2021 - My running and fitness goals
2021 – My running and fitness goal
Has 2020 been a complete right off? Absolutely not. It has been a year of new experiences, change, sadness, growth and one for letting things go – holding no grudges!
My injury and no-running for the past 4.5 weeks has given me plenty of time to reflect on my running goals and what I would like to work on when I am back on my feet.
Some of my goals from the beginning of this year included:
· Completing 2 international races X
· Complete an ultra –marathon X
· Volunteer at, at least 2 events X
As you can see the pattern of Xs, it hasn’t gone as planned but that was not because of a lack of trying, but 2020 already had plans of it’s own and just failed to inform me ha-ha. Am I disappointed that not all those things have happened as planned out, no.
“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” ― Alan Lakein, author
For me, setting goals is a great way to challenge your body, keep things interesting, and experience the satisfaction of accomplishing something new. I think, as runners, we often find ourselves stuck in a rut, sometimes simply trying to run faster or further. I have definitely done this and feel like I am just continuously chasing numbers.
Without a clear purpose, many of us find ourselves falling into the trap of running aimlessly – regularly logging miles but failing to give these miles any sort of meaning.
I would say that lockdown 1.0 was a blessing in disguise – many probably disagree. I say this because it allowed me to carry on running and gave me the opportunity to sign up for virtual challenges that would never have happened if Covid-19 did not happen to us. I was also lucky enough to get free coaching from a Team GB Triathlete and that taught me a lot in terms of planning my running week including cross training and most importantly rest days. Yes, REST days, something as runners we feel cheated by! However, I have learned so much over the last 7 months that has made me a more confident and relaxed running.
What next?
I have started thinking about what I would like to work on when I return to running once I am declared fit to run. I start my physio sessions on 30th November, so I am very hopeful that from the start of the New Year I will start building up the mileage slowly again. A few races that I had postponed from this year that hopefully will run in 2021. Nevertheless, I would like to start off the year by working on my fitness again as I know I would have regressed and will be almost ‘scared’ to run again. I plan to focus on short distances and working on mainly 5k and working up to 10k. I would definitely like to improve my 5k and 10k times and I think that I would like to work on the distances in between, 6k and 8k for variety. I found this cool training plan in runner’s world that I would like to implement https://www.runnersworld.com/
If you have any recommendations or training plans that you put together yourself, and would be kind enough to share, please do get in touch. Learning from ‘real people’ for me is even greater than taking something out of a magazine, as not 1 size fits all. I will adapt as needed but it is a good starting point as I have nothing at the moment. Seeing how I get on, I will most likely get back in touch with Jake Keast (Coach that I worked with during lockdown 1.0)
What are your goals for 2021? Do you still set goals or just go with the flow?
To be honest I am ‘one of those’ people that write continuously and I do mean write as I can hear my husband in the background just shouting, ‘what are you writing now?’ As a thought comes into my head, I have to just write them down. I have pens and notebooks in most rooms in the house except for the bathroom and toilet! Many people say, oh just make notes in your phone, I do, do that but I also love pen and paper. Maybe because I used to be a teacher?
One thing I have wanted to do for a while now is help others either start their road to being fitter or just motivate them to keep going. I am delighted to say that I have started my NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing course (REPs) - Register of Exercise Professionals endorsed and I should be qualified by the end of December. I am looking forward to helping and encouraging other people not only to run but also to do workouts that they enjoy. That's important, because if you are not enjoying it, you are not going to be motivated to do it. Simple maths!
Thinking ahead to 2021:
· Concentrate on 5k and 10k slowly building up endurance and speed again
· Deliver coaching session with Our Parks https://www.ourparks.org.uk/ online and hopefully in London parks.
· Complete cancelled races of 2020
· Continue to empower and motivate others to be whatever it is they want to be.
Comment below and let me know what is next for you. 😊
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