As we turn the page of a new calendar and get use to writing ‘2023’ in place of ‘2022’ the New Year is also a time when we welcome a ‘fresh start’ in different areas of our lives, and typically set New Year’s Resolutions.
The year ahead feels like a blank canvas. What will it hold?
Now is the time when we are most open to setting big goals and inviting in more possibility in our lives…
Read MoreHadn’t planned to run that far… but I did!
And from my current non-existent running base it was a pretty gutsy effort I must say 😊 💪
I wanted to share how it unfolded because I learnt so much and was reminded of a lot of things I ‘knew’ but could do with the reminder of. And for anyone with a marathon or big run coming up, maybe this will help. It’s a big one so sit back 🍿…
Read MoreAfter her Marathon win at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games recently Jess Trengove spoke of how she ‘gets the most out of herself when she’s thinking one k at a time’.
Lindsay Flanagan said something similar after her win at the Gold Coast Marathon (in a new course record of 2:24!) - her main goal was to ‘stay present the whole race and take it one mile at a time’ - something she says to have struggled with in the past.
There’s a lot to be said for both of these performances and wonderful athletes…
Read MoreI’ve been asked this question a lot lately:
‘Is it too late to take on my goal? Am I too old?’
My short answer is a resounding…
No! It’s never too late to take on a goal of any kind
Read MoreI remember that draw dropping moment when I crossed the Sydney Marathon Finishing Line in a PB time (personal best) after just 4 weeks training! Which isn’t a lot when it comes to training for a Marathon…
I was already well onto this concept by then, I’d applied it in previous races and other areas of my life. But it often takes a powerful moment of validation for us to really believe in something, in no uncertain terms.
And this was one of those moments for me.
Read MoreI came up with this quote a few years ago to help me get through my last Marathon.
Having only done 4 weeks training for it, I anticipated I’d need it… and I did!
I pulled it out of the Inspiration Kit recently for the Melbourne Marathoners, and wanted to share it here, because it goes for any kind of goal and life itself.
Read MoreYou may be aware of my love affair with the word ‘POSSIBILITY’.
It’s a good one.
But you’ve got to take the ticket to invite it in!
You’ve got to sign up to that big goal in the first place to allow you to see and to experience what’s possible in your life.
Read MoreIt's a bit like learning to dance in the rain, than waiting for the storm to pass…
Self-doubt can be a common trait for many of us. Especially when it comes to taking on something ‘big’.
And it’s typically seen as a bad thing. But I don’t believe it has to be. I think it all comes down to what we do with that self-doubt.
Read MoreAchieving a goal becomes a collation of choices.
Choices that will either bring you closer to, or further from - your goal.
That’s it. It can be that simple.
Read MoreGetting your child to sleep might not sound like a big deal, but for any parent who’s been there done that the big deal nature of it might relate.
Not so long ago I was focused on getting a consistent good night’s sleep and as a friend quite rightly pointed out - this could be my greatest challenge yet!
Read MoreI’ve been reminded recently to ‘never give up on your dreams’
And I thought it was such brilliant advice surely someone’s got that quote with their name on it… and they do - Barack Obama!
In the space of a few days I’ve heard such contrasting stories. Stories of some dreams being crushed, and of another’s, having been crushed many times, finally coming to be.
Read MoreTo me, having a goal is almost like breathing…
Granted they don’t always need to be big goals, but there is such enormous value in having a goal, of any form.
Goals give us drive, focus and a direction to head in.
And when we’re feeling un-driven, we’ve lost focus, and we don’t feel like we’re going anywhere or getting anywhere… I think a goal can often be the remedy.
Read MoreI was asked the question recently on a podcast interview as to whether a coach and others on my ‘team’ for certain goals helped me with accountability.
And I said ‘no, not really’. Because those goals we were talking about I owned completely. I didn’t need anyone to hold me to account. I wanted them to help me in other ways with their expertise, but nothing to do with accountability.
Read MoreWhatever distance you’ve signed up to run, or are considering, if it’s enough of a stretch from where you’re at right now, it could feel completely overwhelming, and make your knees wobble just at the very thought of it.
These are perfectly normal feelings, and I’d even suggest they’re good ones! Because they’re a sign of your courage and ambition in setting this goal, and I applaud you for that.
Read MoreThere might only be one race bib allocated to you for race day, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it on your own. Forming a team around you to help get to the start line and achieve your goal is one of the most important things you could do.
And I think this is where many of us can become unstuck and fall short in achieving our goals, because we don’t recognize it early enough. Or perhaps we don’t know what kind of support we might need and where best to get it.
Read MoreOur bodies truly are the most incredible instruments. There is more magic and capability to them than we could ever understand or fully appreciate. But as runners, we can often default to working ‘against’ our body, not with it. And in doing so, limit our performance and compromise our body in the process – i.e. we can injure it!
This isn’t necessarily an intentional thing, it can just happen. As we strive to achieve more we feel we need to push harder. And it can become pretty tempting to keep up with a group that might be a little quick for us, or finish the session just to get it done when we should really call it quits.
Read MoreWhen it comes to taking on any big goal – having a good plan to get there is paramount. And that’s certainly the case for a big running goal such as a marathon. There are plenty of training plans out there to choose from, or better still have one custom made to suit you and your lifestyle.
But here’s the key to any training plan… Let it guide you, not govern you.
Read MoreFor some people the word ‘holistic’ will be a very familiar term, and for others you may shy away cautiously wondering what ‘woowoo’ methods I’m going to suggest!
And either response is perfectly fine. Above anyone else’s advice, mine included – do what feels right for you. Because if it doesn’t feel right, it probably won’t be.
Read MoreA lot can happen come race day. And the majority of it will be out of your control. It could be related to the weather, a ‘malfunction’ of some sort, and in current times the race might not even go ahead! Plenty of athletes have sadly and frustratingly trained for their big event for months, or even years and had it cancelled or rescheduled, multiple times.
And then of course there’s the simple fact that some days it all comes together, and other days - it just doesn’t. So I’d encourage you not to lose sight of all the days that lead to that one day – race day.
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