A few days ago I wrote about my 2007 personal best running goal to break 7 minutes for the mile.

Alas I had 2 attempts before 31st December and did not make it. My first time trial on a windy and cold day ended in running 7 minutes and 20 seconds.
(My daughter took the photo while I was warming up.)

The second one was a little better at 7 minutes and 17 seconds.

Of course I was disappointed at not breaking the 7 minute barrier but at least I have improved my personal best by 3 seconds. And I am sufficiently motivated to make my 2008 personal best goal a very doable sub-7 minutes.

Even if you have little interest in running, here are some goal setting lessons I learned from my running in 2007:

• My ‘dumb’ goal of “running in the zone” remains valid every time I do a run.
• I need to buy a sports watch with split times so I can track my progress with some ’smart’ goals in my training diary.
• I have been training to run the first 1/2 mile at sub 7 minute speeds – but neglecting the stamina work necessary to run the full distance.
• I love running – it’s impossible to worry while running

This post has a touch of public accountability in that I sense a (motivating) pyschological driver to ‘close’ the goal out.

It doesn’t feel like pressure in the sense of a time bound limit with dire consequences for failing.

More like an encouraging warmth from the thoughts of those who may read these words and wish me well – as I do you!

- Mark McClure