Goal-Setting Works for Me
I never realized how goal-oriented I was until a few years ago.
When I began my weight loss journey, it seemed un-surmountable. I knew what I wanted, but I didn't know how I was going to get there.
As many of you already know, I started hitting the weights and cardio September 2007. By March I had run my first 5k - something I never thought I'd do. I wasn't a runner before that. I participated in track in high school, but I was hardly a runner - especially not a long distance runner. This was still the same girl who skipped running the mile in college. This was still the same girl who hyperventilated after running around the track twice in high school. But, I set my goal along with a good friend of mine, and we decided to run our first ever 5k.
Many mornings leading up to the event we'd go out and jog. We were pretty slow. We were overdressed. We were underfed, and we were definitely beginners. Nevertheless, we went out, and we exercised. We trained the best we knew how.
A few months later we participated in a small 5k along with with a few hundred BYU students. To this day I still believe she and I were the oldest ones there. We kept asking ourselves why we were there. We had no business to do what "they" were doing. It was a very brisk morning. Tons of people. So much adrenalin. We broke out our gels, and we swallowed them whole a few minutes before the race. Still beginners.
But we did it. We ran our first 5k in March 2008.
Then we did another one a month later in April. Same town, different cause.
Then we did the Breast Cancer Awareness 5k in May.
Then our first ever Sprint Triathlon - also in May. And then another one (in which I got 2 flat tires) in June.
Then I decided it was time to bump things up a bit, and I ran two consecutive 10ks - one on the 4th of July with my trainer, LuAnn, and the second on Pioneer Day alone.
Since then I've run so many 5k, several 10ks, 4 Half Marathons, and the St. George full Marathon. In my mid 30's I never even dreamed I could do it. There is absolutely no way I would have believed I could do it. No way.
It was just the first of many goals. It seemed to be working. Plan. Set a goal. Commit. Train. Do it. Time after time after time.
Now three years later I have set so many goals, and I have accomplished most all of them. That's how I decided to compete in Figure. That's how I decided to run my first Half Marathon. That's how I decided to run the St. George Marathon. That's how I decided to organize my own Wasatch Back team both last year and again this year.
As soon as I cross one thing off my list I'm on to my next. I'm already thinking short and long-term down the road, asking myself, "what's next?" Sure, I can't do everything, but I can do a lot of things. I'm not running the 5 and 10ks anymore, but I am thinking outside the box. I know that next year will be the year I qualify for Boston. I've visualized it. I know my plan. I know how close I was last time (4 minutes shy), and I know what I need to do differently in order to hit my time. I'm planning. I'm goal-setting.
I just came off a big high from the weekend. Some of my best friends and I competed in the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay. 12 of us. 188.2 miles from Logan to Park City. For the first time ever I was able to share one of my very most treasured passions (running) with my husband - a non runner. He ended up loving it. We trained. We planned. We ate right. We hydrated right. We tried to do all that was necessary to be in top physical condition come race day. We were ready.
Now that it's over, I've already signed up my team for next year. I'm ready. I'm excited. I have a year to put it all together. I've already picked my leg. I know exactly how I am going to challenge myself.
A mud-run is coming up in Utah for the first time ever. I just might try to do that. Why not? Sounds like fun and would definitely be outside of my comfort zone.
Some friends of mine compete in the WTF (Womens Tri-Fitness). Who knows? Maybe I'll add that to my list for next year. Undecided, but I'm thinking about it.
2011 will be a big year for me. I'm turning 40. Next year will be the year of all years.
Why do I share this? Because it all started with one simple goal - a 5k. At the time it seemed like a stretch, but it was exactly what I needed to get my butt ready. It was just one more step helping me get to the body and the fitness I wanted. It was accountability I could enjoy. Rather than simply meeting with a trainer, it was a new way to measure my results and build a memory in the meantime.
Dakota thinks its pretty cool when I get out all my medals. He likes to play with them. He thinks I'm famous. He thinks his mommy is the strongest and fastest mommy ever. I'm proud of that. I like being that person in his eyes because I wasn't always. Even though he's young he still reminds me that he remembers when he couldn't fit his arms around me. Now he can.
I hope I'll always be a goal-setter. It's worked for me. And if any of you are wondering what, where, and how to start, maybe setting a goal is something that will help you too. **smile**
Jenny Grothe
jen.fit.training@gmail.com
