Using goals as a way to have control in my life
I liked today’s Runner’s World Quote of the Day:
The quote says: Running gives me a sense of controlling my life. I like the finiteness of runs, the fact that I have a clear beginning and end. I set a goal and achieve it. A good run makes you feel sort of holy.
Except for the whole “feeling holy” part (what does that even mean?), I can totally relate to this.
I am someone who struggles with having control in their life. I need structure. I need goals/milestones/guidelines. I can be easy going and go with the flow of things, but I am someone who works best with a PLAN.
Running gives me the opportunity to have long-term goals and plans to achieve them, along with mini daily goals. I DO feel accomplished when I have it in my mind that I am going to run a certain distance/time that day, then I go out and do it. It’s maybe the one thing in my life that is simple enough I CAN control on a daily basis.
My only worry with this is that I am TOO goal-oriented. Honestly, I was feeling a bit lost in my running until I signed up for the Kansas City Marathon. I felt worried that I would “lose” my endurance if I wasn’t following a training plan. Even now, I am keeping up around 20+/- miles a week, but I still feel lost/unstructured, because my official training does not start until 6/15.
And surprisingly, feeling lost in running spilled over into feeling “uneasy” in general. I was really, really anxious until I selected my next goal and developed my next plan. I guess running truly is my balance now.
So, while I think it is good to have plans and goals to follow, because they make me feel like I have some control, I realize that I have some sort of addiction. Steven actually told me he thinks I have compulsive behavior when it comes to running (and other things) – he thinks I set my mind on something, and won’t stop until I achieve it (or something like that – he wasn’t trying to insult me). That can be both good and bad. It would be really good if I could take some of that and apply it to other life goals (oh you know, like getting licensed, blah de blah), but for now, my focus seems to be on running. Which is good… until I become too obsessive. And I don’t feel like I am there yet. Ha!
This is actually not meant to be a post all about running, but about control and goals, and I think it could apply to a lot of different behaviors or activities. Do you feel like there are elements in your life that you feel you have control over, and bring you a sense of accomplishment, or calm?
Themocracy
Ever since I committed to myself to get healthy I am obsessively writing down goals. I’m getting worried I am channeling my controlling nature into it which I’ve done before. I’m going to keep careful watch on it because what I want is health and balance.
i so feel you on this post… i think i am obsessive compulsive… and like you said, this can be good and bad… and control issues… um, yeah… i have major issues!!!! right now nothing is bringing me a sense of peace and calm- at least you have running!!!!
=^..^=
I go in phases with this but I definitely love the structure of a running/training plan. Although I have stressed myself out in the past if a certain run couldn’t get done a certain way with a specific meal before hand. For this past training I tried being more flexible with the schedule and it made for an even happier runner!
I thin I am a lot like you where once I set my mind to something, I am all in and determined to complete whatever that is. When I start a new hobby I am sort of obsessed with it until I work it out of my system.
I am a very task-oriented person. I prefer things to have a concrete, structured plan with a beginning and an end. Like you, I think it’s why I love running so much and feel lost when I don’t have a plan to follow. I don’t even remember how I ran before I discovered training plans!
Running (and exercising in general) is currently the only thing in my life that has such structure. My job doesn’t have much and it makes me crazy. Interestingly enough, I’m really bad at setting personal goals and creating a plan to reach them. I need those external goals, like a race or a new distance PR, to keep me on track.
I’m the same way. I’m a super competitive person, so I like to use that to motivate myself. If I’m not working to beat a PR or train for a new race distance, I’ll be stuck on the couch eating doritos. 🙂
I *really* like following a training plan. Ever since the Wisconsin Marathon, I’m not sure what to do since I haven’t picked my next race yet! (That and moving kind of mixed up all my running!) I think this stems from the fact that most of my beginning running in junior high and high school was guided by my cross country and track coaches. I never had to think about my running, I just had to show up and do what I was told. Now I kind of feel lost when I don’t have a training plan (my “coach”) to follow. Gotta start thinking about a fall marathon…
sizzle – At least you are recognizing NOW that this is a pattern you have followed before, and you probably now how to tackle it. Right? Right? RIGHT?! riiight…? 😉
CourtneyInControl – Maybe you can find control over something that WILL bring you peace and calm! Were you into yoga?
Jamie – I sometimes get caught up in that “every run has to be perfect!” mentality. I will feel sad starting a run if I ate something crappy before it. I always try to make it into a positive one though.
tori – I have gotten that way with so many things. Why are we like that? What are we looking for that we need something to focus so intently on?!
Erin – That is what I was thinking as I wrote this – how awesome would it be if I was this way with my personal/career-realted goals as well?! Hey, at least we have this, right?
Jeri – I do like to keep challenging myself and seeing how far/fast I can go! And the good thing about running is that you are almost always improving, but at a slow pace, so you can satisfy that competitiveness 😉
Susan – Wouldn’t it be awesome to STILL HAVE a running coach? I know some runners who have them, kind of like a trainer, but for running. That would be so cool. I can’t wait to hear about your fall marathon pick 😉