QT: Setting Yourself Up for Success in 2021 (and Beyond)

As you may have heard me talk about once or twice, I’m a big fan of setting big goals for myself.

And there is no better time for big goals, as far as I’m concerned, than the start of a new year.

However, as we all know, many goals that get set on New Year’s Day don’t exactly come to fruition 365 days later.

Shoot, a lot of goals don’t even survive the month of January.

So before we get too crazy with declaring goals our goals for 2021, we would be wise to do a bit of groundwork first to give us our best chances for success in 2021.

Setting the Stage for Success in 2021

Too often, I believe, we just set our goals arbitrarily at the start of the year based.

I think that has something to do with why so many yearly goals go unmet year after year.

The fact of the matter is that if your goals don’t really matter to you when you set them, they really aren’t going to matter to you weeks/months from now.

So first and foremost, before you set your goals for this year, spend some time thinking about what you want to achieve this year and why.

If you can connect some real meaning to your goals, you’ve got a fighting chance to successfully achieve them.

Look Back Before Looking Forward

Want to be successful next year? Take a look back at this past year first.

It’s simple, really. So simple it’s easy to overlook.

Taking an honest look at where you are now and how things went in the past year is an important part of the process.

Why? Because it helps you determine where you are now in relation to where you want to go.

If you’re setting your sights too high based on your current level of fitness, you may want to reset your ambitions in order to help reduce your risk of overdoing it right out of the gate.

Setting the Right Goals for You

Goal setting should be all about you.

Don’t set your goals based on what your training partners are doing. Don’t set your goals based on what people you follow on social media are doing. And for the love of God, don’t set your goals on what some schlub with a microphone says on his half-baked podcast.

Your goals are yours and yours alone.

Set SMART Goals

Specific. Measurable. Attainable. Relevant. Time-Based.

I’m not usually the biggest fan of catchy acronyms, but this one is hard to argue with.

So I use it.

The best goals, aka the ones you’re most likely to stick with and achieve, tick all of these boxes.

• Specific: What exactly are you aiming to do?
• Measurable: How do you define success?
• Attainable: Is your goal something you can actually do?
• Relevant: Is this goal in alignment with your bigger picture goals?
• Time-Based: By when do you plan to accomplish your goals?

This year, do yourself a favor and make sure your goals are SMART goals, ok?

My 2021 Running Goals

Another thing that can help you find success in 2021? A little public accountability.

Telling others what you are planning to do, and asking them to check in on your progress, is a great way to keep yourself on track.

And that is why I’m going to lay out my goals for 2021 right here.

I want you to help me stay on track by asking me how things are going at various points throughout the year.

So here’s what I’m planning, on the running front, for 2021:

• Run the Year (Stretch goal: 2,500 miles)
• 3,000 min Combined Bike/Yoga
• 80% of Tue/Thur Strength Training
• Monthly MAF Test
• Monthly Hard Workout

Tips for Setting the Right Goals, and Crushing Them, in 2021 Click To Tweet

What are Your Running Goals for 2021?

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