Go After Your Dreams

In December last year, I was running well and surprising myself. It was around that time that I shared a guest post from NYC-based running coach Scott Fishman, on the techniques he utilizes for himself and his clients to achieve running goals. It struck a chord with me and I began working with Scott as a coach soon thereafter. If you read my Year of Running recap for 2014, you know I had a great year of running and racing. Certainly part of that was due to working with a coach, but more importantly, I really took the advice of using visualization and belief in my own abilities to heart.

Since it was such  valuable and useful post for me over this past year, I decided I would share Scott’s words of wisdom again. I hope you can use this advice like I did, to go after your dreams. Here’s to an amazing year of running in 2015 for all of us!

The Secret to Achieving New Years Resolutions

(and running Personal Bests)

The fact you are reading this blog post is an indication that you are serious about your New Years resolutions and/or running goals. However, putting my suggestions into action will determine if you make your desired results happen.

Hopes and wishes DO NOT come true.

People’s resolutions are often simply hopes and wishes. For a resolution to come true, we must transform our resolution into a burning obsession.

Burning obsessions DO come true.

Your resolution must be a definite goal. We must place all of our energy, willpower, and effort into achieving that goal.

If you run races, it is more than likely that one of your New Years resolutions will include a time goal. So for the purpose of this post, let’s look at a runner with a goal of a sub 3-hour marathon in the 2014 Boston Marathon.

1. Fix in your mind the exact race time you desire. For example: 2:59:00. It has to be specific. Make sure it is realistic. If you do not know, ask a certified running coach.
2. Determine the sacrifices that you will need to make.
3. Establish a definite date when you intend to achieve the race time you set out to accomplish.
4. Create a training plan and start putting the plan into action. If it is pre New Year, there’s no need to wait until January 1^st. It is best to get started now. And make sure your training plan follows the science. I’d be happy to help you out.

Now… put it all together in writing…

Write out a clear, concise statement of the time goal you intend to achieve. Be specific and include the following:

• Your goal time.
• Description of the sacrifices that you will need to make to reach your goal.
• The time limit for its achievement.
• The training program that you will follow.

If you are running the Boston Marathon, it may be something like, “I will run a marathon time of 2:59. I will give 100% effort. This goal will be achieved by April 21, 2014, in the Boston Marathon. I will accomplish this goal by following the training plan that my Coach has written for me.”  Now add this to the end: “I believe I will reach this goal. My faith is so strong that I can now see this achievement before my eyes.” Do not forget the last two sentences.

Now that you have put your statement into writing… place it in your subconscious…

Find a quiet spot where you will not be distracted. Close your eyes and repeat out loud your written statement.

As you do this, see yourself accomplishing your goal.

Place a written copy of your statement where you can see it upon waking up and going to sleep. Read it just before retiring and upon rising until it has been memorized.

Feel and believe yourself already in attainment of your goal.

Achieving goals begins with a state of mind. Follow my instructions in this article and your New Years resolutions will come true.

Better yet, start today. Don’t waste valuable time waiting for a new year.

Go get em!

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About the author: Scott Fishman is an NYC-based online running coach, with over ten years of experience and expertise as a fitness professional and the founder of coaching business Team All American. As well as a Certified USA Track and Field Coach, he is also a Certified Personal Trainer and a Certified Nutrition Consultant. You can follow Scott on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, or get in touch through the Team All American website.

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