If you're tired of setting goals that you never achieve — reading this will change your whole perspective.
Setting goals always starts very genuine.
You genuinely want to achieve that target you've written down because you know how good it will be for you.
It's ambitious but you truly believe you can do it — and this time is going to be different, no more messing around.
Then Christmas rolls around (again) and you start having deja vu.
Upon reflection, you see why, and it's the same old story — things came up that were urgent, or more important. You lost your rhythm, and no matter how many times you try, you just can't get back into it.
Until you give up trying. Then, you forget it altogether and you find yourself going through the motions (again).
Don’t worry it’s more common than you think.
And the good news is, it’s easy to escape the loop with a simple shift in perspective.
I'm going to share with you my nuanced approach to goal-setting that has fail-proofed every one of my goals.
The Real Reason Most Goals Fail (It’s Not Discipline)
Most runners think they fail their goals because they’re not disciplined enough.
That’s rarely true.
What actually happens is this:
The goal is set without context
The plan assumes perfect conditions
Life inevitably intervenes
Rhythm breaks
The goal silently expires
Not because you quit.
Because the system never accounted for reality.
Goals don’t fail when motivation drops.
They fail when they aren’t designed to survive disruption.
Start With Why — But Be Honest About It
Before you write down what you want to achieve, you need to be crystal clear on why.
Ask yourself:
Why does this goal matter to me now?
What will it change about how I live, train, or feel?
If no one ever saw the result, would I still pursue it?
If your “why” is external validation, comparison, or guilt-driven, the goal won’t last.
Strong goals are anchored internally.
They pull you forward instead of needing to be pushed.
Assess Where You Actually Are (Not Where You Wish You Were)
This is where most runners lie to themselves.
Not intentionally. Optimistically.
Ask:
How consistently am I running right now?
What does my current week honestly look like?
What constraints do I already have?
If you’re running 3 times a week with a longest run of 10 km, your next goal needs to respect that reality.
Progress compounds best when it’s built on truth, not aspiration.
Outcome Goals Are Fine — But They Can’t Be the Foundation
There’s nothing wrong with wanting:
A faster 10 km
A marathon PB
A podium finish
But outcome goals are fragile.
They’re influenced by:
Weather
Health
Work
Stress
Timing
That’s why the shift that fail-proofs goals is this:
Outcome goals guide direction.
Process goals create momentum.
The Perspective Shift That Changes Everything
Stop asking:
“Did I hit my goal?”
Start asking:
“Did I honour the process I committed to today?”
Process goals look like:
Running 3–4 times per week
Prioritising sleep
Strength training twice weekly
Fueling properly
Showing up consistently, not perfectly
When the process is solid, outcomes become a byproduct.
And here’s the irony:
You’re more likely to exceed outcome goals when you stop obsessing over them.
Build a Hierarchy That Protects You From Bad Days
Instead of one all-or-nothing goal, use three:
A Goal: The stretch outcome (ambitious)
B Goal: A strong, realistic outcome
C Goal: The non-negotiable win (e.g. staying healthy, staying consistent)
This does two things:
It removes panic when things don’t go perfectly
It keeps momentum alive when conditions change
A runner who finishes healthy and consistent has never failed.
Flexibility Is Not Weakness — It’s Intelligence
Rigid goals break under pressure.
Adaptive goals evolve.
Life will interfere.
Training weeks will be messy.
Motivation will fluctuate.
The runners who progress long-term aren’t the most intense.
They’re the most adaptable.
Adjust the target.
Never abandon the direction.
Accountability Is the Final Multiplier
Goals spoken out loud behave differently.
Tell:
A training partner
A coach
Someone who will call you out when you drift
Accountability isn’t pressure.
It’s clarity.
Set Yourself Up to Win This Year
If you take one thing from this, let it be this:
Goals don’t need more motivation.
They need better design.
Design goals that:
Respect your current reality
Prioritise process over outcomes
Survive disruption
Reward consistency, not perfection
Do that, and you won’t need another “fresh start” next year.
Will you let yourself fall into the same loop again — or will you change the way you set goals this time?
Yours in running and life,
Daniel Lucchini