Why is setting running goals important?

Setting running goals allows us to achieve our personal best and in the process improves our self confidence and motivation. Going out for a race without having any goals is like getting into a car and driving without any destination in mind. Could you imagine not having any goals? Everyone has goals. Some people may not like to share their goals before a race, but there is certainly a preconceived time that we all have in mind at the start of an event. Sometimes announcing your goal helps to boost your self confidence and lets others reassure you that you can accomplish your goal. So next time you go out for a race and some one ask you "What are you shooting for", don't be afraid to share that 5k goal time - whether it be 15 minutes or 25 minutes. Just remember to keep it somewhat realistic.

Here's a sample of some of our Club Member Goals:

My goal is to continue to train despite being away from my favorite training partner, Tom, and the Tornados.  I plan to race the December 9 half marathon in Dubai.  I want to run a 1:19, though I have no idea what the weather will be like there.  I'll keep you posted
- Katrina

My two goals were just to PR at the All-comers meets in the 800 meters and the mile. Due to some schedule conflicts and a lack of drive (I never take my goals too seriously), I only ran at one meet. Jerry Fugua put me in a fast second heat of the 800 meters and paired me with a cute female with muscular legs. So I wisely told her to go first as I admitted that I was placed in too fast of a heat! It was my best decision of the race as she shot out with what must have been an opening 30 second 200. But her and this fast heat made me go out 33 seconds for the 200 and 68 seconds for the 400. Then it happened, the lead started creeping through the veins in my shoulders, arms and legs. With 300 to go I worked hard, but was hardly working! I finished in 2:21, two seconds shy of a PR. My lane mate ran about a 2:13 right up in Yanowski territory!

I ran the 1500 after about a 30 minute rest and got a 5:02, about a 5:22 mile equivalent, about 10 seconds shy of my mile PR. I also ran a 6-minute all-out time trial as part of Katy Fit ATP's fitness assessment and averaged a 5:18, still 6 seconds off of my mile PR. Thus goes the summer for a not so serious goal setter. But I am now hoping to avoid injury running 60 mile weeks to run a fall marathon. This time I am going to not set any half-hearted goals and just take what the Wichita marathon gives me.
- Jack M.

My Goal this summer was to take a first in my age group in any sprint distance triathlon. I worked hard in late spring and early summer to achieve this goal. I knew it would come down to my swim time so I set a secondary goal of swimming under 6:00 minutes for 300 meter swim. Well I have managed to get two 1st age group awards but with no help from my swim time. I have not been able to get below 6:00 for a 300 yd swim thus far. I came within 7 seconds but just couldn't do it.
- Agapito

Don't be driving around blindly with no destination! Sit down and set some goals for your next running or triathlon event.

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Last modified: 08/25/08

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