Making It Happen

Reaching a fitness goal is no different than reaching any other goal in life.
You need to set your goal - and you need to commit to a reasonable time frame in which to achieve it.
Even better, to add to the finality to the commitment try to find something you can use as a deadline - like a race or competition of sorts.

There was a great post about this topic in Fitness for Mommies this week - definitely worth quoting
This was in answer to a reader question on improving her running endurance.

“1. Pick a local 5km race to do NOW. I’m thinking in 6 weeks you could be ready for a 5km. Pay for it.

2. Commit to a minimum of three running days per week, plus one cross training day, plus CORE and strength training work sprinkled throughout your week.

3. Challenge yourself in your workouts. Wear a heart rate monitor and determine your zones. 1 being walking to 5 equaling a full on sprint. I’d like you to do a little speed work in each workout starting with as little as 20 seconds FAST, followed by 20 seconds slow. You will also need to incorporate some hill repeats once per week at 30 seconds UP, 30 recovery. Your objective is to complete your next 5km faster than your last, therefor, you will need to step up your running accordingly. Not a lot, but, if you don’t train your body to go fast, it won’t know how.

4. Your long runs don’t need to be any longer than 3-4 miles and you work up to that many miles.

5. Take care of your body, stretch properly, and do some networking among your friends. Find the friends that will encourage you to run faster and run with them.

6. Stay positive. Visualize yourself crossing the finish line faster than your goal time. Right now, you need to come up with a GOAL time that you’d like to see on that clock. Write it down. You can also put little sticky notes around your house with the goal time. So that you are always CONSCIOUS of your goal.

7. I also recommend finding a running group in your area to run with at least once per week. This will help motivate you to run faster during training so that you can be better equipped to run with the group.

8. You need a PLAN. Runner’s World has tons of free training plans you can simply download, Matt Fitzgerald offers some pretty comprehensive running plans starting at beginner 5kms called Brain Training for Runners, and most of you know that I am partial to Al Lyman’s (Coach Al) running/triathlon plans. He offers basic running plans or beginning sprint triathlon plans for as little as $29. If you’re really committed, you could find a running coach in your area or pay an

on

line coaching business to help you get up and running.

Finally, the most important part of all this wonderful training is that as you become fitter, you will be more confidant. Confidence= success in my book.”

This plan could be adapted for any fitness goal.

1. pick a goal
2. set deadline
3. figure out the checkpoints you would need to make along the way to see that you are sticking to your goal
4. work out a feasible training plan including support and motivation.
5. go for it!