Last week I wrote a post on this blog 10 ultra marathon endurance events I want to complete before I die. This got me thinking. OK so I have written the list. But what was I really doing about turning them into reality. This list was nothing new for me, since it’s contents have been bouncing around inside my head for the last few years.

This time I decided to tackle it slightly differently and would like to illustrate my actions in the hope that it may help you in your own quest to achievable a big goal or target.

I going to illustrate the points with reference to one of my big goals “running the marathon des Sables”. This event is way outside my comfort zone and experience. Some background first, I don’t like running, nor too have I ever done much running. I have never run a marathon or been to the Sahara dessert.

So I think it justifiably counts as a BIG GOAL !!

The attraction for me in this event is the fear factor and the level of the challenge involved. But the question is “How to move beyond those and turn it into reality?”

Define your big goal

The first thing I did was to write it down. Nothing new there but I think it is so important that i will restate it. If you want to achieve a big goal, it is much more likely to happen if you make a personal commitment by writing it down. If possible include as much detail about the big goal and what it looks like.

In my case – Complete Marathon des Sables in 2012

What need to happen to make big goal possible

By thinking through what needs to happen to make the big goal possible I’m forcing myself to consider the possibilities and the factors that influence my projects successful outcome. So I list out these things to help me get started. At this stage not too much detail I concentrating on an overall framework.

When can I get a place? How will I pay for my entry? How fit do I need to be? What other race experience do I need? What other survival / dessert experience do I need? Who can I talk too that has completed the event? What books can I read about running the race? etc etc

Set a short term Mini Goal

I think this is the single most important thing to do. I suffer very badly from a short term attention span. My family and friends joke that the longest I last on one activity is 13 weeks. I get bored very quickly. When this happens my enthusiasm get side tracked and I leap off in a new and exciting direction. This is lots of fun BUT NOT VERY USEFUL FOR ACHIEVING BIG GOAL.

So one solution is to set a mini goal that is an exciting goal in itself and that can be completed within 2-6 weeks. This means that I can focus all my attention and enthusiasm on this small project without becoming to distracted / overwhelmed by the big goal.

By setting it at 2-6 weeks I give myself some margin for error in terms of my personal attention span. So that even if it takes longer than I expect, maybe even double the time to achieve say for example 12 weeks I’m, still inside my personal 13 week window.

So in my personal case. I have set a mini goal of running a marathon before Christmas. I haven’t set a speed or anything else simply that I will run 26 miles and that will be my first milestone in my BIG GOAL of running Marathon des Sables.

Concentrate on the mini goals

Concentrating and achieving the mini goals is the key to successfully completing the BIG GOAL’s. It’s a cliche but so true,”you climb Everest one step at a time!” The big goal is only possible and achievable by completing 10′s and maybe 100′s of mini goals.

Within these mini goals lies the “journey”. the “experience” that we will always remember. They give us the skills, knowledge and ability to achieve the big goal but most importantly they shape our everyday lives so that we live in the moment. Here and now rather than hoping that we will find fulfillment through achieving the one BIG GOAL.

My journey towards running th Marathon des Sables has begun. I started training today for my first marathon which I will run before the end of 2009. (I’m looking for a marathon to run. Do you know of one in late December 2009 ??)

Join the Conversation

Has your journey begun ? Have you got a BIG GOAL, what about some mini goals? Have you started? Are you already on the path? Share your experiences and join the conversation.

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5. Getting Started – A Rough Guide to Riding the Tour de France Route

In 2007 I rode the entire route 1 day ahead of the professionals and thought I would put together an overview of my trip and provide some pointers for others tempted to tackle a stage or the whole route. This is part 4 of a series of articles documenting my story. To read Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Cycling the Tour de France Prologue

My training was finished and I was ready! Well as ready as I ever was going to be following 3 weeks of effort. My Mother had agreed to join me and drive a support van. She arrived in London and we loaded up the transit van than would be our home for the next 3 weeks.

I didn’t take alot of gear or tools. My lack of cycling experience meant that i wouldn’t have known what to do with tools even if I had owned them. The basic kit list was a bike pump, spare tyre and tubes.

On Friday 6th July 2007 with the bike and geared stowed in the back of the van we set off to central London to ride the prologue and watch the Grand Depart. Parking in central London is a nightmare so we left the van in the car park at Batersea Park. My mother got a bus into town and I cycled along the river. I was so nervous. My stomach filled with butterfly’s feeling like an imposter who was going to be unmasked at any moment.

I arrived at Parliament square and went through the barriers they had erected and had my first taste of the huge logistical operation that goes on behind the scenes of the Tour. There were hundred’s of people erecting signs, barriers, TV vans, cables everywhere. It was a hive of activity.

