Well, there was some good news and bad news this month. The plan in my head was to get in shape and possibly run a 1/2 marathon sometime this year. As my training progressed, the idea of a full marathon seemed possible. Going from a 5k to a marathon in a matter of months was a tall order. Too tall for me. The 1/2 marathon was a different story. I was in shape for that. Unfortunately, race day came and went, and I missed it.
What happened? How could something that I had planned on for months not come to fruition? I was ready, I wanted it, but-I didn’t write anything down. As a result, my original goal started to morph into something else, and by the time I decided to revert back to my original goal, registration was closed and I had hung myself out to dry. I even ran 13.1 miles on my own as proof to myself of how ready I was. The whole mess could have been avoided if I had just written down my goals and stuck to it.
The fact is, I could have registered for that race months ago. The goals in my head were not clearly defined though. 1/2 marathon, full marathon-I couldn’t make up my mind, and as a result, I got exactly what I was thinking. I learned from my mistake though, and there are still a few 1/2 marathon opportunities this year. This time, I am writing it down. I have chosen which one and it is definitely a 1/2 marathon. I now have a few weeks to hone my training and make sure that I am once again physically ready.
Writing all this down and looking at it every morning when I wake, and every night before I sleep will guarantee that it will occur. The disappointment of earlier this month is excitement once again. My original goal is still intact. That 1/2 marathon will be this year, and when I do run it (and I will), not only will that goal be achieved, but it will also make my next goal that much more attainable. I will have demonstrated to my mind-to myself, that the process works, and it is effective.
When you write things down, even if you have no idea initially on how you will accomplish those goals, the mind starts to spin, and ideas will just start to come.
This will probably work out better anyway. The 1/2 marathon is the big event coming up. There will be no overshadowing from the full marathon crowd, as would have been the case in the race earlier this month. It’s hard to decide which is more exciting: Running a 1/2 marathon, or actually setting the goal and making it a reality. What it will do for my psyche-or anybody’s for that matter may be even more exciting.
