Goals and Rewards: A Road Forward




Obviously I've set an enormous goal. And that's a fine thing. But what good does it do if I just slap it on my wall and don't make an actual plan to achieve it? Last week, we established a basis for tracking my physical progress from the 'Starting Zone' character I am now to the 'End Game' that is my big goal. But one big goal needs to be broken down into smaller, short-term, achievable goals. 

Now to do this, I am taking inspiration from the book "Level Up Your Life" by Steve Kamb as well as his website nerdfitness.com and the "Nerd Fitness Academy" (I highly recommend these resources to anyone interested in changing their lives, fitness related or otherwise). Steve likens short term goals to the side quests in a video game that empower your character and in turn help progress your story. And it does us no good if the goals are generic because it lacks real direction. So I decided to create a list of  SPECIFIC goals for the next six months leading up to the Monumental Half Marathon in early November (you may remember me mentioning this in the first post). These goals are all there to help me progress toward getting to the half marathon which in turn helps progress my ultimate story.

Now, I need something more to help keep me on track and disciplined to my goals. In part this blog acts as an accountability partner, what more can be done? Steve Kamb suggests that like any good quest (read: goal), completing it deserves a reward. So I have added quest rewards to my quests to help give motivation to completing them. 

Below is the list of the goals and associated rewards. Some of the rewards are books, which I have added hyperlinks to, for those who may be interested. Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions! I'll be keeping you all updated on the progress of these goals and what I think of the rewards as I get them. Check in next week for my first tracking update as well!

GOALS AND REWARDS:

1. Complete the Couch to 5K Program

2. Sign up for a 5K
3. Run a 35 minute 5K
  • REWARD: New Running Socks

4. Sign up for 10K
5. Run a 1 hour 18 minute 10K
6. Complete the Hal Higdon HM Program
  • REWARD: New Running Outfit

7. Run a 2:45 at the Monumental Mini

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