You just set a big goal. Congratulations!!! That’s a huge accomplishment. You now have a specific direction you want to head in, and something you want to achieve. Now, you might be feeling overwhelmed, worried, or nervous you won’t reach that goal. Take a breath, because you’ve got this.
Strategize
Proper planning prevents poor performance! To succeed in a big challenge, you need a plan. It doesn’t matter how perfect the plan is. The only thing that matters with your plan is that you can stick to it. Figure out how many days per week you can dedicate to your training, what days and times you can reserve for it, and what kind of training you need to do on what day.
Check-in goals
One option to see if you are making progress toward your goal is to have mini goals along the way. If you’re training for a specific time, do a time trial to see how you are progressing in your current training. Or, see what your current 5K time is and what your projected time would be for your longer distance race with your current 5K time. If you’re training for a 10K, try running a 5K during your training block to see if you can reach half of the distance and to practice racing.
Reach out
Talk to your community! If you have any friends who have completed this goal, ask them about how they first approached it. Share any concerns with them, or ask them questions about some of your worries. For example, if you don’t feel like you have a strong understanding of gel timing or usage, ask one of your friends about it, research on the internet, or watch a YouTube video.
Communicate with your coach. Have them break down the training program for what they want you to do, what each workout or cycle is for, and how that will help you reach your goal. It’s great to have a coach on hand, because they can break the technical stuff down into understandable information to ease your angst.
One step at a time
Progress over perfection. You can have this huge training plan, and it can feel really far out and overwhelming. Take it week by week, day by day. Focus on completing the next workout, not the entire next block or cycle. Everything adds up, so each workout and completed week is taking your closer to your goal.
Let’s talk!
If you just set a big goal and you aren’t sure how you’re going to reach it, I am an RRCA-Certified Adult Distance Running Coach at Anchor Endurance, LLC. I have worked with many athletes, all with different needs and goals. Please reach out today for a complimentary 20-minute phone consultation to see if we are a good fit and get more information on run coaching services provided by Anchor Endurance, LLC. You can also email me at [email protected].
