Ashlen here. So, you’ve trained for months for an event or some sort of goal, then the unthinkable happens: you wake up sick, or you get injured, or something else gets in the way, and you can’t race/compete/meet your goal/whatever! It’s sad, I know. I’ve been there. In fact, I was just there, this last weekend. Want to know what to do if you miss an event or a goal? Read on!
Dun, dun, dunnnn!
Cue the sad music. I’m pouting over here. Well, I did, but now I’m done.
Previously, I wrote about having a terrible race, but still surprising myself and not giving up, but that’s not what happened here. See, I had trained for another half marathon—one that I was really looking forward to. It was a trail race at a park near where I had grown up, Christmas-themed run, and in the nice winter weather. I trained specifically for this race for about 12 weeks, and damn it if I wasn’t going to do my personal best this time! But, alas, on race day, guess what happened. Guess! I woke up sick. WHAT?! I wavered in my decision, even got up at 5 am, got ready, went to packet pick-up with my brother, and then decided that the 45 degree, rainy weather and muddy trails would only make me super sick. I decided to try to not get super sick and just be with my brother/training partner in spirit.
So I didn’t run.
Insert pouty face here.
What did I do when I missed my event and goal? At first, not what you should do when you miss an event or goal. Well, I had myself a little pity party for a whole day. I second-guessed my decision, I did the whole “what if” thing. But, in the end, I know that whatever happened, I did the best I could, even if I didn’t run.
Those 12 weeks of training made me strong, fit, fast. I was ready for a personal best, and just because I didn’t get to show my stuff doesn’t mean I didn’t kick butt getting there.
To compound things, my brother was able to race and ran a personal best, which I’m thrilled about. It’s just frustrating to know that our training would have led to my own personal best and I missed it.
So, what can you do?
What do you do when you miss an event or goal? Well, the only thing you can do is take the wins and move forward. Pick another event and make your next goal. FOCUS ON THE WINS.
What were my wins? Well, I went through the training plan and each day I felt stronger than the last time I had done it. For this race, I had a clear goal in mind, and I made sure I set myself up to meet that goal. I know I would have, or at least hit very close to it, which is the best I can say. This time around, I felt more confident, I felt like it was easier, I enjoyed each training day more than the last, I was just in a better mental state for training than ever before.
Take the wins and move ahead. Really think about what you did. It’s not just that one day, it’s the journey, which takes hard work. That work that you put into achieving a goal, that’s the important part.
I know it feels just so…unfinished, but, really, it isn’t. Yeah, you didn’t get that crowning moment, but damn it, you put in the work. You experienced change for the good. You took steps to better yourself, and that’s not nothing.
What did you achieve?
You missed the big event or missed the goal. But by how much? What happened? So you didn’t drop all 20 pounds. How many did you drop? How do you feel now? Are you stronger/thinner/more confident/more capable/more knowledgeable than when you started? I bet you are. Think you can do better next time? Uh, YEAH YOU CAN! No matter how it went, it will be easier the next time.
And guess what! I’m here for you. I’ll do my best to help you with your own goals, and if life somehow gets in the way and you end up falling a bit short, I’ll even help throw you a pity party. We’ll commiserate and talk about everything you did right.
Then, THEN, we’ll get right back up and smash that goal in the face.
Here’s a picture of my brother crossing the finish line to his personal best. (Picture credit: Kacy).
Go, Anson! I really am proud of you. 🙂