How do I set a goal time?

Runner Questions: How do I set a goal time?

This is a common question.

You can aim for a goal time – for example, “finish the half in under 2 hours”.

But there are some good reasons why you shouldn’t.

Goal time blues

You shouldn’t set a goal time because:

❌ your goal time may be unrealistic … ‘hopeful’ rather than based on what you can actually achieve.

❌ your training targets may be too aggressive … based on your hopeful goal time rather than based on your current fitness.

❌ at the event, you may try to stick to your goal time … but find that you’ve pushed too hard, and the later part of the event becomes a real struggle.

Race Power Planning

Rather than set a goal time, use Race Power Planning, which:

✅ is based on your Threshold Power – your actual fitness … the same metric used to set your training targets.

✅ uses your fatigue resistance and your ability to convert effort into forward motion … both individual to you, and based on what you’ve proved you can do (using your completed workouts).

✅ provides a power target you can maintain throughout the event … so you don’t push too hard and can finish with confidence..