this year (and I am, in many ways) and I am not sure where it will take me. If I can stay focused and flexible, I think I have the potential for a very successful year.
How do you plan to accomplish your goals this year?
What are your biggest challenges in reaching your goals?
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A Look Back at November 2015 Goals
Month in Review: February 2017
5 Reasons to Run a Half-Marathon
Run to Remember 5k: Not Quite a PR
I love that quote! So true, when time is scarce we have to adapt to what is reasonably feasible. I like you approach – it’s sustainable. 😊👍🏻
Thanks! I just need to stay focused and not get overwhelmed when I’m feeling like there’s no time to get it all done.
I love this – “Be Stubborn About Your Goals But Flexible About Your Methods” – have never heard this specific quote but I think over the years I’ve gravitated towards this especially when I got kids and things didn’t always work exactly as planned. Before kids, if things were not going as planned I would throw in the towel, but now I keep the goals but just adjust the way I go about doing it. Sometimes it’s as simple as giving myself more time to accomplish something.
Yes, exactly! I used to stick to my plan no matter what, and thats just not possible anymore. I know it will be hard to be really flexible but I think it will pay off to change my mindset a bit.
Gosh, flexibility is key! I don’t have little kids underfoot anymore, but somehow I seem to be just as busy (and just as easily distracted). I’ve never been good at following hard and fast (aka, strict) rules…they’re too confining. I share MOST of my goals, but I do keep a few things under wrap as well.
I tend to be someone who thrives off of routine and structure so its hard for me to give that up! It’s a work in progress and I think it will be good for me to loosen up my structure a bit.
I love that quote! I’m very goal focused, so when something disrupts my progress, it’s really frustrating to me. Parenting definitely taught me to be more flexible.
Like you, I like to keep my goals close to the vest!
I think for me part of success in reaching a goal is following my plan to get there. So when I can’t do what I said I was going to do, it makes me feel like I failed (before I even had a chance to try to achieve my goal!) I think giving myself that flexibility and also not being as open about my goals might help with this a little.
Flexibility is so important! I’m very type A so sometimes I struggle with this but life happens and sometimes we have to re-adjust in order to hit our goals.
So true! Being able to adjust is really important.
Love this post! I’m very flexible in my timelines lol. I have a lot of things that I want to do in my life, and I can’t do them all at once but I can chip away at my goals.
That is a great mindset to have!!
I am definitely goal focused as well. Being a mom requires so much flexibility and having the skill to be able to pivot is a gift. Looking forward to following along w your training
Thanks! This is a new approach for me so I guess we’ll see how it goes.
I love this. It’s so true that we need to be flexible to accomplish our goals – fitness-related or otherwise. There will always be days where things go awry and we have to adapt. Planning for this will make this so much easier to deal with (mentally).
Exactly! I am hoping I can still stay motivated since I know I won’t be following my exact plan.
I don’t have the same kind of challenges that you have but I sure have things that take up my time and I get easily distracted when I don’t have a plan. I think that’s why I love training for something, it really gives me structure! on the one hand I am really missing that right now and on the other I’m trying to embrace flexibility and challenge myself to, well, challenge and motivate myself on my own, without a specific goal in mind!
I’m really looking forward to seeing how you get on this year and you’ll likely even help and motivate ME to get going as well!
I think we all have challenges and we need to figure out our own best training approach! I really like having structure too. I’m just finding that I need to not rely quite so much on the structure.
This is such a great attitude. I think the thought process is, in some ways, more important than the goals themselves. Anyone can say “I’m going to run a half this spring”, but it’s meaningless without the planning that goes into it
The planning and training is so much more work than the actual race!
I have a few goals set out for me this year. I need to train smarter to avoid any injuries and to get faster so I can get my PRs. I hope I can start running this year because PRs are not made by sitting down.
I know you will come back even stronger! You need a break for your mind and your body right now. Once you are ready you will do great things!
By the way, thanks for linking up with us!