Are your Goals just Dreams?

Most of you have probably picked your races for the year

1) because they fill up so early or
2) because they cost a fortune and it takes you a year to pay it off!

Now your training is fully underway you should have already thought about what you want to achieve from your race. This could be improving your finish time, perfecting your nutrition strategy, finishing on the podium in your age group or simply completing your first race. The list is endless.

No matter what the goal(s) are, you have to incorporate them into your training program otherwise they will remain just dreams. It is no good getting to race day with great intentions, yet along the journey you did nothing to help you actually achieve them. This may sound crazy but we see it all the time.

There are numerous goals you can set in your triathlon training season, however, choose the ones that are most important to you and the least complicated.
You have probably heard of Smart objectives but it is an effective way of working out how to break down and process your plan for World Domination. Goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time Framed. Write your plans down, and reference back to them regularly to ensure you’re on track. And keep everything positive!
This process is always much easier with a coach as it tends to keep everything more specific and realistic!

If for example you want to improve your run splits, this will require some planning, structure and time. You cannot expect to turn up on race day and expect to finish a 10k in 40mins, yet all year you’ve been training at 5min kilometers! (… and people really do think like this!!!) If you want specific run times plan it in, break it down and get training.

Another Goal you may want to work on could be your perfecting your Race Day Nutrition. This crucial area can make or break your race day, especially in longer Ironman distance events, but so many people do not incorporate this into their training, or think about it way too late. Just because you can stomach 4 energy gels on a training run does not mean you stomach 14 on race day! You have to plan your strategy, find what works for you and practice it.

Your race may seem like a long way away but it will be here before you know it.

Don’t leave your Goals to chance - work out what you want to achieve and how you are going to achieve it.

You know what they say ....
Fail to plan, Plan to fail!!