Back in 2022, after basking in the glory of my first sub 3 hour marathon and a week of downtime, I hit the pavement once again with more determination than ever before. About two easy runs into the recovery process, I tweaked my hip and could barely walk. After hobbling into Publix to order a sheet cake for my daughter’s 7th birthday party, I returned to my car and immediately called my doctor. There was a growing sense of dread that now I had exceeded running goals, my hip had checked out and it was time to move on. That afternoon I drove to EmergeOrtho and anxiously awaited Dr. S to deliver the bad news. As we sat there going over my x-rays, we had a very honest conversation. The bones looked good, check. Am I pushing myself towards an early diagnosis of arthritis? Probably. Should I keep doing what I’m doing? No. Reconsider. Then he said something stuck with me: Think about moving targets. You hit one target, now go aim for another one.
Moving targets. I didn’t like the idea at the time, but it’s been growing on me.
As 2024 gets underway, I’ve continued to put thought into my goals and intentions with movement. My goals in 2024 are very different from my goals in 2001, when I first started running. Does anybody else ever remember hearing about the dreaded “freshman 15”? I have memories of this being an actual discussion topic during orientation my first week at NC State. As a freshman, apparently it wasn’t uncommon to gain 15 pounds that first year, and as an insecure 18 year old moving away for the first time, I did not want that to be me. So I ran. And I’ve run every year since then, for many different reasons, and with many different goals.
There is a difference between goals and intentions. Goals focus on future, external accomplishments. Intentions focus on a present, internal state of being. I wanted to get clear on my intentions with movement this year, and to identify it, I went through this exercise (inspired by Holstee):
Think of a big goal you’d like to accomplish. My big goal for 2024 is to complete an ultramarathon, complete 10 unassisted pull-ups, and do a handstand.
Imagine you have just crushed this goal. Knocked it out of the park. You’ve crossed the finish line - how do you feel? If I achieve any one of the above goals, I will feel like a strong, badass woman, who is determined, unstoppable, and limitless.
Allow the feeling that comes to mind to be your intention. My intention is to be a strong and determined woman who is limitless.
Bonus: Turn the intention into an affirmation: I am strong, determined and limitless.
I like the idea of moving targets. Whereas a few years ago my goal was to run X time, this year I’m looking for a new hard and a new way to find my strong. What are your intentions with movement this year?
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Tracie