by Coach Paul Warloski
An endurance athlete puts everything into reaching that big race result, that performance milestone, that personal record.
When he doesn’t hit it?
He throws in the towel, takes time off the bike or off the running trail, and questions his value as an athlete.
Sound familiar?
Here’s the truth: If you focus your self-worth on achieving an outcome goal, whether for a gravel, cyclocross, or trail running race, you’re heading for burnout, or worse, giving up on your sport.
The Process Goal Revolution
Outcome goals tell you where you want to go.
Process goals tell you how to get there.
We need to fall in love with the journey, not the destination.
Step 1: Reframe “Failure” as Intelligence
Stop calling missing an outcome goal “failure.”
Call it “intelligence gathering” or an “opportunity,” as cliché as that sounds.
Every missed outcome goal is data.
It’s showing you what works, what doesn’t, and where to adjust your process.
We don’t “fail” to hit a time goal.
We learned something about training, nutrition, mental approach, and preparation that we can use next time.
Knowledge, not failure.
Step 2: Design Process Goals That Lead to Outcomes
Here’s the game-changer: Your process goals should make outcomes inevitable.
Instead of: “Finish top 10 in my category”
Try: “Complete 90% of planned training sessions” or “Execute perfect fueling strategy in races.”
We get immediate feedback.
Every training session becomes a win.
Progress becomes measurable and within our control.
Step 3: Create Daily Success Metrics
Make success possible every single day.
Process goals like:
- “Two days of strength training this week”
- “Sleep seven+ hours six nights this week”
- “Complete three interval sessions in the right power zones.”
These are entirely within our control.
Outcome goals depend on factors outside our control.
Process goals depend only on our effort.
Step 4: Separate Identity from Performance
This is crucial: We are not our results.
We are the people who show up consistently.
We are the athletes who do the work when it’s hard, who choose process over panic.
Our identity should be built on what we can control, not what we hope to achieve.
The Implementation Strategy
Week 1: Process Audit
List every process that contributed to your best performances.
What did you do differently?
How did you feel?
What was your daily routine?
Make those processes your new goals.
Week 2-4: Process Focus
Track only process goals.
Zero outcome goals allowed in training logs.
Celebrate the small wins.
Build momentum through consistency.
Week 5+: Outcome Integration
Now reintroduce outcome goals, but frame them differently.
They’re mile markers on the journey, not destinations that define worth.
The Mental Shift
Process goals make you antifragile.
They make you stronger through challenges.
Outcome goals make you fragile.
They break you when conditions aren’t perfect.
Which type of athlete do you want to be?
The Bottom Line
Our biggest problem usually isn’t our fitness.
It’s our mindset.
Process goals give us power.
Outcome goals steal it.
The goal isn’t to eliminate outcome goals entirely.
It’s to make them servants, not masters.
When process becomes the priority, outcomes take care of themselves.
And more importantly? We get back our love of sport.
This approach has transformed athletes from quitting to thriving by giving them back control over their daily success.
The shift from outcome obsession to process focus isn’t just about better performance.
It’s about sustainable joy in the sport that keeps us coming back, regardless of results.
Three Things to Know About Keeping Your Focus on Process Goals
1. Missing an outcome goal isn’t failure—it’s intelligence that makes you smarter for next time.
2. Process goals give you back control by focusing on what you can influence daily, not what you hope to achieve.
3. Your identity comes from showing up consistently, not from the numbers on a race result sheet.
Need more?
Unlock the secrets to mastering gravel racing with our FREE Guide to Gravel Racing! Get yours here.
BOOK A CALL so we can discuss your goals, answer questions, and talk about making your endurance training more effective, fun, and Simple.
Paul Warloski is a:
- USA Cycling Level 1 Advanced Certified Coach
- RRCA Running Coach
- Training Peaks Level 2 Coach
- RYT-200 Yoga Instructor
- Certified Personal Trainer
- Certified Nutrition Advisor
