Michaelangelo said that "The greatest danger is not that we aim to high and miss it, but that we aim too low and reach it". This resonates with me. And brings me on to a concept coined by Jim Collins (author of Good to Great, and Built to Last) of the Big Hairy Audacious Goal (or BHAG for short). Those who know me well (and if you've read my blog from the start, the chances are you get a sense of my personality) know I love to chase a bold target. I like going for targets that I set, have the freedom to choose the how, and have the resources available to get there (e.g. time, knowledge access, support, finances, etc). Goals that are in my hands that I own and that I achieve the relevant reward for (whether that be intrinsic or extrinsic). In particular, goals that stretch me to be better.
Taking on a 100km ultra hike in 2019 with only 15 weeks training (and a broken toe for 6 of them) was a BHAG at the time. Taking on that same ultra running this year with only 5 months training (A VERY different prospect) with a litany of chronic injuries, was another BHAG. A reach for the stars (sorry S Club 7) that saw me nail the first and fall 16km short in the second through injury. I went for the stars and hit the moon. Even falling short, I was close enough that, even in spite of the injury that was problematic for about 40km (pretty much half the distance I covered) and incredibly bad for the last 16km, I certainly had it well in me to finish if it hadn't happened. And this is important to me when choosing a BHAG that inspires and motivates me.
You see, when I chose these two huge goals I didn't KNOW I could complete them! I believed I could, but they were sufficiently scary enough that, even believing I could, until I actually took it on I simply didn't know for certain. And that makes a big difference...
...Because now I know
If you can run 84km trail and only retire because of an injury, you can run 100km. This changes what I need to work towards as a new Big Hairy Audacious Goal. Of course, a 100km ultra is yet to be nailed, but knowing I can takes away one of the most important aspects of it being a true challenge... the fear of failing. This is what gives that scare-factor to a great goal.
Fear can be a hugely powerful motivator. Studies have shown that, psychologically, the fear or loss/failure is twice as powerful a motivator as the seeking of gain (success). Using fear as part of your goal setting is a fine line though. A very fine line indeed. Too little and you will be complacent. Too much and you will trigger the FFF (Fight Flight Freeze) response which will either see it as impossible and simply quit, or tunnel vision and push too much which risks blowing up. Fear MUST NOT form the overarching driver in a goal. It has to feel exciting and a bit scary, but also be seen as possible. Too much fear and your adrenaline will exhaust you, and you will burn out. We see this in schools. We see it in work. We see it in health & fitness. We see it everywhere. Live with too much fear or anxiety about an outcome for too long and we either become numb to it, or we break down and quit.
So how can I set a BHAG level challenge with just the right amount of fear as a target to aim for and measure against?
To close out the Jurassic Coast 100km ultra? Put that to rest once and for all, and get the final finish?
No.... I'll do that anyway. I know I have that in me already. Fuck, I nearly reached it with one foot working. It was only when the 'good' foot gave out as well, (because I was asking too much of it after my other had long given up the ghost), that I stopped.
No, I need nailing the JCC 100 to be part of something bigger and scarier next year...
To run the JCC 100 with a sub 20 hour target?
... Hmmm.... sounds good and will add that in the mix.
But to really build the Audacious part of the goal we've got to go BIGGER... and we have to go FURTHER....
Now, my buddy Graham (whom I credit with getting me onto this stuff), is more than likely going to think I am completely mental.
My wife certainly does. I mean, I'm still way too heavy being just shy of 100kg (so have a large amount to do to drop sub-90), I'm still dealing with my ankle / heel / Achilles / Peroneal issues, and my dog is just about recovering from joining me on my training runs leading into this year's challenge.
Next year I will be a year older at 48. But I have a year now to work smart. Rehab and rebuild into next year... and do something so remarkable for me. Something, that if you'd told me two years ago that I'd even consider taking it on, I'd have laughed and then vomited.
So what will my next Big Hairy Audacious Goal be?
It has to be an adventure. It has to be savage and beautiful. It has to be able to be the climax of huge amounts of work on the journey to even getting to the start line. It has to take days, not hours. And it has to be an eye watering distance that is hard to comprehend running.
Basically, a once in a lifetime challenge that can only be thought of as epic!
Ladies and gentlemen... I have my sights set on a 5 or 6 day challenge of between 250km and 300km. Next year (around September 2022) I'm not fully decided yet as need to do some further research, but it's looking like either running the coast of Wales (250km), or the length of the Outer Hebrides (300km)... though I am toying with the idea of running around Cornwall's coast independently but that would need a lot of logistics to plan (refuel/rest stops, accommodation, etc).
I will keep you posted, but will be sure to let you know once I've settled on the next Big Hairy Audacious Challenge that awaits me next year...
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