Last week I wrote a post detailing my goal to participate in this year’s EDF Birmingham Half Marathon, to be held on 24th October. In that post I used the “10 Steps to Success” series of blogs that I wrote in June and July as a framework and demonstrate what I had done so far to give myself the maximum chance of success. I got as far as step 8, which is “Execution, Execution, Execution”, and started to take action on the training plan and other actions I had identified. I also said that as I progressed I would write blogs covering step 8 and 9, Measure and Review so ‘we’ could track my progress, so here is my first progress report. I have used a structure that I have seen referred to as an After Action Review (AAR) to base this report on.

After Action Review

The AAR is a structured review process that allows you to look at the progress against a goal to date. The process helps to uncover important lessons learned, identify strengths that can be replicated and weaknesses that need to be addressed in the journey of the attainment of the goal. The structure is as follows:

  1. What specific goal am I committed to achieve?
  2. What are my current results in relation to that goal?
  3. What went right and why? Identify strengths and strategies to build on them.
  4. What went wrong and why? Identify weaknesses and strategies to address them.
  5. What corrective actions will I implement now to remain on target?
  6. What are my commitments / goals for the upcoming week/months so that I can consider my efforts a success?

1. What specific goal am I committed to achieve?

Product Goal
On October 24th 2010 I will complete the EDF Birmingham Half Marathon in a time of 1:59:00 or better
Process Goal
Complete week 2 of my downloaded training programme

2. What are my current results in relation to that goal?

Week 1 training schedule completed and here is the table of planned versus actual activity for week 2

Half Marathon Training – Week 2
Day Planned Activity Actual Activity Status
Tues 4 mile run 4.42 mile run  GREEN
Weds Cross Training None  RED
Thurs 40 mins run with interval trg   42:51 mins run with intervals  GREEN
Frid Rest day 10.8 mile bike ride (CT) & gym    GREEN
Sat 5 mile run 5.42 mile run  GREEN
Sun 3 mile EZ run 2.87 mile run & gym  AMBER

3. What went right and why? Identify strengths and strategies to build on them?

The majority of activities were completed as per schedule. On most I exceeded the training requirement by a small margin. My commitment and determination to achieve the goal I have set, plus the fact that I am using the blog as a way of reporting back to you are giving me additional motivation to succeed. I have the training plan in my diary, am enjoying the training and feeling better in myself are also contributing.

4. What went wrong and why? Identify weaknesses and strategies to address them?

Major miss this week was the cross-training on Wednesday, as it was the week before. I had planned to go out on Wednesday morning but had a particularly bad nights sleep so did not feel up to it in the morning. My fall back plan was to go in the evening, but a combination of events ultimately meant I did not go. I did the cross-training on Friday, however, that meant training 4 days in a row. Other minor miss was the 0.13 miles under on Sunday’s EZ run.

5. What corrective actions will I implement now to remain on target?

Next week, make sure I am prepared and actually go for my bike ride as per plan on Wednesday to meet the cross-training requirement. Pre-plan a 3 mile route for the EZ run on Sunday, not just estimate it like this last week.

6. What are my commitments / goals for the upcoming week so that I can consider my efforts a success?

This week – Complete week 3 of the training programme, as scheduled

There we go then, my After Action Review for week 2 of the Half Marathon training programme.

If you would like to support me in this effort, please consider sponsoring me. I have a Just Giving page at http://www.justgiving.com/robjcameron. Thank you