Ready, Set, GOAL!
You have been training, planning and working hard towards a goal and BAM! You hit a road block. Whether it be an injury, a change of plans or an act of God, but you are now sidelined by a setback. You are now faced with 2 choices . You can A) give up B) get back in the game. You don’t have to let a setback be the end of your journey – you can take the opportunity to view it as a set UP to a new goal.
A Goal Within A Goal
Many athletes train for a particular event only to be stopped in their tracks by an injury. They don’t give up on their sport and throw in the towel. They reassess their overall goal by reaching for a new goal – recovery. Their eyes are still on the big prize, but they have to work on a new goal in order to get back in the game. Take a cue from them and set yourself up for a new venture. As you heal , try a new activity like yoga or swimming. Set a goal that you want to achieve within your new activity. As you recover, you can still “compete” by challenging yourself to learn and perfect a new pose or stroke.
Change Of Plans
Maybe your setback was due to change of plans on your part or the event was cancelled. This happens A LOT to runners because of poor weather conditions. It’s very frustrating, but if you trained for a race your training doesn’t have to be for nothing. Find another race! Running a race that you don’t have planned or is unfamiliar to you can be exciting and fun. If finding another race is not an option, then run your own race. When the weather improves or your schedule clears up, map out the distance you planned to run and get after it. You may not get a finisher medal, but knowing you stuck with it is reward enough.
It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over
Sometimes setbacks actually mean giving up on your goal. Things happen that can permanently halt your progress, but don’t let it stop you from excelling. Find a new goal that fits into your life and your abilities but also takes you out of your comfort zone. The fear of something new and challenging can be refreshing and exciting. excel
No matter what your setback is, don’t let it get you down. It may take you a little longer to reach your goal or take you in a totally different direction, but you can still persevere.
