The Storm Mile: How To Reach Your Goals

For the past couple of years I have regularly taken my children to run the mile. For the most part, this has been a positive experience but there are times when one of my children does not want to participate.  Sitting is not an option but if they want to walk that is up to them.  This walking mile occurred a few times in the latter half of 2017.

As part of their new year’s resolutions, each one of my children committed themselves to improving their mile time. They set a specific target they wanted to beat this year.  This goal caused a few of my children to demand that I take them to the track this past weekend (something I had not yet done this year).  It is hard to say no when you got kids begging you to run the mile.  We finally got out to the track this past Saturday morning.   

Emerson, my seven year old, had the goal to break 7:45.  His previous best was 8:16.  Norah, my 9 year old, had the goal to break 9:45.  Her previous best was 10:15.  With the excitement of “personal bests” in the air we were off.  I say “we” because I decided to run by Emerson’s side for the first time (previously this was not an option due to my health challenges).  Norah used us as a barometer of how fast she needed to go.  Emerson maintained his pace throughout and finished strong on the final lap. I kept waiting for him to slow down and walk as he had done in the past.  His pace was too aggressive (or so I thought).  Much to my surprise he kept the pace and got a 7:29.  I then ran to Norah on the other side of the track and helped her to finish strong as well.  She got a 9:35.  Amazing!  They both smoked their goal.  I could not believe it.  

What caused such a shift in my children’s attitude, pace, and time?  I pondered on this question throughout the weekend.  I gained the following insights:

1. Exciting goals:  They set an aggressive, yet exciting goal.  For whatever reason this goal became meaningful to them.  They genuinely wanted to work towards its achievement.        The goal got them excited.  So much so that they nagged me to take them to the track on a Saturday morning.  The goal, in and of itself, had the power to motivate them to action.  
2. Masking pain with progress:  Many goals cause us to be uncomfortable and tired.  The mile is a great example of this.  Yet Emerson and Norah did not think of the pain when they asked that I take them to the track.  Instead they focused on the feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment that would result if they achieved progress.   It was painful.  Emerson’s face that last lap showed this.  Yet ,interestingly, he did not talk about the pain but only of the accomplishment of his goal.   This mindset was not present when some of the children had previously decided to walk the mile.
3. Support:  This is the first time I have run with Emerson.  I provided guidance through the pace I set.  I did not say much.  I just stayed the course and gave him a clear standard to follow.  Having us run on the same track as Norah also helped her to improve her own pace.  We were there to help and assist each other.  We were there to do better.  Emerson complimented Norah on her finish and there was positivity all around.  Surrounding ourselves with the right people as we strive to become better and achieve our goals is a key component of a successful and fulfilling life.

If you are finding that your new year’s resolutions have already fallen by the wayside try modifying these goals into ones that excite you.  Approach these goals with a focus on the end result and not on the work to get there.  Establish a support system that will assist and inspire you to do better.  My own personal experience has taught me that surrounding myself with the right people and structure is perhaps the most powerful element in achieving my best.  This support network can be found in family, friends, church, groups, or wherever we find people that build, uplift, and inspire us towards our personal best.