Setting goals. Keep it simple stupid.

Goal Setting for 2012

It is that time of year again when traditionally most of us reflect on the year that has just passed. Often we contemplate making and deciding on New Year's Resolutions. More often than not though after a few weeks or even days we lapse back into old habits and forget our resolutions. Without clear written down goals it is difficult to keep to resolutions. My Inspiration has come from Megan Castran aka Jewel chic who has been challenged to run every day in 2012. After examining the year 2011 which seems to have gone and so quickly, I have been considering a clear simple goal to achieve myself. I intend to match Megan’s goal myself and encourage others to do the same. Maybe we can swap notes and inspire each other. The Final goal is to complete the New York City Marathon.

My goal in 2012 is to run every day. That's right every day next year. Some days I might only run one mile or one kilometer. Other days a bit more gradually increasing the time and distance. Why don't you join in too? You might think that is no big deal But in 2011 I did not run at all, not once.

I have not enjoyed the natural high I used to get from jogging for such a long time so I have that to look forward to. We could swap notes and inspire each other. My YouTube friend Megan Castran in Melbourne has been inspired from her friend Sean from Indiana to do this, now so have I? So why not catch the bug? Post a comment that you want to join in. I hope to keep regular updates each week so we can encourage each other.

A second motivation for my running goal is The Indigenous Marathon Project inspired and led by former World Record Holder and Olympic Champion Australian Robert de Castella. Deek's Twitter handle is deek207. 207 represent his once world record time of 2 hours and seven minutes in the Men's Marathon.

The Indigenous Marathon Project is a joint Federal State and private initiative to improve the lot of disadvantaged Aboriginal youth. Already it has had success. Several aboriginal street kids have gone from wandering aimlessly in the streets of their home towns to finishing the New York City Marathon As well many of them now have jobs as well their health and welfare has improve markedly. The project aims to continue their success with this project

I hope to post a plan for the first week in the next day. So if you have not run before you can start with me slowly. Over a decade ago I used to do a lot of running around 100 kilometers a week. I was around 15 kilograms lighter than I am today. So I really want to get my fitness levels back to somewhere closer to what they used to be. I know for a fact I will feel and look a lot better if I do so. You can too.

Okay on the first of January 2012 I plan to run and walk for 20 minutes. No matter how I am feeling how sore my legs might be for the first time just starting to get going. That is my goal. I will write a journal each day I’ll call it a running Diary something that is not new. But still it will be an important piece of the physical and emotional journey of getting back into jogging. I urge you to do the same. Fill out the details your weight height Body mass index. Each week we can recalculate if there has been a change since the previous week. Even a small amount of improvement will be a massive incentive to keep going. I know it will work I have done it before many years ago. It will be a success why don't you join me. Leave a comment below and we can keep in touch.