Goal Setting: Let's Get Real

It recently dawned on me that my blog is now four years old. Wow. I wish I could say that made me feel like I have accomplished something, but not so much. I have posted about 43 posts (not including this one) during those four years. I didn’t post anything in 2007, and only had a few postings in 2008. Why is that?

2006: Roller coast of a year. Lots of unemployment, a few new jobs, severe illness, family drama, and a really cool vacation thrown in the mix.

2007: Laid off again in the spring; temp job, finally rehired by a previous employer. Lots and lots of over time – so no time for rides!

2008: Moved on to a new job to regain some balance in life. Despite riding to work once, didn’t do any real riding even after purchasing new bike. (Son trashed the back wheel a month after I bought it.)

2009: Unemployment (yet again – gotta love layoffs – not!), extreme job search, homeschooling, and then finally getting my bike fixed and going out for a few rides. Started a new job in late July, and still trying to squeeze in a few rides each week.

I never did hit the goals I wanted to the past few years. Never hit my mileage goals, nor riding in an event, such as the MS150 ride. My mistake was not focusing on just getting out – but on trying to hit mileage goals, etc. I should have just worried about “am I going out for a quick ride a few times a week?” so I could make riding my bike a habit.

New goals are needed; but I am being more cautious this time around. Nothing is worse than setting oneself up for failure. Over the next month there are going to be a few changes that will affect my ability to ride: I will start working two nights a week and my husband will be going to school two nights per week. Although I will have my older daughters around to help watch the younger ones on his school nights, I don’t think it would be fair to go for rides and make them watch the younger minions. And I most likely won’t get home until after 9 PM on my late nights. I need to keep these factors in mind while setting new goals for myself.

When thinking about my goals, I want ones that will help me work on getting more of a HABIT of riding on a regular basis down; work on my ENDURANCE in how far I can ride a bike; as well as add some more ADVENTURE into my rides to keep things fresh and fun. Based on that, here are my goals for the rest of the year:

1. Ride at least 3 times per week, not counting rides with minions (HABIT)

2. At least one ride per week should be 10 to 15 miles; the rest about 5 miles min. (ENDURANCE)

3. Try to have at least 1 of the rides in the morning (HABIT)

4. Explore more of the trails in the Plano Park system, as well as increase amount of road riding I do (ADVENTURE)

I will refine each goal as the time moves forward. I think they are all pretty achievable, and will help me not only work towards being a better cyclist, but also help improve my physical and mental health. There is nothing as soothing and uplifting as a good bike ride. If more people would get on a bike and ride for 30 minutes a day outside in a nice park or the woods, etc…there would be a lot more happy people in the world.