{"id":490,"date":"2013-03-23T07:32:02","date_gmt":"2013-03-23T07:32:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sbrsport.wordpress.com\/?p=490"},"modified":"2018-12-26T08:17:05","modified_gmt":"2018-12-26T08:17:05","slug":"goals-getting-from-couch-potato-to-mega-athlete","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sbrsport.co.za\/?p=490","title":{"rendered":"Goals – Getting from Couch Potato to Mega Athlete."},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the most critical skills for any athlete is that of goal setting. Goal setting is, in fact, one of the most important overall skills that you will ever master.\"goals<\/a><\/p>\n

So, how do you get from couch potato to\u00a0mega athlete? How do you go from running a 10 km, to running your first marathon? The answer is simple; it all begins with setting a goal.<\/p>\n

Here are ten benefits of goal setting.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Goals provide focus.<\/strong>
    \nThere are hundreds of ways\u00a0to get\u00a0fit. They range all the way from endurance sports such as swimming, cycling and running, to team sports. Endurance sports create a unique opportunity for people to participate, whereas most team sports suppose an already existing skill set. With so many sports options, we need to\u00a0pick one. So, for the purpose of this blog, we will take Pete, who has just decided to do the 94.7 cycle ride.<\/li>\n
  2. Goals bring information.<\/strong>
    \nAs\u00a0Pete has decided to do 94.7, he places himself in a position where he needs information.\u00a0This includes dates, what bike\u00a0to ride, prices of equipment, nutrition required and training necessary and- wait…\u00a0just how far is that again!?\u00a0Fortunately, the information is out there, and your goal will compel you to get it.<\/li>\n
  3. Your goal will put you in contact with a whole new set of people.<\/strong>
    \nOne of the best things you can do is\u00a0to\u00a0join a club or squad. Have a look at what we do on the     coaching side<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  4. Goals provide motivation.<\/strong>
    \nYour biggest challenge in training\u00a0is often simply to\u00a0get out of the door! A clear goal, that is visible, will help get you moving. Goals bring a healthy level of stress, that will get you across your threshold, and once that\u2019s done the rest becomes easy.<\/p>\n

    \"smart<\/a><\/li>\n

  5. Goals change your perception of yourself.<\/strong>
    \nYour view of yourself will determine where you go in life. The minute you set your goal, get online and book for the event, you begin to change the way you see yourself. The transformation from a couch potato to a cyclist who can ride just under 100 km\u2019s, begins first in the mind. Become a cyclist in your mind and your body will follow.<\/li>\n
  6. Goals need to be progressive.<\/strong>
    \nOnce you have set the big one, in this case, the 94.7 cycle challenge, you need to set some smaller ones. The first one might be to ride for 10 km\u2019s without passing out. You will then slowly build these distances until you slay the big one.<\/li>\n
  7. Goals need to be versatile.<\/strong>
    \nLife happens and things go wrong. You will miss training sessions; you might even get ill before a race. Don\u2019t let that throw you, there are more than enough events to participate in. Keep moving forward.<\/li>\n
  8. Goals get your RAS (Reticular Activation System) going.<\/strong>
    \nIf you have ever decided to buy a certain car, your mind adjusts and begins to focus on that car. Suddenly it seems as if every second driver is driving the car you were looking at buying, thereby dashing your dream of being unique on the road. This phenomenon\u00a0is known as RAS (Reticular Activation System), and what it means is that your eye manages with great accuracy to spot that which you are interested in. The same thing will happen to our brand new cyclist, Pete.\u00a0Suddenly\u00a0he is\u00a0able to spot cyclists from a mile off and slows down in parking lots to view bikes sitting on car racks. This, in turn, will\u00a0help\u00a0him to\u00a0stay motivated.<\/li>\n
  9. Keep your goal in front of you.<\/strong>
    \nChange your screen saver to reflect your goal, write out your goal and place it where you can see it daily. Make a plan so that you are regularly reminded of your goal.<\/li>\n
  10. Some pithy statements that might inspire you.<\/strong>
    \n– Kites rise against the wind.
    \n– Turtles need to stick their necks out in order to move forward.
    \n– Rubber bands fly only when they are stretched.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Now it\u2019s your turn- find a big goal and go for it!<\/p>\n

    See you on the road or in the water.<\/p>\n

    Regards,<\/p>\n

    Mike Roscoe.
    \n\"Mike<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    One of the most critical skills for any athlete is that of goal setting. Goal setting is, in fact, one<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3824,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[6994296],"tags":[46610231,1676,8959,11870,2885,526117,40231748,484583563,14120],"class_list":["post-490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspiration-2","tag-94-7-cycle-challenge","tag-cycling","tag-goal","tag-goals","tag-motivation","tag-ras","tag-reticular-activation-system","tag-running","tag-swimming"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t