Goal Setting for Endurance Athletes
3 Types of Desired Results: Goals — Targets — Outcomes
As Stephen Covey famously said, “Begin with the end mind.”
Your future first begins as a narrative that your brain tells you. The more clarity you have with this end desired state, the better plan you can make to achieve this. The more clarity with the required steps, the more likely they will be achieved. The journey to being better than yesterday requires you to know and continually revisit your “why” of doing whatever is that you are doing. This “why” will be the fuel for you to execute the actions that your dream state demands. Your focus in the moment is connected to your end vision. The clearer your vision for the the future, the easier it is to focus on what is currently required of you.
I believe in setting 3 types of desired results: Goals, Targets, and Outcomes. Accomplishing Goals will lead to Accomplishing Targets which will lead to Accomplishing Outcomes.
Goals
These are items that are completely under your control. Your main focus should be on these! When we talk about Goals, we need to make sure we are talking about S.M.A.R.T. Goals which stand for Specific-Measurable-Achievable-Relevant-Time Bound.
Examples:
- I’m going to follow my fueling plan leading up to and during World Championships.
- I’m going to get 8 hours of sleep each night leading up to the World Championships.
- I am going to do 10 group bike rides leading up to the World Championships.
- I will roll out my muscles and/or stretch at least 3 days a week leading up to the World Championships
Targets
These are items that you have a little bit less control over but are directly related to your training and therefore can be predicted very closely. Targets are accomplished as a result of you accomplishing your goals. Pace and Time goals are a good examples of this.
Examples:
- I’m going to average 250 watts in the first triathlon of 2019.
- I’m going to swim a 1500m open water swim in under 25:00 in 2019.
- I will average 6:30 min/mile during the run portion at the World Championships.
Outcomes
These are items that you have the least control over and are actually an outcome of your Goals and Targets. Outcomes come as a result of you accomplishing your Goals and Targets! Qualification and Place goals are a good example of this.
Examples:
- I’m going to qualify for 2020 ITU World Championships by finishing in the top 10 of my Age Group at 2019 USAT Age Group National Championships.
- I’m going to finish in the top half of my Age Group at the 2019 World Championships.
Again, Accomplishing Goals will lead to Accomplishing Targets which will lead to Accomplishing Outcomes. FOCUS IS ON THE GOALS!!
