People set goals, all kinds of goals-long term, short term, unrealistic, realistic, practical, health, career, financial, so forth and so on.
The one common denominator most of these goals have is that they are finite. They are destination oriented- " I want to lose 50 lbs; I am going to make a million dollars by the time I'm 40; I am going to run a marathon; I'm going to get married and have 3.2 kids( I want to see a .2 kid. just sayin). All of these are fantastic goals( except the .2 kid thing) but they all have end points. these "end point" can begin to feel like a chore. Now don't mis-interpret what I'm about to say. Goal setting IS a key component in improving ourselves...our health. However, the question arises, what happens after the goal is achieved? You could set a new goal, which would be fantastic but many people...STOP. They think once they reach the goal-" that's it,! I'm done! Everything will be just fine now. I don't have to do any more work". WRONG! If you don't continue with the habits, the processes, you created to achieve those goals then the results of those habits and goals will disappear.
In other words, - you have been training, eating properly, increasing your mileage gradually and effectively, getting enough rest, stretching,your flexibility has increased, you've lost weight, your blood pressure has decreased, you feel energized, you've met new friends-you have created all of these great results due to the training you have done for your marathon-you run the marathon...life is good....health is good. Goal achieved!
And then...you stop...you stop running, you stop stretching, you lose contact with the new friends, your weight starts to increase, you're not as energized, your blood pressure is starting to rise and your attitude and self esteem are starting to decrease....life is not good...health is not good.
This sounds pretty damn depressing to me and yet it happens every day with people.
What if instead of setting a goal of running a marathon, how about setting a goal to run.-to join a running club. This not only allows your running to continue but it maintains the possibility to maintain healthy habits which increases the possibility of maintaining all of those effective and healthy benefits.
By enjoying running for running sake and not getting hung up on the distance or time but just enjoying the sights, sounds and benefits of what running is doing for you helps let go of the pressure of HAVING TO perform and allows you to GET TO perform. Running marathons or 10ks or triathalons is fantastic but like other choices and things to do they should be a get to not a have to.
Enjoy the process, enjoy the benefits the process provides because the marathon we all running is life...and if we create a process not a destination- that works for us life will be much more pleasant, effective and fun!
Remember...
YOU are the difference!!!