I have felt a nasty pressure recently. I set a goal of competing in the 2022 Half Ironman in Durban.

Every day then became a step towards the goal. A step towards a goal that is 10 months away. 

Today I moved the Half Ironman from a goal into an ideal.

I moved training into something I value.

I restated my goal as a lifestyle triathlete that allocates time to training every week. 

Be the change

I needed to see that I am being it – sometimes the best way to change is simply to be the change. It is not something that I will only do on 5 June 2022. 

If I want to go for a run, I want to be able to. If I want to go for a cycle, I want to be able to. If I want to go swim, I want to be able to. I want to live triathlon as opposed to doing it on a day next year.

Position the goal

So how do I position this lifestyle goal as a S.M.A.R.T. goal?

I have been extraordinarily strong recently on S.M.A.R.T. goal setting, as opposed to being driven by vague intentions.

S – My focus is specifically the combination of swimming, cycling, and running, one after each other and within a maximum requirement of a 70.3, but more commonly for sprint distance events.

M – 1,9 km swim, 90 km ride and 21 km run now – I’ve moved away from ‘one day,’ or on the 5 June 2022, to ongoing measurement and assessment of viability.

A – I have never had an exercise goal so aligned with my life operating principles as this.

R – By making this an immediate goal as opposed to the June 2022 version, I have eliminated much of the noise that took away from my level of ownership or responsibility for the goal. 

T – 70.3 viability by the end of November 2021.

Why not now?

The delay or wait has been removed by asking the ‘why not now?’ question.

The ‘what if’ risks that made owning the goal more difficult no longer complicate the goal, they will form part of a recovery plan.

What can you take from my experience?

Aim for viability quickly. 

Compare current ability to viability requirements, to determine the immediate performance gap.

Achieve viability.

Maintain viability.

Raise the bar at any time and achieve viability quickly.

Why delay?

Be authentic.

Be the change.

Enjoy the journey.