Goals versus Expectations

I like to set goals that are a bit ambitious (for me) so that I am inspired to push myself a bit more. However, sometimes they have to be modified to fit reality. For example, I set goal to run my first full marathon in Houston in January. When I got behind in my long runs in Nov/Dec due to various outside causes, I had to modify my goal to what I could realistically expect to achieve---so I ran the half marathon instead. G

I would love to set a goal to run a 7 minute mile, but that would be pointless since at my age and athletic ability, I could never reasonably expect to achieve it. But I can set a goal to be a consistent 9-minute miler, then maybe a new goal to be an 8.5 minute miler, etc....

So, the answer, for me, is both.

I'm voting BOTH.

At times, I've set GOALS. One recent success was to weigh <170 pounds for my backpacking trip. I set the goal in Jan '04, didn't make any progress until I publicly announced it (Oct. '04) and got to my goal in April '05. For the trip, I was down to 163 (June '05) from 194.

For my tri's, I've really set expectations. Usually the week before, I look at how fast I'm training and what I expect to do for the race.

I'm struggling with setting goals versus expectations for my HIM. I'm trying to set some goals that drive/motivate me during training.

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I think that it is a little hard to have one without the other. If you have nothing to achieve then how can you realistically have ANY expectations. Without realistic expectations your goal setting is not really that, and might be skewed.

It seems they're like 'peas and carrots'! Right Jenny? (F.Gump)

I set goals to work for, and then, come race day, I analyze my training and preparation and set an expectation for the run. It may be faster or slower than the original goal. I guess my goals motivate me to practice, my expectations motivate me to perform.

Both here:

Expectation based on training and history.

Goals - I set BHAG (Big Hairy *** Goals) that raise my performance above where I expect I can perform but not so far that its not attainable.