I’ve been thinking about how goal setting seems to differ quite a bit between trail runners and cyclists, and I’m curious what others think. For cyclists, it often seems focused on very specific power numbers, average speeds over certain distances, or Strava segment KOMs. There’s a lot of readily available data to quantify progress in a pretty granular way.
Trail running, on the othre hand, feels a little more… nebulous. While you can certainly track pace and distance, the variability of terrain really complicates things. Goals often seem to revolve around completing a specific distance, conquering a particular mountain, or maintaining a certain level of perceived effort rather than hitting precise splits. Factors like weather and trail conditions also play a much bigger role, making data-driven goal setting less straightforward.
Does this resonate with anyone else? Are there trail runners out there who use structured power-based training plans like many cyclists do? Or are cyclists inherently more drawn to quantifiable metrics, irrespective of the sport? Interested to hear your thoughts.