Goals, Achievements, Accomplishments
(Warning: If you do triathlons solely because of the three “F”s, then do NOT read this. Fitness, Fun and Fellowship are reasons enough for some folks. If that’s you, it’s cool. Don’t worry about the rest of this blog and all this “accomplishment” stuff.)
There are levels. Levels of accomplishment. Levels of goals. Levels of achievements. What have you accomplished so far in triathlon? What goals have you attained? What goal is next? Do you see it? It’s now 2020. So, you should have 20/20 vision for this coming season’s goal(s).
No matter where you are in your multi-sport journey, you can set a higher goal. Below are 30 goals/achievements/accomplishments. They’re listed in order of difficulty, sort of, but not totally. I’ve left out a few that could be included, but you’ll quickly get the idea. So, which of these should/could be your 2020 goal??? What about a 3-5 year goal? A lifetime goal?
Check these out:
1 – Do your first triathlon (or multi-sport race.) Might be a super-sprint, pool swim tri, but it’s a great goal to start with. Finish. Just finish your first multi-sport race.
2 – Go longer than you have before. Never done an Olympic distance…a 70.3…an Ironman? Step it up in distance.
3 – Go faster. Got a favorite distance? In 2020, do it faster than you ever have before.
Local races:
4 – Finish in the top 50% of a local race.
5 – Finish in the top 25% of a local race.
6 – Get on the age group podium of a local race.
7 – Win your age group in a local race.
8 – Get on the overall podium in a local race.
9 – Take first overall (male / female) in a local race. Congrats Champ!
Nationals:
10 – Qualify for and race USAT Nationals.
11 – Finish in the top 50% of your age group at Nationals.
12 – Finish in the top 25% of your age group at Nationals.
13 – Get on the podium at Nationals.
14 – Win Nationals!! Yes, become a National Champion!
15 – Make USAT All-American. That’s being in the top 10% of your age group at the end of the season based on the USAT ranking system.
ITU Age Group Worlds:
16 – Qualify for and race ITU age group World Championships wearing a Team USA uniform. (This is possible at the sprint, Olympic and long course distances as well as Aquabike, Aquathon, Duathlon, etc.)
17 – Land on the podiums of your age group at ITU Worlds
18 – Win ITU Worlds! Become an age group World Champion!
WTC 70.3 and Ironman World Championships
19 – Qualify for and race Ironman 70.3 World Championships.
20 – Finish in the top 50% of your age group at 70.3 Worlds.
21 – Finish in the top 25% at 70.3 Worlds.
22 – Get on the podium at 70.3 Worlds.
23 – Win you age group at 70.3 Worlds. Yes, become a World Champion!
24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 – Same as the five mentioned right above, only for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.
29 – Win Ironman 70.3 Worlds – 1st Overall. Yes, you’re a pro and the best at that distance.
30 – Win the Hawaiian Ironman World Championship – 1st Overall. You’re now a famous pro.
Well done Ironman World Champ! Now, you can retire as the World Champion, buy a second house in Switzerland on a lake, become a motivational speaker and have a massive trophy room. Speak all over the world and sign autographs, especially on the inside cover of your autobiography which makes the New York Times Best Sellers list.
See? There are levels! Put a checkmark by each of the numbers/levels that you’ve achieved. What’s next? Go for it!! You can achieve WAY more than you think you can. If you’d told me 26 yrs. ago that I’d be able to check off a number of items on this list, I’d have told you that you’ve lost your mind. I was not a great athlete growing up. Never played a varsity sport in high school. I just kept after it. I had goals. Each year I had 20/20 vision for my next goal. Do the same and watch what you accomplish! After all, it’s now 2020.
