Happy New Year!

There is no wrong time to stop and think about goals - in fact, success in any area is facilitated by establishing goals that are specific, measurable and achievable - but the changing of the year gives one an easy excuse to do so.

I would encourage each Webster Distance Runner to take the time to write down goals for 2009, and place them somewhere where they can be revisited occasionally. These goals should cover different durations: immediate (next competition), short-term (end of the winter sports season), mid-term (outdoor track season, summer training, XC season) and long-term (high school and college careers, and beyond).

Your goals should cover both results measures (such as a race time or place) and process measures (such as training distance or duration). Tracking your training allows you to verify that you are on track for your race goals, and can allow you to make adjustments to your training when you hit the inevitable obstacles along the way.

In addition, your goals should include individual goals and team goals. It is important to think of where you want to be, as an individual. It is more important to consider where you want the team to be. This is true whether you are the top varsity athlete, the 5th or 7th runner, or the 8th runner on JV. Every team member contributes to the team in some manner (positively or negatively) and every team member should feel good about results that exceed expectations.

Let's set and achieve goals that make 2009 a year to remember!