{"id":40293,"date":"2015-06-08T11:15:14","date_gmt":"2015-06-08T15:15:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=40293"},"modified":"2016-07-14T16:03:25","modified_gmt":"2016-07-14T20:03:25","slug":"running-goal-setting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/running-goal-setting\/","title":{"rendered":"Bored of Running? 2 Goals Every Runner Needs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jason Fitzgerald is a USATF certified coach, 2:39 marathoner, and Head Coach of <\/em>Strength Running<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Most runners are familiar with goals, like \u201cRun my first marathon<\/a>\u201d or \u201cGet past this pesky injury<\/a>.\u201d But after working with thousands of runners, it\u2019s clear to me that most runners don\u2019t set both <\/em>types of goals that are critical for success: short- and long-term goals.<\/p>\n

No matter what you hope to accomplish with your running, goal setting is the most efficient way to achieve what you want. \u201cBreak that long-term goal down into smaller, short-term goals that help get you there,\u201d Doug Hay, an ultramarathoner and founder of Rock Creek Runner<\/a>, says. \u201cAll the while, your big goal lingers in the back of your mind, motivating you to keep pushing forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> The 30 Best Marathons in the Entire World<\/a><\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re a complete beginner<\/a> or a seasoned competitor<\/a>, setting goals is a fantastic way to ensure that your runs feel productive and successful. But choosing the right target is key. Ultimately, goals are only worthwhile if they help you get where you want to go, and allow you to enjoy the process. Not every moment of training will be full of sunshine and rainbows, but any objective you set should move you forward.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Short-Term Goals for Big Gains
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“Think big! Set a goal that makes your heart skip a beat and ties your stomach up in knots.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Small changes, done regularly, can add up to serious gains down the line. These can include any number of things, from adding new challenges to your routine to changing up where you run to improving your diet<\/a>. Keep the goals manageable so that you can see results as soon as possible. These small improvements will help amplify your fitness, speed recovery and prevent injury \u2014 without a huge investment of time and energy. In other words, the little things add up. \u201cShort-term goals give you something tangible and approachable to tackle right away,\u201d Hay says. \u201cThey give your training a focus for the short-term that will have a lasting effect on the long-term.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 3 Quick and Easy Ways to Prevent Running Injuries<\/a><\/p>\n

Try working these small challenges into your runs to improve your long-term success:<\/p>\n