The art of goal setting: Advice from the triathlon pros

Setting goals, especially for a tough event like a triathlon, is a great motivator. Knowing that you have a personal best to set can get you out of bed early in the morning, get you on the road after work, and even keep you going during the race. But it’s important for your goals to be realistic so they are also attainable. Use these tips from two triathletes on how to set your triathlon goals.

Bernard Wyatt

Bernard Wyatt, veteran triathlete and Discovery World Triathlon Cape Town event ambassador, has been participating in triathlons, including Ironman, for more than 20 years. For him, the goal is the triathlon itself. He says it’s important to be realistic and open-minded; newbie triathletes, says Bernard, should focus on getting a triathlon under their belt.

Bernard says that you can expect to lose heart and occasionally be disappointed. When things don’t go to plan, he says, it’s easy to get disheartened. It’s how you deal with those moments that really teach you the most about yourself. “It is the times that I have dealt with things out of my control that have given me the most reward,” says Bernard. He says it’s important not to beat yourself up.

When you’re setting your goals, the best person to listen to is yourself, says Bernard. “I think as I have gotten older I have understood this more,” he says.

Bernard’s advice for aspiring triathletes: “You can only have one first triathlon so make sure that you enjoy it”.

Theo Blignaut

Theo Blignaut, a successful elite triathlete, says goals are there to push you beyond your comfort zone. He says, “Your goals need to motivate you to keep doing better.” But he also cautions that things will go wrong.  “It’s important to keep digging and to trust the programme and your training,” he says.

Theo says it’s easy to be disappointed if you set goals that you can’t achieve. He recommends setting a goal and adding 5% to give yourself a break. Theo cautions that it’s easy to get disheartened, but it’s important to realise when it’s happening, to bring it back, and keep focusing on your goals. Theo also recommends having a coach that you can trust to help you set achievable goals.

How does Theo, as a professional athlete, deal with not achieving his goals? He says the best way is to put the negative aside and to stay humble. “And drink loads of beer!” he jokes.

For Theo, triathlon has a special atmosphere that’s worth enjoying. His advice to first-time triathletes: “Enjoy it. Take in the vibe, feel the vibe, and be the vibe.”

Enter the Discovery World Triathlon Cape Town here: http://capetown.triathlon.org/enter.

To find out more about Discovery, click here.