Last summer I hit a slump.
My exercise routine was dull and my life seemed busy and monotinous.
After taking a trip to visit family, my sister and I decided to set some goals, set a time frame for achieving those goals, and keep each other accountable.
Some of our goals were to run a marathon in the Fall, read more inspiring books, and grow spiritually. About once a week we checked in with each other to report our progress.
With my sister to keep me accountable, I suddenly had more motivation and enthusiasm for reaching my goals.
May is National Runner’s Month.
Now is a great time to set some running goals for the summer months. Have you been dreaming of running a 5k? How about a half marathon? Or maybe it is time to start training for a full marathon?
Let’s look at some ways to achieve your goals.
Ok, here are a few simple tips that make a big difference:
- Write it down– clarify your desires on paper. Be specific and set a time frame. Which goal do you think will get accomplished sooner? – Run a marathon, or run the Chicago Marathon in Oct. 2010?
Put your goals in writing and post them in a place where you can see them every day. - Keep momentum– work toward your goal every day. It doesn’t have to be something huge, just keep going in the right direction.
- Have an accountability partner. Knowing you have someone to prod and encourage you will help keep you going. We all need supportive people in our lives. Ask a friend or family member to ask about your progress.
- Share your goals. Research shows that when you share your goals, you are more likely to achieve them.
With the right mindset you can see your goals become a reality. Now it’s time to share your fitness and lifestyle goals for this summer.
Leave a reply in the comment box below.
Go ahead, this might be the first step to making your goals a reality!
I just started running this summer. I have never been an athlete before, and no one in my family is either. So I was a little timid at first and didn’t tell anyone other than my husband for at least a month that I was training for a half marathon. Once I did start telling people about it I found many supporters who ask me often how my running is going.
I’ve been working on the 20 week schedule for building a solid running base. It was pretty challenging at first and there were many days that I did not want to stick with it, but I did. Now I have been running 3 days a week faithfully for many weeks and will finish the 20 week schedule on Friday. It feels so good to have this goal and to be making visible progress. Thank you so much for this website and your podcasts. They really make a former non-athlete like myself not feel like a complete idiot.
So, my goal is to run a half marathon either in the late spring or early fall, depending on how quickly I train over the winter!