My 2019 goals are already a fail

Published by Bethany on January 14, 2019January 14, 2019

It’s nearly halfway through January, and how many of us have dropped some–or all–of our planned resolutions?

Is there an answer besides literally everyone?

I know I’m guilty. One example: every year I hope to read through the Bible, a goal where success largely depends on the eat-the-elephant approach. Since I’m mentioning it, you can assume I’m already several bites short.

Then there’s getting back in shape postpartum. Waay back in 2018, my slow and steady approach was something to be celebrated. Being smart, taking my time, and all that. Now my lack of progress, in that I haven’t gotten back on the bike, or in the pool, like, all ALL, seems like a problem. It’s hard enough to make it to the basement level for a fifteen-minute strength workout.

On a side note, things have been going well on the keep-the-boys-alive goal, my new primary objective, purposely framed with a very low bar.

Last week when I chronicled lessons learned from running the wrong way in my first marathon, I wasn’t thinking of #resolutionfails. Somehow last week seemed like an acceptable time frame to be ramping up. Easing into them.

But when I read through my lessons again on January 14th, I see them in a different light.

If you missed my story about my marathon fail, here’s what happened in a nutshell:

I had a massive goal for my first marathon. My training was so-so, and race morning brought wind and rain, a non-record-setting marathon day in an objective sense. But I was having none of it. It was warm, and, did I mention our pacer was pacing too fast? And then he went the wrong way and no one (except the pacer himself) actually finished on time. I did not end up reaching my time goal that day, but I did end up tearing my calf, an injury that plagued me for years. I also pierced my timing chip, so I didn’t get an official time. Wah wah.

What does this have to do with feeling better about your #resolutionfails? Well first up, resolving to hit an arbitrary goal no matter what happens may be a recipe that results in permanent consequences.

Does that make me feel better? Not really.

At the very least I thought I’d be in better shape by now. Just because so and so won an IRONMAN four months post-partum, or this amazing lady PR’d while pumping breast milk on the run leg doesn’t mean I have to or “should.”

News flash: it’s not realistic to plot out your world domination strategy using some adorable free printables and the planner that will solve everything.

Back to my marathon. For any non-runners reading, if you pierce the timing chip, it doesn’t work.

After all that effort my first marathon didn’t even “count.” They eventually gave me credit online, but for a long time I was shown as a big fat DNF! How does that apply to my current-day resolutions? Even if that DNF remained, it doesn’t mean I didn’t make the effort or achieve something worthwhile. I did my best though I didn’t officially reach the finish line.

What did I learn?

Failing to hit goals is not the same as embracing mediocrity.

Also, I need an A, B, and C goal. Not just in races, but in life–adjusting my goals to my current situation–new mom of twins–encapsulated in this video.

Maybe formulating A, B, and C goals are a better approach to resolutions in general.