Kimberly Frey Consulting

This past Sunday was the Chicago marathon. I shared in a previous post that I was training for my third Chicago marathon (and 7th overall) for the sole purpose of fundraising for Girls in the Game, an organization here in Chicago that I love. The last time I ran the Chicago marathon was in 2021, and at that time I had said that I was done with marathons until I was able to run the original course in Greece – which is a bucket list goal of mine. Yet when Girls in the Game asked for me to be a charity partner for them, I just couldn’t say no.

I am a goal-oriented person who also loves a good challenge. So to get me personally motivated for this year’s marathon, I wanted to come up with a goal that was bigger than “just finishing.” I ran my first Chicago marathon back in 2008, and at that time my goal was to run it in 4 hours and 45 minutes. Although I came close, I didn’t hit that mark. I also haven’t ran a marathon under five hours since. While reflecting on that, I decided I was going to make this the year I not only ran the course in under five hours, but that I also finally hit that 4:45 time.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “She wanted to run faster than she did 16 years ago? Impossible.” I agree that it was a lofty goal, up until Covid stopped the world four years ago, I was running much faster than I had ever ran before, even back in 2008. Although I have been struggling to get back to those speeds since 2020, I thought this was the perfect opportunity for me to create this stretch goal.

Fast forward through summer training, and as the weeks went by, I realized that I needed to revise my goals because it didn’t look like that 4:45 time was going to happen. The first revision was that I would finish in under five hours. When even that seemed like it was not going to be possible, I made my last goal revision: to beat my 2021 time. It’s three years later, and I’m three years older, so if I managed that goal then I felt it would still be an accomplishment that made me proud.

Why am I sharing all of this? Because to some, these constant goal revisions might seem like a cop out. But there is a wealth of research out there supporting that consistent reflection and revision (as needed) of your goals is one of the primary ways to maintain your motivation towards reaching said goals.

One of the very first concepts I work on with new clients is that of creating SMART goals. For those who aren’t familiar with this goal format, a SMART goal is:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Relevant/Realistic
• Time-Bound

I also work with clients on understanding the difference between a target goal and a stretch goal. You could say that my stretch goal with this marathon was hitting a 4:45 while the target goal was beating my 2021 time. Working with goals in this way keeps you motivated because you are making decisions based on data versus happenstance. You are providing the stepping stones for your success.

Take for example a road trip. You have the goal of getting to said destination, you have a map on how to get there, and you head out. However, somewhere along the way there is a roadblock. Maybe it’s construction or an accident. Whatever the reason, you are being blocked from getting to your destination. Do you just sit there or do you follow the detour? Following the detour allows you to keep making progress while sitting there leads to frustration (and probably some road rage).

It’s the same with our goals. We can create the best goal that aligns with the information we have at hand at the time, but as new information or circumstances arise, we must be willing to reflect on it and determine if we need to revise our goal. Otherwise, we risk just being stuck, frustrated, and angry. Revising goals as needed isn’t a cop out at all; it is a way to support your success.

What are your current goals? Do you have both a stretch goal and a target goal? When is the last time you have reviewed your progress towards your goals? Feel free to share with me in the comments as I’d love to hear from you. You can also reach out here for a free coffee chat to discuss your goals with me in person. I’d love to hear about how you are challenging yourself and how you stay motivated.

You Can Do It. I Can Help.

If you’d like to read more about my Chicago marathon training journey, click here.

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