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Couch to 5K: Proper goal setting key to 5K planning
Published 10:32am Tuesday, July 24, 2012As you prepare for the 1st annual “Get Off the Couch” event and join the couch to 5K MOVEment, there is one thing to keep in mind to help you be successful…..have a plan. Although signing up for your first 5K might seem like an unattainable task, creating a good plan starts with proper goal setting. Three things to keep in mind when setting goals:
1. Be specific with your goal. Identify the exact goal accomplishments that you want to attain. Don’t simply state “I want to run a 5K” or “I want to run a 5K as fast as I can.” But specific to the who, what, when and how much. A specific goal helps keep you motivated because you know exactly what you want to accomplish.
2. Make sure your goal is measurable. Having a measurable goal will help you answer your daily question of “did I accomplish my goal for today, my goal for the week or my goal for this 5K challenge?” An easy way to make a 5K goal measurable is to use numbers; how many minutes or how many miles am I setting for my goal today?
3. The last component of goal setting is probably the most important; make sure your goal is attainable. The easiest way to quit on your plan is by setting goals that are unattainable or to hard to achieve. You will end up failing at reaching the goal and will end up quitting on your plan. Goals should be lofty, but more importantly should be realistically attainable.
If you keep these three things in mind when setting goals for your couch to 5K MOVEment, you’re more likely to stay on track with your training. And remember this works for more than just a 5K race. Setting daily goals helps us to accomplish the task at hand. It helps us to be successful in whatever it is we are trying to accomplish. Good luck and stick with the plan
