Episode 108: Goal Mapping for 2026!

Happy Thanksgiving! With the end of the year fast approaching and a new season on the horizon, this week’s episode features a deep dive on goal mapping! We recap what goal mapping is, explain why it’s a great starting point for your next season, go through all of the questions we like to ask our athletes as they map out their goals, and share some thoughts on why the inherent vulnerability in goal mapping can be scary. We then share some thoughts on our own goal maps for 2026, including Jim’s plan to cycle the Haute Route in France in August and Katie’s ideas on returning to sport postpartum. Whether your goals for next year are big, small, or still to be decided, this episode is for you! Check it out. 

Main content: 

  • Why do we do goal mapping? Many reasons:

    • Mapping out goals and the steps needed to get there can help you realize whether your goals are realistic/smart given competing demands on your energy, time, etc.

    • Mapping out goals can give you a strong “why” that helps when you don’t want to get out of bed at 5am in February to get to the pool

    • Mapping out goals can help you plan how many and what type of events to incorporate in your season, as most events are ideally in alignment with your goals (or at least not working against them – if you have an Ironman performance goal, don’t race a marathon one week before Ironman!)

    • Mental prep: from day 1, you can visualize what success looks like 

  • Performance is at least a six months (or often times, years) process. If you have specific performance goals, these should be aligned with yourself and your coach by December / January.

    • Katie - this is why I don’t plan to have any A races until >9 mos PP, and am open to changing that based on how recovery timeline goes (more on that later)

  • How we do goal mapping:

    • Start with post-season evaluation questions (go through below)

    • Then, goal mapping exercise 

  • Partners in goal mapping: your coach, your village (family + close friends, others who will support your journey; sometimes, colleagues/work)

  • Disclaimer: goal mapping is vulnerable! It’s scary to put big goals out there because if they are situated at the right level of difficulty, there is always a possibility of not hitting them. Key reminder: “big goals, loosely held”

    • Your identity can not rest on the achievement of an outcome goal because outcome goals are in some ways out of your control. Process goals are in your control!

POST-SEASON EVALUATION QUESTIONS

These questions can help you determine which races/objectives to target next year!

  1. What are you most proud of about your season?

  2. What did you enjoy most about your season? 

  3. Reflecting on your season, what were the biggest challenges you encountered? 

  4. What about this season do you want to do differently next season? 

  5. What about this season do you want to do the same next season? 

GOAL MAPPING EXERCISE

  • What is your PURPOSE in training and/or racing? What drives you or motivates you to keep getting out there? 

  • What is/are your OUTCOME GOAL(S)? Breaking this down further…

    1. WIG -- Wildly Impressive Goal (“A Goal,” example: qualify for Kona): 

    2. WAG -- Wildly Achievable Goal (“B Goal,” example: beat PB in IM): 

    3. WOG -- Wildly Obvious Goal (“C Goal,” example: finish IM): 

Questions to ask yourself as you brainstorm these outcome goals:

  • Why this goal now?

  • What is about this goal that’s important to you? What does this goal mean to you?

  • Is this goal internally or externally driven?

  • Note: Be as specific as possible in outlining your outcome goals! And remember: big outcome goals are there, and they can be important to acknowledge, but they should not be the focus. Consider both the process goals and the goal achievement strategies (below) as the most optimal to focus on, with the purpose being the gas that drives that car. 

  • What is/are your PROCESS GOALS? What are the steps you need to follow in order to achieve your outcome goals? (Example: swim 2x per week; foam roll every night; 3 meals and 3 snacks per day in heavy training; meet with a therapist; etc.)

    1. Swim:

    2. Bike: 

    3. Run:

    4. Strength:

    5. Recovery:

    6. Fueling/Hydration: 

    7. Mindset: 

    8. Other: 

  • What BARRIERS do you foresee in following through on your process goals? Consider barriers that held you back this season as well as foreseeable barriers in the next season. (Example: pool hours conflicting with work schedule; commitments with family or kids; fear of cycling alone; struggle to prioritize good fueling on busy days; etc.)

  • What are your GOAL ACHIEVEMENT STRATEGIES? These should address both enacting process goals and overcoming barriers to following through on these goals. Also consider how often you can commit to following through on each of your goal achievement strategies, and write this out. (Example: >8 hours in bed minimum 5 out of 7 nights per week; breathwork 5 mins per day, 7 days per week; etc.)

    1. Physical:

    2. Mental:

  • Identify any NEED-TO-HAVES to make achieving your goals possible. (Example: people in your support network and their specific role; get a smart trainer and TT bike; honest and direct communication with coach; etc.) 

Jim’s 2026 Goal Mapping & Personal Training Contract


Why did I write this?

