By: Serena Burla, Mizuno Race Team Memeber
Gooooaaaaallllllll!!!!! Is that what drives you? Perhaps not in the “Miracle” hockey or World Cup sort of way, but rather in the Tim McGraw lyrics,
“How bad do you want it? How bad do you need it? Are you eating, sleeping, dreaming With that one thing on your mind? How bad do you want it?… Cause if you want it all You’ve got to lay it all out on the line”
Runner kind of way.
What makes you lace up your Mizuno’s and put in the miles? What makes you take that first step to go for a run? Did your goal drive you? Or did you find the need to set a goal while running?
I have been running since I was a young girl, but even then I set goals. It started out as wanting to beat the boys in gym class and has morphed into much more. I have set goals that I wanted to reach so badly that I sobbed when I fell short, and others I met which briefly provided a peaceful feeling inside whispering “You did it”. In short, goals are as powerful as that sports broadcaster announces them to be. When you set your goals, know they will change you as a person and if the goal feels a little daunting or uncomfortable, it is probably a good goal. Working towards a goal pushes you out of your comfort zone.
I am more of a private person in terms of sharing my goals. I am one who quietly crafts them in my mind with will, determination, and forward progress weighing heavily on my heart. Sometimes they are short term, or goals that help me in pursuit of a larger goal. The long-term goals have been there for some time and have required years of patience and sacrifice. My long term goals are known by the people in my life that know and support me most, the ones who want it as much as I do.
As a runner, I know how much time, effort, and sacrifice goes into working towards a goal. The inspiring thing about our sport is that from the first finisher to the last, there is the opportunity for each participant to reach a personal goal. Goals encourage us to NEVER SETTLE and provide motivation and meaning to our actions.
If you are new to goal setting, here are a few things to consider:
- Set both long term and short term goals.
- Be sure your goals can be measured against yourself.
- After listing your goals, go back and write at least one thing you can do in order to help achieve that goal- these are your actions that will hold you accountable and allow you to track your progress towards your goal.
- Share your goals with at least one other person who truly believes in you and will be there to support you in your pursuit.
- Be honest with yourself and your progress.
- Focus on your mental preparation along with your physical.
- Surround yourself with positivity.If it feels a little daunting and uncomfortable it’s probably a good goal.
- Expect to get derailed from time to time, but don’t get discouraged. Expect the unexpected.
- Remember the difficulty and commitment towards your goal is what makes it meaningful.
- You will learn a lot along the way. Enjoy the journey; the process can be as sweet at the product.
- Align your goals with the conditions. If your goal race ends up being 100 degrees with 100% humidity and insane winds, don’t beat yourself up over not setting a personal best.
- Control the variables you can control, especially your attitude.
- Leave yourself positive reminders or have others help provide encouragement. My Aunt always has positive quotes, lyrics, poems, etc. taped to the wall in the bathroom.Put reminders in common places like your car, your bathroom mirror, your cell phone case. Also, memorise key phrases or inspiration verses to motivate you.
- When you reach one goal, take a moment to celebrate and then realign your goals. I love the quote, “If what you did yesterday still looks big today then you haven’t done much today.”
- Set a goal each day. It will keep you in the present and focused.
- Be brave enough to put yourself in the position to achieve or fall short of the goal
Serena Burla is a marathoner, mother and cancer survivor. She has numerous top three finishes in US Championships, including 1st place at the 2014 US 1/2 Marathon Championships, and international marathons, 2nd at the 2103 Amsterdam Marathon. With a marathon PR of 2:28:01 she has goals of representing Team USA at the 2016 Olympic Games.