Grasping Hold Of That Elusive New Year’s Resolution With Advice From CTS
While making your New Year's Resolutions, avoid vague goal setting, and really focus on the specifics of what it’ll take to actually accomplish your dreams.
Jan 16, 2020
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3 min read
We’re talking to the pros and figuring out how normal folks like us can set and achieve our New Year’s goals without the fear of failure. With the wisdom of seasoned runners like Adam St. Pierre, you too can see huge strides in your performance after you’ve learned how to set step-by-step goals that are guaranteed to get you to where you want to be by the end of the year. As Adam suggests in his interview, avoid vague goal setting, and really focus on the specifics of what it’ll take to actually accomplish your dreams.
Question: Please share a goal/New Year’s Resolution that you had set for yourself and actually stuck with. Why were you successful in maintaining this goal?
Adam: “In 2014, I set a goal to run Mt. Sanitas 100 times in the calendar year. Mt. Sanitas is my favorite local peak, 2-3 mile round trip with 1200 feet of climbing. Having this goal gave me motivation and direction in my training. Instead of wondering, “Where should I run today?” I just defaulted to running Mt. Sanitas. Having this decision predetermined helped me to not waste time thinking about location—instead just deciding how many laps to run!”
Question: In your opinion, what factor(s) determine(s) a realistic and worthwhile fitness goal to set at the start of a new year?
Adam: “A realistic goal is one that you can achieve. A worthwhile goal is one that will make you better. A goal should motivate you—not be such a reach as to discourage you.”
Question: What advice do you have for others as they are creating health/fitness goals and New Year’s Resolutions? What do you suggest for helping them stick to and succeed in their new goal?
Adam: “When creating a health/fitness goal, look at your strengths and weaknesses from past years, and pick a goal that will help you to address those goals—inspire you to get out the door, and further your racing and fitness goals.”
Ready to finalize your plans for this year? Start with your overall goal. Now, break down the specifics needed to accomplish that goal, and set to a specific time table. If you can answer the what, where, when, who, and what-ifs of the equation, you’ll greatly amplify your chances for success.
Up next is Jennipher Walter with Fit Bottomed Girls. Read her full interview as she gives her advice on setting realistic goals to help you succeed with your health and fitness this year!