Spring is just around the corner (I hope!) and with that comes the promise of an upcoming running season! Setting goals can direct your focus to what you really want to achieve and mobilize your effort in that direction. In short, goal setting helps you stay motivated and train effectively. Here are three goal setting strategies that can help as you gear up for your year of running!
Choose goals that matter to you. As you think about the goals you have for running in 2025, consider why these goals matter to you? How do they align with who you are or who you aspire to be? It’s hard to stay committed to goals that don’t really matter to you, so think carefully about what your goals will be and why.
Write down your goals so you can see them and track your progress. Whether you have goals to complete your first half marathon, set a new PR, or just be more consistent with your running in mind, write down your goals in a place you see them regularly and find a way to track your progress. This could be a training journal, an excel spreadsheet, or a calendar on your fridge. Visually tracking your progress can help build confidence and sustain motivation
Be flexible with your goals. As you set your goals for the season make sure you’re willing to be flexible if you experience setbacks or exceed expectations. Although it’s great to have goals they can become frustrating or stressful if they are out of reach or aren’t challenging enough. Assess your progress towards your goals as you go through the year and be willing to change things up!
This article originally appeared in The Connection, TCM's weekly e-newsletter. Subscribe here.
Hayley Russell, PhD, is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant, runner, and professor of health and exercise psychology. She is one of the team of Motion Experts TCM has gathered to help its subscribers and participants get the most out of their running. You can reach Hayley at: [email protected].