SMART Goals?

On May 3rd, a Friday morning before work, I packed my bag to include running shoes, RoadID, watch, dry fit shorts and a dry fit shirt so that I could get away from work early and drive 62 miles to a small town west of Austin in the Texas Hill Country called Kingsland. My expectation was simply to run, set at least one goal and to fellowship with other men at a retreat hosted by my church. I left work early at 4:00 in the afternoon but it was too late. I got stuck in traffic. I had too much time to think about goal setting. One purpose of the retreat was for each man to walk away with a goal. Not just a normal goal but a SMART goal. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time Bound.


In 2010 I set a goal to run one marathon. Yes a crazy goal considering that the most I had ever run before was a 10k. I wanted to lose weight then so I needed a target. To reach the target exercise was required along with discipline, steady training, and accountability. The goal was specific, to run the Austin Marathon. Measurable - to finish 26.2 miles. Attainable - yes, even if I had to walk it I could do it. Relevant - yes it is relevant to me. Time bound - it would be done by February of 2011.


Something else was also needed, risk of loss, risk of failure and risk of reputation. The "R" in SMART really should be for "Risk." To achieve the "R" I put down the $100 registration fee and announce my goal to my friends on Facebook. Twenty six weeks later, goal achieved. Success came from the friendly letter "R."


Repeat goal for 2011 - 2012 season except add the letters PD and some resistance determination. Not really a handicap at all as I ran my second marathon faster by 45 minutes. Repeat three times for the 2012 - 2013 season.  Now, something more is needed.  What to do for the 2013 - 2014 season? Time waits for no one especially if you are blessed with the letters SMART and of course - PD.

 I was still stuck in traffic but I had a brilliant idea, “SMART - PD - 70.3”. As soon as I arrived in Kingsland I worked on the letter "R" by registering for the 1/2 Ironman with the $200+ entry fee and announcing the October event to my friends on Facebook. Ruth, my wife of 26 years, replied back later on Facebook with a new letter "S" as in, "You are not serious?" She really means, "S" as in, "Support!" She has supported every single one of my recent goals as she receives the collateral impact both positive and negative.


My new goal, I will swim 1.5 miles, ride 56 miles, and run 13.1 miles on October 27, 2013 in the Austin 70.3 Ironman. I just need to work out a few details such as getting a bike and starting the training program.

On Memorial Day, my two sons and I went down to Town Lake in Austin to watch the Capital of Texas Triathlon to see how it is done.  Truthfully, I wanted to see the level of fitness that I needed to achieve or "look."  This particular Triathlon is only half the distance that I will be doing in the Fall.  I can do it! Not yet, but with a good solid training program.