My husband and I run a marathon every fall. We’re up to 16 now… number 17 coming up in October. Every year, my husband sets a goal, deciding what time he wants or expects to finish the race. One year, he trained well and decided he wanted to run it in 3:15 to qualify for Boston. So he did. Other years, he barely trains all year long and still wakes up on marathon morning and runs 26.2 miles in less than a very respectable 4 hours. Sometimes he says that toward the end of the race, if he notices that his pace has fallen behind his goal, he “kicks it up” to cross the finish line in time.
My husband has never failed to achieve his marathon goal.
I, too, set a marathon goal time every year. However, being more the turtle than the hare in the family, my goals are far more modest than my husband’s… by hours. Yet, still I take into account my own training and reasonable ability when I determine my goal, which is usually in the 4 ½ to 5 hour range.
In 16 years, I have NEVER achieved my annual marathon goal.
Toward the end of each race, when I know my husband is milling around the finish tent, snarfing bananas and bagels and waiting for me to finish, it always occurs to me that my time goal is slipping out of my reach, so I attempt to “kick it up.” At mile 22, this means that I try to shuffle faster, but my whole body hurts so much at that point, the bystanders think I just tripped and stumbled 3 steps before resuming my shuffle. Usually by mile 24, I have to accept that it is physically, mentally, physiologically and astronomically impossible for me to finish by my goal time.
But that’s okay. The way I look at it, I don’t fail, I just live lofty.
I set goals slightly beyond my reach. I work hard to try to achieve a goal, and I always have something to look forward to.
It would be nice to succeed at everything I do, but failure is actually a great motivation to keep trying. Maybe the effort it takes to cross the finish line is what really counts.
So I encourage you to live lofty.
By the way, my goal is to run my next marathon in 4:59.
Ha! Don’t count on it.
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Please visit my website at http://annkhowley.com/#about-ann
12 Comments
Ann, goals are good things to have. without them, none of us would become writers. as long as we keep setting goals for ourselves, that’s what’s important. in achieving them, all we can do is try our best. i have run 3 marathons, and never made my goal of under 4 hours.
True words, Joe. I’m going to keep writing, running and trying!
Ann, goals are good things to have. without them, none of us would become writers. as long as we keep setting goals for ourselves, that’s what’s important. in achieving them, all we can do is try our best. i have run 3 marathons, and never made my goal of under 4 hours.
True words, Joe. I’m going to keep writing, running and trying!
Though I do not necessarily concur with the idea in totality, I regard your point of view.
Thank you! I appreciate your response.
Though I do not necessarily concur with the idea in totality, I regard your point of view.
Thank you! I appreciate your response.
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