In the popular TV quiz show “The Chase”, Bradley Walsh always asks each contestant to say what they would do with their potential winnings. I watched the show the other day and was struck by one woman who was very specific about what she wanted; it was a Mini and a very specific model and colour. Now, as anyone who has watched this game show will know, there is a point where each contestant has a choice, whether to “go high”, make things more risky for themselves but having the potential to generate a much bigger winning pot. This lady did make this choice and as a result generated additional prize money for the whole team, who each eventually won £20,000 each, certainly enough to make this person’s dream a reality. The point is that having a goal drives behaviour and a bigger goal makes you do bigger things. Having a very specific goal makes it real for you.
For some time I have had a goal to run the London Marathon, but it is also important to have shorter term goals. In December I had a goal to run 100 miles (I did over 120), my Janathon goal is to run or have a gym workout every day. At London, I want to run it in under 3 hours 58 minutes and 36 seconds (my current PB).
Today was one of my gym days. One of the benefits of a gym is that you can do a variety of different things to make a change from just running. I like to warm up on a cross trainer, it feels very different from running and isn’t so harsh on my limbs. All part of injury avoidance!
