Don't dive before you can swim...

I was reminded of this phrase in a chat with an endurance friend recently, don't dive before you can swim, or perhaps in horse riding terms: Don't gallop before you can walk. 

Some might want that 100 miler, some might want "that special ride" and some want to win the biggest races.  Big goals are amazing, but often there is quite a long and windy road ahead to get to them. 
We all like to dream and there is absolutely nothing wrong with dreaming, but we have to be realistic as well. Don't set yourself up for failure by wanting too much (or too soon). If you dream too big too soon you might not always be able to make your dream come true and that can be very disheartening, sometimes even so disheartening that you lose motivation.

I see it with some of my "coach kids", the odd one wants a little too much too soon and that is why I wanted to write this blog, not to warn you off dreams, but to urge you to take small steps, and tick every benchmark you need to get to that dream. Perhaps you might need to re-assess some things, adjust strategies, and get help (or get other help). To be fair, there are plenty of others that are too cautious and don't dare to dream too big. And they benefit by pushing them a little, tempting them to do more than they perhaps thought was possible.

We all need something to aim for and to aspire to, and I always encourage people to set goals, some for the nearer future and some as a long long-term aspiration (I personally don't even vocalise those, not even to myself because I feel that might "jinx" it all). The important bit about goals is that they have to be feasible and doable. You'll find that on your journey (be it endurance or any other sport) obstacles could appear in your way, puzzles might need to be solved, but when you take little steps, dip your toe in first, then go in the shallows and slowly know what you need to do to swim, then at some point you can take that dive!