PART 2 - GOAL SETTING
’Predicting the Future’
In racing, we always set 3 goals, Goal A, B, C. This helps us prioritize our focus during training. Our Goals can be general for the year or most often specific for an upcoming race. In this Part 2, I share my general running goals for the year to give you a broader perspective, then in Part 3, I share my race goals for my most recent 100k.
My 2024 Goal A is to gain international racing experience, burst out of my bubble of the Ontario racing series, and see how I would compete on the world stage. By gaining international experience and partaking in the UTMB world series of races, upon successful completion of races, I gain points based on ranking as well, I would then be able to qualify for the mecca race, the Boston Marathon equivalent, The ‘UTMB 100-mile’ in Chamonix, France. The UTMB (Ultra Tour de Mont Blanc) is a race organizing company that specializes in putting on Ultramarathons around the world. I hope to race in 3 ultramarathons this year, 100k Canyons, which I’ve completed this past April! Woohoo! Another race in the summer, perhaps a 50k or 50-mile, and finally another 100k in the Fall. Once I complete these races, I’ll have enough points to enter me into the Ultra runner’s dream race, the UTMB 100-mile in 2025. So the mission is to get these races under my belt by staying healthy and keeping my mind focused.
My 2024 Goal B is to establish myself as one of the top Canadian Asian Ultramarathon Racers and start down the path of becoming the top Ultramarathon Coach in Toronto. Some would argue that I’ve already established myself as a top Canadian Asian Ultramarathon Racer, considering the successful history of wins under my belt. But for those that are in the Ultra world, it’s a big ocean, we know there’s a lot more competition and credibility to gain on a larger stage, than just winning a bunch of flat land Ontario races and calling it a day. Maybe I’m hard on myself, but because I don’t have a coach, I have to be tough on myself in a nudging-reality-check kind of way, one that’ll push my perceived limits, and push me to reach my fullest potential. There’s no way to measure this Goal B, but with my Goal A, I will have competed in world renown races, which will add to my portfolio of experience. Expertise and knowledge are very necessary as a coach, but to many runners, experience through the achievement of accolades in the sport is deemed mandatory. So with the recent completion of the UESCA Ultra Coaching certification, my expertise is there, now onto the ‘walk the talk’ path of achieving accolades.
My Goal C is to see this Ultramarathon passion through to the end of 2024. See what this level of dedication and focus brings me as I’ve never picked one thing and made it my thing to this depth. To prioritize one thing, one sport, one objective, which shapes my career trajectory, my brand as a coach and consultant, and my lifestyle, is difficult as a multi-talented person. There’s a bit of an identity struggle in that. “Be a meaningulf specialist, not a wandering generalist” is a quote I have on my wall from 2023. “The riches are in the niches” is another saying I’ve adopted from financially savvy friends. The reason for the inner struggle is typecasting, pigeon holing, and narrowing my options. If you’re a generalist and you have a range of skills that don’t apply to one job or career, but instead many, you know what I’m struggling with. The only way out of this predicament is through. By committing to this Ultramarathon journey, it will help me further understand my current disposition as a generalist. By flipping my mindset from what I have to lose to what I have to gain is key. Maybe as I shift into becoming a specialist, I’ll have learned that this may better reflect who I am becoming. Just like how I started as a Batman lover and Joker hater, but now that I’ve experienced a lot of life, I sometimes identify with the Joker (not in the killing of people for fun, but in how he lives free, and explores free will, as opposed to Batman, caged by his morals and duty). I digress.
As you can tell, I’m in a reflective phase right now, and writing this article is very helpful, almost therapeutic; a process I’d recommend to any milestone-chaser, change-maker, and high achiever. So if you’re reading this, thank you, thank you for being my muse of an audience. With the template of training and race learnings from my 2023 100-mile race win, my 2024 goals set, I’m moving through 2024’s race season with lots of momentum. Excited for this year to continue to unfold so wonderfully.
Also, I can’t not mention a cherry on top, which is becoming an On Ambassador for 2024. This nomination is an incredible reflection of alignment and perfect timing. The support has been generous and adds more wind to my wings.
Now let’s get into more juicy stuff, Part 3, where I share my training for the Canyons 100k World Major by UTMB, in Auburn, California.