Progress, not perfection

As another year comes to an end, I’m enjoying looking back at 2015 and remembering all the things I could never have predicted would happen: winning trophies in Cyprus (during the most brilliant weekend!), an incredible MudMonsters team day out, more clients running half and full marathons than ever before, turning ‘I hate running’ clients into enthusiastic 10k runners, loads and LOADS of lbs of fat lost (never to be found again – not mine I should add!) and to end the year, the Jo’s Thing rowing team produced a stunning WORLD RECORD!

For all of those achievements, the initial idea and planning carried doubts about whether I’d be able to pull it off both in terms of the planning that would need to go into it and the progress that would need to be made to achieve the goal. But that’s exactly the point, the end goal MUST feel somewhat out of reach in order for it to be a worthwhile goal to achieve.  Once the decision is made to focus on a goal, then the hardest part is done. No, seriously. After that, it’s about having a realistic plan and following it. Nobody needs to be perfect, life doesn’t work like that. Progess; that’s what it’s all about.

I’m a strong believer in needing a timebound goal in order to achieve progress, otherwise you’re just floating and it’s tricky to keep motivation going.

My next goal? Actually, even though the last one was less than a fortnight ago, I’m already having the ‘Yikes! Can I really do this?’ thoughts about my next goal. I’ve got less than 4 months to train for the London Marathon after a year where I don’t think I’ve ever run so little. Could I run a marathon now? NO! I’ll be starting my training tomorrow and focussing on progress. On each and every run. Progress.

And if you see me and I’m panicking about the marathon – please remind me what it’s all about: Progress, not perfection!

Now’s as good a time as any to think about your own goal, whether it be a run, a different event or weight related. Decide on the goal, get a plan (shout if you want help) and focus on…yep, progress 🙂

Thanks for a fabulous 2015, happy new year and see you in 2016!