Lotteries for some of the largest races have already been held and many of us are outlining plans for next year. This is an exciting time, but it’s also easy—maybe too easy—to commit to a big endeavor many months in the future. The following ideas are a few considerations, as 2023 begins to take shape, to help you maintain a high level of excitement and dedication from the moment you receive your official enrollment email to the time you cross the finish line(s).
Look back on the past season (or seasons) and assess how things went. Did you set goals and were you able to accomplish them? If so, why, or why not? Was the achievement of your objectives largely within your control or did you happen upon some amount of luck? Who were the key players in your support system and is it likely they will be able to play those roles in the upcoming year? What brought you the most joy during your training and which aspects created more anxiety or stress for you? As you ask these types of questions, be specific and honest. With more attention to detail, and a straightforward self-inquiry, you’re more likely to be able to replicate and/or correct past mistakes.
Consider the non-static factors. Things change. That’s one guarantee in life: rarely do things stay the same. Weather, career, relationship demands and fitness levels are all factors that influence our training. Recognize that even with a full and honest assessment of a past season, there will be plenty of factors out of your control. To a large degree, that’s just life. But, attaining an outcome you are content with may not be as simple as addressing a single limitation from a prior race and expecting a perfect or near perfect result. Take steps to overcome weak points in your ultra and trail running game. Simultaneously, it’s helpful to accept that there may be hurdles, largely out of your control, that may wreak havoc on your best laid plans, which ties in nicely to the next point.
What do you really want? Picture your future self at the start line one week, one month and three months away from race day. Specifically, identify the sacrifices you believe will be required for you to achieve your goals. Be sure that you’re willing to make those sacrifices and that you’ll continue to be willing to do so, week in and week out over the next several months. Of course, you may not feel super before every training run or cross training session. While we don’t always look forward to the training agenda, having a compelling reason that supersedes a drop in motivation can carry you through low points. Being highly confident in the reasons behind your decision to commit to an event is ammunition you can use when the costs feel most daunting.
As our trail and ultrarunning communities begin to move back into a space of normalcy post-pandemic, it’s fun to get excited about the endless possibilities and potential adventures. This enthusiasm can be powerful and motivating. In tempering the excitement with an appropriate amount of candor, ideally, we can march into the next season fully aware and prepared for the next steps. Know what contributed to your previous successes and failures, have a plan for correcting course and replicating aspects that went well. Accept that things may not go perfectly to plan but hold true to the driving reason you initially opted to participate. Remember, it should be a compelling cause. From there, you’re set to face all that the upcoming season has to offer. May good fortune (and planning) be on your side.