3 Clear Steps for Accomplishing Your HUGE Goals
At 4:00am on the morning of May 26, 2014, my friend Matt set out to run 42 miles on his 42nd birthday.
This represented a huge goal for the running enthusiast who, up until then, never ran further than 26 miles in one stretch (and 10 years since he had done that!). His planned loop would begin and end at his own front door.
Matt’s huge 42-mile goal materialized the previous June while running in the Reno-Tahoe Odyssey Relay Run Adventure, a grueling 178 mile relay race completed by 12 member teams. As he chatted with other runners, including his then 66-year-old father, Matt threw out the idea of running 42 miles on his next birthday and then continuing the tradition annually, adding miles as the calendar added years.
His inspiration for the idea sprung from the iconic Jack LaLanne (AKA “the godfather of fitness”) and Matt’s own father who ended up biking all 42 miles alongside Matt with a backpack of supplies.
How did Matt’s wife and daughters feel about his huge goal? “They thought I was crazy!” says Matt.
So how do you even begin tackling such a HUGE goal? Well, I learned three clear steps that Matt followed to achieve his huge running goal.
These three methods offer a good framework for achieving any goal, and especially a huge one.
1. Define a clear vision
Matt knew EXACTLY what he wanted to do. He wanted to run 42 miles on his 42nd birthday. No more, no less, and not on any other day. His vision was straightforward and clear.
2. Create a way to track your progress
In January of 2014, Matt wrote up his plan. He began by mapping out the miles he would need to run each week to build up to his 42-mile goal. He created a running calendar and began his first week of training with an eight-mile run, adding an additional two miles to every week following.
3. Commit with every ounce of resolution and make it non-negotiable.
When asked if he ever doubted that he could reach his goal, Matt says, “No, I knew I could.” When asked about set backs, Matt explained that the one week when he did not ‘fuel’ properly, running was “a horrible experience.” Even without the proper fuel, he still ran. Not running simply was not an option.
How does Matt feel in hindsight about achieving his huge goal?
Well, he is already enthusiastically planning next year’s birthday run and even talking about making it a charity event. Onward and upward, right? Holy cow.
So, my friend, what is your HUGE goal?
Define your vision, track your progress, and commit everything within you and you, too, can look back in victory!
