"I'd rather be seen on my bicycle than on a park run" - Quote from the dark side

Thursday 23 May 2013

Long Term Goals


Do you set yourself long-term goals? I do! I think when it comes to running I'm one of the kings of long-term goals. :)

So what is considered "long-term". I suppose that can be up to the individual. For me it is next year and beyond. Any goal this year I consider as short-term. I have a few big goals lined up for this year but I also have a few very big long-term goals.

I already have my goals for 2014 with main goals for February, May, August and November 2014. This all builds up to a huge goal in November 2015 and then there are even bigger goals for 2016 and 2017.

Is this crazy? I don't think so. I think this is what keeps me motivated and training regularly even after almost 32 years of running. The passion and drive is still there. Maybe even stronger than before. My long term goals are responsible for this.

When people ask me how I stay motivated this is my answer: "I have many incredible long-term goals to achieve. They are really brilliant goals and that keeps me motivated. Without that I won't reach these goals."


So dream big and set yourself some awesome long-term goals. Training and sacrifice comes much easier when you have these goals to aim for.

Keep it going my friends!

18 comments:

Jim ... 50after40 said...

I really like this Johann - I've struggle lately with staying focused because of no immediate short term goals. I think I usually look about a year out - but that's about it.

Michael said...

That's awesome! I'm not great at making long term goals. Short term ones, sure, but not long term.

No wonder you are always so positive and happy. You've got this thing figured out :)

Big Daddy Diesel said...

I am with you on this. I have a long list of goals, some short term, some long term. All doable in my eyes, but yet challenging

Theia said...

I'm with Michael... I am OK at setting short-term and immediate goals (up to 6-12 months out), but beyond that I find it overwhelming. I'm jealous!

Robin said...

I think depending on what you want to do, you must plan long term. Some things will allow for shorter term planning but it really does depend.

KovasP said...

I'm good with longterm goals and not so much with short term. I tend to jump into things as I go.

misszippy said...

I like long-term goals, too. I think it helps set us up for better success to have a goal and then a plan in place to get us where we want to be.

Giorgio said...

It's an good way to be motivated. I do the same but I have chosen short term goal (about four months) and in this perspective I've planned races until August, 16th. You're right: we, runners, always try to be motivated.

Char said...

I thought that registering for a race two months away was long term planning. But then I used to think that running anything over 200m was long distance. It's all relative.

Now I'm curious about your 2015 goal.

ajh said...

That is great. My only long term goals are to keep doing it. At this point I am still all about the last year's tri goal. That is all still pretty exciting/scary to me.

coach dion said...

No No NO I struggle to stay focused on goal that are a month away, in fact I keep forgetting when the races are that I've entered. But I do plan on running a fast half still this year, but I haven't got a clue as to which one it should be.

good luck

Black Knight said...

I like long term goals but I never succeed in following them for many reasons.
At the moment I have a mid term goal: one race per month.

Raina said...

I think it's important to have long term goals. I tend to keep mine secret, but I do make them.
A person has to have something to keep motivated with.

Average Woman Runner said...

This is great, I definitely have some long term goals and would feel adrift without any.

Lauren said...

You are doing something right -- 32 years of running! That's amazing.

Jill said...

I used to be such a long-term goaler, but lately I just want to finish Leadville, then PPM, and lay flat on my back and do nothing but eat chocolate ice cream for 4 months. Then maybe I'll do something adventurous again :).

Love your goals, as always, Johann. Especially since one of them is to come to the US soon! :)

Alyssa said...

I really, really like this. Such an inspiration!

Sheryll said...

I have a few long term goals on my bucket list, and hope to do one big one each year. This year it's my first half marathon!