The official start was at the top end of Whitehall so I rode up to the sign turned round and I began. The Prologue is a short stage of just 8km. For the pro riders it is a tough test, riding as individuals, alone against the clock. For me it was a lovely ride through some beautiful parts of central London.

The nerves I had felt earlier disappeared and I enjoyed the lovely summer afternoon and took in the sights. I didn’t rush and just took in the atmosphere. Much of the course had already been closed off to traffic and I had a taste of what the pro experience as I rode between the barriers imagining the 1000′s of people who would be there tomorrow to watch the Prologue for real.

The course meandered it’s way past many of London’s landmark sights including Parliament square, Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park finishing on The Mall. The Mall looked amazing with Union Jack flags draped everywhere. What a buzz I felt. Really proud to be British.

Watching the Tour de France Grand Depart

I finished. I had a huge sense of relief. That just maybe this was possible. My mother and I met at Trafalgar square and were joined by a couple of other friends of mine to watch the Grand Depart. This is a formal presentation of the pro teams and all their riders. Trafalgar square was packed with people and big screens to watch the riders close up. Each team was introduced and the riders rode down a ramp and did a small circle in front of the crowd.

After the presentations we left Trafalgar square and went fro dinner at a nearby restaurant. After a fabulous meal with loads of banter by my friends about the likely disaster that was going to unfold we were just paying the bill when I had the most terrible thought. “What time did they lock the park gates”. I had a complete panic. I wanted to start the stage early the next morning and if we couldn’t get the van out where would we sleep and how could I get off early.

I jumped on my bike and rode like a madman the 3-4 km back to the van. To my eternal relief the gates were still open and we could rescue the van.

Each Tour de France stage is made up of 2 parts. There is the neutralised section which varies in distance between a few Km and about 20km. This is the route the riders follow to get to the actual start point of the stage. Then there is the actual stage and it is this distance between stage start and finish that is the distance measurement that you see listed.

I had decided NOT to ride the neutralised sections of the stage. This was for 2 reasons. The first being and most obvious “I didn’t need to add any additional distance to my challenge!” the second is that navigating through cities is difficult at the best of times and without the route signs that accompany the course it would be very difficult to follow. Meaning I could potentially waste lots of unnecessary time and effort.

We arrived at Greenwich which was the official start of the stage and found a car park to put the van and get some sleep. We made a funny pair my mother is 68 but still very fit and active. Me a novice cyclist with no knowledge about the Tour.

I had bought the Dummies guide to the Tour de France and as we prepared for bed I read out sections of the book to her. neither of us had a clue what it was gong to be like. I had never seen the tour, not even on TV whilst she had once while on holiday in Marseille seen the peloton ride under a bridge!

Our sleeping arrangements were bizarre to say the least. I slept in the back of the van with the bike, food and all the gear. It’s a bog standard van with no windows and the front section is panelled off from the rear. She finds the back claustrophobic so slept across the front seats in full view of passing people!

I did have a small camping light so after she had “shut me in” to the back I settled down to read the official tour program. This became my bible as it showed a profile for each stage including the distance and height to climb on each mountain.

Finally to nervous to read. I switched out the light and let my thoughts drift. I was really, really nervous. My mind turning over and over about the first stage and the hills to come. My mothers alarm was set for 5.30 and I finally drifted off to sleep.

This story continues tomorrow as I ride my first tour de France stage from London to Canterbury and I meet some other riders to share the adventure with.

CrazyJourney community comments on endurance riding

After crashing @ mile 50, being backed in2 @ 70, hitting emo-wall @ 80, grit teeth & forced last 20 & felt gr8. Bloody but gr8! ricalivestrong.blogspot.com

1st long distance bike ride? good or bad? Both for me! Lots of pain for me, but the feeling of accomplishment was worth it.
twitter.com/quad4_2000

1st LD ride was 75 mile charity ride. Felt great, lots of adrenaline to help me finish strong!
cyclinginhell.blogspot.com

Was too good, ass-breaking, but awesome! twitter.com/morfinrider

Mine great !! myspace.com/coloradobuff

To watch the Sky News interview with Luke in Paris Sky News

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Related posts:

1. Part 3 – A rough guide to cycling the Tour de France Route
2. Part 2 – A Rough Guide to Riding the Tour de France Route
3. Getting Started – A Rough Guide to Riding the Tour de France Route
4. Cycling in the mountains of France Phil Deeker’s epic personal Tour de France
5. Oli Broom’s Unusual Cycling Adventure Tour from London to Australia by Bike to Watch the Cricket