Your Race Goal Might Just Be Insurance

You might be approaching race goals backward.

You look at the race, assess what seems achievable, pick something you're pretty sure you can defend if questioned, and call that your goal. Then you train for it and execute.

The result? An "ok" race. Not bad. But not what you're capable of either. And that nagging feeling that you held something back.

Here's what's actually happening: you're not picking goals based on what you want. You're picking a goal you can defend if you fail.

"I just want to finish" sounds reasonable, but ask yourself - is that really your goal, or is it insurance? A way to make sure no one (including you) can call the race a failure?

"I'm just competing with myself,” sounds humble. But sometimes it's code for "don't measure me against anyone else because I'm not really trying."

These aren't always cop-outs. I’ve certainly said, “I’m just here to finish.” Sometimes finishing IS the honest stretch goal - a race you genuinely might not complete, where getting to the finish line would require bringing everything you have. That's different. That's real. That’s the scenario I’ve said it in - where finishing, whether it looks like it to anyone else or not, is going to require everything.

The question is: are you being honest about what you actually want, or are you protecting yourself from disappointment?

Here’s a better approach.

Before you look at what seems achievable, identify what you actually want. What would be exciting? Enticing? What feels like a reach, but possible if things lined up?

Maybe it's a finish time that seems just out of reach. Maybe it's placing in your age group. Maybe it's finishing a distance you haven't been able to complete yet - and that's a genuine question mark, not a sure thing you're downplaying.

Whatever it is - why not reach for it?

Commit to it fully. Bring everything you can to bear on that goal - to your training and your race. Every mental and physical asset you have. Give it your best shot.

Worst case? You don't reach it. But you're far more likely to have the best race you were capable of - and know it.

That's significantly better than lowering your standard to whatever feels safest, hitting it, but knowing you played it conservatively. You didn't race what you were capable of.

It's like picking up a New York Times crossword puzzle - a real challenge you might not complete - instead of a kids' five-clue puzzle you know you'll finish. One tests to see how far you can get, in a way that's satisfying even if you don't complete it. The other is just going through motions to a predictable outcome.

You need some level of risk. Otherwise, there's no excitement. 

I'm not saying set a ridiculous goal that's far outside your capability - like going for a world record when you’re not sure you can even finish. I'm talking about the goal you actually want that's a big stretch but genuinely possible.

Then train for it and race for it, knowing you might not hit it this time but this will move you closer to it. The pursuit - that reach you make for it - is worth it. It's where the good races happen and where you learn things that position you better for next time.

Plus, you get the extra satisfaction of knowing you picked a risky goal and went hard for it anyway. You’re the person who can take risks and go big.

When you sign up for a race, ask yourself: which is going to feel better long-term - the big goal or the safe goal? Which puts you closer to the running you want to be doing? Do you want to always wonder what would have happened if you'd actually gone for it?

Whatever you decide, ask those questions honestly before you commit to training and the race. That way, you make the most of your training time and effort - and you're far more likely to have the race you're actually capable of.