Achieving a goal can be exhilarating. Crossing the finish line of a 100km trail race, hitting a career milestone, or reaching a long-desired target is rewarding. But after the initial thrill wears off, the feeling of achievement seems fleeting. You may relish it for a few days or weeks, but eventually it fades into the background. In the long run, the impact of the achievement itself rarely endures.
Why is this so? The real value of an achievement lies not in the goal, but in the journey you had to undertake to get there. The experience of preparing, enduring, and pushing beyond your limits far outweighs the temporary satisfaction of simply reaching the end. It is through the process that growth, fulfilment, and even lasting happiness are found.
The Journey Over the Destination
Throughout my journey towards completing a 100km trail ultra, I had to remind myself not to place too much emphasis on the final accomplishment. Yes, crossing the finish line of a 100km race was a big goal, but focusing solely on that would have caused me to miss the richness of the entire process – the rigorous training, the early morning runs, the mental battles, and the moments of self-discovery.
If your sole focus is on finishing, you lose sight of the joy and learning that happen along the way. Running ultras taught me that it’s not about crossing the line but about savouring every step that gets you there. The journey actually makes the finish line meaningful, not the other way around.
Why Focusing on Experience Matters
Achievement is just a marker of where you are at the end of a process. It does not define you, nor does it measure your growth. The experience, however, shapes who you are and how you handle life’s challenges. Once I recognised that experience was more valuable than any finisher’s medal, each race became less about completing it and more about experiencing it.
The first kilometre became as important as the last, and every hill or descent taught me something about my capabilities. Focusing on the journey helped me overcome the inevitable moments of suffering and discomfort. Each step was part of a bigger process of becoming a stronger, more resilient version of myself.
Race for Fun and Feedback
As I completed more races, my perspective evolved. I no longer viewed races as the ultimate goal or the sole source of my happiness. Instead, I saw them as opportunities for feedback on where I stood physically and mentally. Each race was a reflection of my current capacity – what my body could handle, how well I had trained, and what I needed to work on moving forward.
Of course, crossing the finish line and completing the race successfully is important. But it was no longer about the achievement itself. What became more important is that it reflects the culmination of all the hard work, discipline, and perseverance I had invested. What you sow will be what you reap. Even if the race did not go as planned, as long as I know that I have put in the work and training to my best ability, I can live with the outcome.
Remember, crossing the finish line is ‘easy’. It is just taking the last step in a race. But what crossing the finish line represents, is what really matters. Does all that work or training vanish if you don’t or choose not to take that last step? Of course not. Finishing was never the point.
The Importance of Setting Goals
Now I am not saying that goals are unimportant. Measurable goals provide structure and direction, guiding you toward growth. However, the key is to set goals that are aligned with your “why”. This why is your deeper purpose for pursuing the journey. When your focus is on the experience, goals become milestones in your growth rather than endpoints.
You see, we all want more happiness, success, and fulfilment in our lives. But how many of us are willing to embrace the hard work that gets us there? The process, as gruelling as it may be, is where the real value lies. Success that comes too easily or too quickly often falls apart because the foundation was never built through experience.
The Power of the Process
Most of the time we just want to achieve that goal, but we don’t want the hard work of getting there. For example, most people would want to play the piano like a maestro without spending the years practicing. In careers, it would be great if we can be promoted to the top positions without working through the ranks.
However, a shortcut like this is self-destructive. If you don’t learn the process needed to handle massive success before it happens, it will destroy you.
That also explains why people who won the lottery ended up worst off after three to five years after winning it. If you were to give a financially unintelligent man a million dollars, he would probably spend most if not all of it very quickly. If an obese person were to be magically given a muscular body overnight, he would probably gain all his unhealthy weight back in no time.
Similarly, in running, a 100km race completed without the necessary preparation would be a painful and likely unsuccessful endeavour. The process builds the resilience, strength, and wisdom needed to truly handle success when it arrives.
The process is where the true value is.
The Experience Is the Reward
It is always easy to focus on the finish line, the prize, or the recognition that comes with achieving a goal. But true fulfilment comes from the experience—the journey that moulds you, teaches you, and pushes you to grow. Whether in running or life, the value lies not in the achievement itself, but in the steps you took to get there.
Next time you set a goal, don’t lose sight of the journey. Embrace the hard work, savour the small victories along the way, and remember that it’s the experience, not the finish line, that will leave a lasting impact.