At the end of the year, it’s a great time to look back over the one just gone and think about where you want to be at the end of the next.
It’s a time to celebrate achievements, analyse performance and set goals for the coming season. Whether you want that PB or are just looking to finish your first 5k, HIGH5 has your back the whole way!
When setting your 2023 goals, it’s important to make sure they are specific, achievable, measurable and timed. Setting a goal that’s vague such as “I’d like to improve my performance” is difficult to measure and you might end up disappointed. Try setting one like "My marathon PB is 4 hours 5 minutes. I'd like to run my autumn marathon in less than 4 hours." This specific, measurable, achievable and has a time limit!
To get you started, here are some prompts. It's useful to put your thoughts down on paper - you should refer back to these when you set your goals for 2023. For additional insights and a different perspective, speak to your fellow athletes.
Reviewing your 2022 performance:
What was your biggest achieve this year?
What are you most proud of in 2022?
What was your personal best time/distance?
What challenges did you encounter and overcome this year?
What mistakes did you make in 2022?
Can you use these challenges to improve your 2023 performance?
Setting 2023 goals:
Once you've spent some time thinking about last year, you can set your sights on targets for this year. One way of finding good goals is writing down your craziest goals and breaking them down into shorter-term goals that it would take to get there. For example, if you've never run a race before but want to do London Marathon one day, your shorter-term goals could be to first join a Park Run, complete a 10k, and then complete a half marathon.
What is realistic for you to achieve this year? If you can run a half marathon this year, then a marathon could become your goal for 2023. What daily habits can you put in place to help you achieve your bigger goals?
Make sure to be as specific as possible and write it down - goals written down are more likely to be achieved! Stick it somewhere you'll see every day so you can refer to it when you're feeling less motivated.
Once you've set your sights on some goals, take a look at these prompts to help you choose the right ones for you and refine them further.
Do you enjoy the process of reaching this goal?
This seems obvious, but if you don’t enjoy the journey, the destination won’t be as meaningful. After all, you’re going to spend countless hours working towards an achievement such as finishing a marathon, but the achievement – crossing the finish line - is momentary!
What’s your biggest goal?
Think years ahead – what’s your ultimate long term goal?
What steps do you need to take to get there?
Now break it down into smaller goals – what do you need to complete to get you there?
Which one of these can you complete this year?
Choose 1-2 of these smaller goals that you think you can complete this year. Be honest and realistic with yourself – don’t take on too much, but also try to challenge yourself.
How will you measure your success?
Try to think of something tangible such as monthly miles or minutes so you can keep track of your progress.
What daily habits can you put in place to get there?
Break your 2023 goals into smaller chunks and think about the daily or weekly habits you need to get there. For example, if you want to cycle 100km in a day by the end of the year, do you need to block out time every weekend to complete a longer ride? Do you need to experiment with nutrition on those rides to find a good nutrition strategy?
Is it realistic?
If you want to train everyday – does that include bad weather? It’s great to be optimistic and set yourself a challenge, but make sure it’s achievable!
One of the easiest ways to set a goal is to sign up to a race, as it’s specific, measurable and time bound. Take a look at our must-do triathlons, running events and cycling events to get some inspiration!
Make sure to tag us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and let us know what your goals are.
Finally... don't forget to celebrate all those goals, big or small, when you achieve them!
Nutrition
Whatever your goal, it’s important not to forget nutrition. The right nutrition strategy can support you on your journey towards your goals and help you achieve them – so make sure it’s included in your 2023 plan!
With over 25 years’ experience providing sports nutrition products, HIGH5 products are packed with everything you need to be at your best – however big or small your goals are. But why choose HIGH5 for your 2023 season?
We’ve got nutrition guides for runners, cyclists and triathletes – as well as general information to help you get the most out of your 2023 sporting journey.
Let’s get the most out of this year – good luck!
HIGH5 Starter Nutrition Pack
The HIGH5 Starter Nutrition Pack is a great place to start if you want to test our award winning products. It contains the most popular Energy, Hydration and Recovery products to help you get the most from your sport. Get yours here
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