As soon as I signed up for the Haute Route—the first major event I’ve committed to in years—my Identity Athlete started to surface, bringing with it shades of Obsessive Passion. My overarching aim is to blend high-level personal performance with exploration, curiosity, support, and sports mastery—anchoring myself in Harmonious Passion.

Short video: Steve Magness Obsessive vs Harmonious Passion

(For more on Obsessive vs Harmonious Passion, check out The Passion Paradox by Steve Magness and Brad Stulberg.)

What specific and general goals do I have for the Haute Route? (Process and Outcome goals)

* Arrive in excellent, personal-best cycling fitness.

* Race my race, not others. 

* Enjoy the event and the camaraderie of fellow passionate cyclists. 

* To fully express my endurance drive and character through the act and art of cycling. 

* Learn the terrain and logistics to support future trips to ride more major European climbs.

* Arrive in Europe knowing I’ve consistently put my best foot forward every day since November 2025.

* Answer the question: Can I reach the same cycling performance and FTP I had ten years ago? What is my 58-year-old body capable of? (Purpose)

* Gain additional cycling-specific knowledge to become a better endurance coach. (Purpose)

What specific performance goals do I want to reach by August 2026 / the Haute Route?

* Achieve an FTP between ‘X-Y’ watts.

* Make riding at ‘A-B’ watts  (Lower Threshold Power - LTP) feel sustainable and firmly high-Z2 aerobic.

* Be comfortable riding in large groups.

What key events or workouts do I need to achieve these goals?  (GOAL ACHIEVEMENT STRATEGIES)

* Bike camp in March with focus on climbing.

* April Mallorca bike training camp with a focus on extensive climbing and low-cadence work.

* At least two three-day training camps in June and July with 80–100 miles / 10,000 ft of climbing per day.

* Maintain 13–15 hours/week on the bike as a “Basic Week” through winter; increase to 15–20 hours/week in spring and summer.

* Primarily reference and follow an Xert training plan.

Is there additional equipment I need? (Need-to-Haves)

* Probably not. The plan is to ride the R5 (my current bike) with the current wheel set during the Haute Route.

* Check with previous participants for any gear they found helpful or essential.

Is there specific training or knowledge I need to meet these goals?

* Talk with others who have completed the event to learn about the mental and physical demands.

* Watch Haute Route YouTube videos for insights on gear, training, and the overall experience.

* (This is a good checkpoint to evaluate whether hiring a coach would help.)

Are there specific requests I need to make of my family and social network?

* Inform my family of the long-term goal and the time commitment required to achieve it.

* Ask friends to support my training, especially for long-volume days and training camps.

What am I willing to do to achieve my goal? GOAL ACHIEVEMENT STRATEGIES

* Complete monthly FTP tests and periodic power-profiling best efforts.

* Do strength and mobility work 4–5 times per week.

* Wake up early to train on busy days.

* Go out in the cold nearly every day to accumulate bike volume and complete hard workouts.

* Spend meaningful time on the indoor trainer to adapt my legs for high-quality work when outdoor riding isn’t possible.

* Repeat my “Basic Winter Bike Week” week after week from November through April.

* To fully believe that I am capable of achieving my goals. My mental mindset is success and unwavering confidence.

What activities or behaviors do I want to avoid?

* Disrupting or rescheduling family events to accommodate training.

* Becoming so rigid with the training plan that I skip social opportunities. When choosing between a proper workout and a once-a-week (or more) social ride with friends, I will choose the social ride.

* Obsessively relying on data. Instead of validating a workout only through metrics, I will focus on whether I put my best foot forward. Execute and honor the day as you feel, not only as the plan dictates.

* Becoming an identity-driven athlete. I will cultivate a “Love of the Sport” mindset rather than a performance-driven identity.

Katie:

Quick thoughts on goal mapping during pregnancy - bit of a weird year as there is a lot that is unpredictable about birth experience/recovery, baby needs, and what life will generally feel like as a new mom. However, that doesn’t mean that I can’t have goals and goal map! Things I am thinking about now:

  • Purpose in training/racing - joy! Identity! Having something for me! And not necessarily at the expense of performance, but performance is not the only (or primary) driving factor.

  • Realistic constraints on my time with a new baby - can’t disappear for 6 hours to ride my bike 

  • Realistic constraints on my environment - I live in a city, and the easiest option is running out the door or doing strength/Zwift at home 

  • Goals - return to sport safely and, eventually, feel like “me” in running (which may or may not mean the same paces/performances!)

  • Long term goal - marathon next fall, but note I am not committing to any big goals before that so I can honor the recovery process 

Challenge or Resource of the week:

Jim: If you are looking to change habits leading into 2026, check out Atomic Habits  by James Clear

Katie: Goal map!!! Do it!

Gear pick of the week:

Katie: Jolyn swim top and TYR bottom for my pregnant swim era

Jim: Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Protein Oats - Don’t sleep on oats! Massive protein and carbs.