Outcome drive goals vs Process Driven Goals

I almost exclusively stick to Outcome based goals for races and process driven ones for training.

My thinking:

Outcomes in training are less important for a beginner like than just getting out there. So if I think (I will ride three times this week) or (I will ride three times with quality climbs) I am meeting my process goals. I am not caring at all (or much) about power or speed etc but still hitting a goal. I am aware that this thinking may result in my training reaching a plateau but I am not close to that yet and still find it useful. In that it is more important for me to be consistent with my workouts and training than it is to attain a certain quality.

But with races I swap to Outcomes as....in the race the process is decided for me. I know I will have to swim,run bike and transition and the event decides how far and when and where it happens. However setting outcome goals allows me to measure myself against previous performances and my own (ambitions or modest predictions). Goal times specifically help.

One example. Many of my pool swims prior to a recent sprint where coming in at about 15 minutes. I knew I might gain from (cool water, wetsuit, drafting, race day) and might suffer due to (zig zags, turns, no ends, flailing arms etc). So I set a 15 min target to be sure I did 'at least as good as a pool swim' This may evolve into smaller process driven goals in future swims, like 'sight better' but they will still just be the building block of trying to hit 14:30 or 14:00 etc.

Having said this my very first few running and triathlon events did involve process based goals like 'swim without resorting to breast stroke', 'run without walking' and I think that if in the future I step up in distance I will have process based goals like 'just finish no matter what' as the key goals. But that only lasts for the first time at a new distance or as a bare minimum goal once I gain some confidence.

My last goals were based on qualifying for teams:

A sub-2:35 Olympic put me in consideration for the Army Tri Team (turns out, I need to actually be MUCH faster!)

A sub-4:00 marathon put me in the top spot for the AZ National Guard Marathon Team. (waiting until January to see if I'm still the fastest applicant!)

I've actually been sort of clueless as to what's next because chasing outcome-driven goals seems to be what I do, and I don't see anything else within my reach on the short-term (6-12 months) horizon.

Maybe I'll look to process-driven for a little motivation. I do know that I want to maintain 30mpw running starting in July. But outside of that, I'm still a little lost

Interesting topic and funny enough, one I was at least alluding to in my last race report.

My goals are almost all about the process. As you mentioned, the outcome has far too many variables to really have much control over. There have been plenty of races where I have not executed the way I wanted and won and other times where things went really well and I came in near the back of the pack.

However, I will say I've certainly competed in some races with outcome being the priority but this was more for achieving a time standard or qualification and scoring points for my team in cross country or track and field. 

For me it's a little bit of both.  Especially since all I do is bike race now.

For TTs or TT like events, it's mainly process driven.  I know what type of power I am capable of over X miles/minutes and I just try to execute a plan that will maximize that potential.  This year one of the races I focused on was a 40k TT.  I put out 13 more watts than last year but rode 25 seconds slower due to windy conditions.  I was very pleased with my result, especially since I got 35 seconds closer to the guy who won overall compared to last year.  I knew I was a little stronger, but by no means was I fixated on a goal that was X seconds faster than last year.

For road races, it does tend to be more outcome driven.  Whether it be to win the race, make the podium, stay with XYZ pack...you tend to fixate your goal on that outcome because you do not have full control on how the race will unfold.

I think you're right on the money, Ben.  Chasing paces or times in a race (especially long course) instead of focusing on the process (HR, power, smooth efficient transitions, etc) is usually a good way to implode in spectacular fashion.

I give my athletes detailed race plans for all their events.  The plans include when to arrive at the race, details like checking quick releases on their bikes plus ensuring that they're shifting right and in the the right gear to come out of T1, sitting quietly and visualizing their entire race from smooth efficient strokes and feeling the water gliding over their bodies to relaxed and quick transitions.  They include HR and RPE during different stages of the race and reminders about hydration and fueling strategies.  This almost always results in an outcome within minutes of what we projected and discussed for them, even though that wasn't the focus of the plan.

Execution of the process goals results in the desired outcome.  Focusing on the desired outcome usually results in coming up short.

Almost every one of us sets outcome based goals for a race because OUTCOME is what is measured and reported in spite of all the things outside our control.  

If I run a 5K in 23:58, that is what gets recorded in the race results for my name.  Whether that puts me 10th or 1000th is also an outcome based result and also gets recorded next to my name.  For many people, those outcomes are what define me.  

I don't get recognized for running a half-marathon at an average heart rate of 182 even if that is a process goal (really...more of a process outcome).  Same for whether I ran the whole way or executed my hydration plan or any of the other myriad of process-driven goals that support my OUTCOME based result.  

Having said this, that 23:58 number doesn't tell the whole story about my race.  How long and how intensely have I trained?  Did something happen the week of the race that caused me to execute better or worse than I might expect?  What was the weather?  What was the course like?  Did I stop for 6 minutes to help a fellow racer?  Did I trip and twist my ankle at the start line?  

It seems that we all can't help but have some variation of both goal types.

As many have mentioned, the outcome goals really are the measuring stick and anyone looking at the race results doesn't know a whole variety of variables that contributed to that outcome. 

And Ben, you  said, "With them being outcome focused, every decision they make will be based on making that goal a reality. They could potentially be blinding themselves to variables that will not allow for them to hit their goal." I might say that conversely, if they were chasing someone down for the win for instance, they may be able to push themselves outside of what they thought possible. After all, I think we all sign up for races because often the competition and energy of other racers might bring out something in ourselves we can't necessarily do on our own.

Or not! It really is an interesting topic. And one I think about often.