What I’m setting up for myself to successfully train for the marathon uses the same principles I’ve followed for every other long-term project or big goal I’ve wanted to accomplish. It’s how I started my first business. It’s how I became a coach. It’s how I climbed Mt. Hood.

Here are the basic things to keep in mind:

• Know your goal – understand why it really matters to you
• Create and follow a plan – it doesn’t have to be elaborate, but knowing what you need to do really helps
• Build a base at the beginning – keep it small and doable as you gain experience and build new habits
• Intensify over time, as your skills improve – challenge yourself to steer clear of ruts
• Cut yourself slack, you aren’t going to be able to do every single step perfectly – know that, be okay with it and keep going
• Enlist the help of other people – don’t underestimate the power of having people in your corner

Training for a Real or Metaphorical Marathon | Perception Studios | Shannon Wilkinson, life coach & more