In this episode, we’re talking about imperfect fitness—the kind where you don’t have to do it perfectly to keep going. We share why having a clear goal can make exercise feel so much more doable (and honestly, more fun), especially if perfectionism tends to make you freeze up or quit.

Shannon tells Janine about signing up for the Oslo Marathon 10K happening in September while she's traveling in Scandinavia, and how that race date is giving her a real reason to get back into running after shoulder surgery. Janine shares her own goal: being able to walk up 35 flights of stairs to her apartment—and how a simple, “one flight at a time” plan (plus permission to take breaks) is helping her build stamina without turning it into a perfectionism project.

What We Talk About

1. 01:15 - Signing up for the Oslo 10K (September 12): How a race on a trip to Norway creates a clear training goal
2. 02:51 - Getting back to running after shoulder surgery: Starting over with run/walk and rebuilding motivation
3. 04:11 - Why Shannon wants longer runs (not just a 5K)
4. 07:42 - Janine’s fitness goal: walking up 35 flights of stairs
5. 08:07 - Building a simple plan (and tracking it)
6. 12:07 - Permission to pause without quitting: Planning stops and noticing that “easier” can actually help you finish stronger
7. 15:37 - Using Zombies, Run! for motivation: Story-based runs, optional zombie chases, and making training feel fun
8. 19:43 - Keeping the pressure low with a “good enough” plan

Key Takeaways

1. A purpose makes consistency easier: When we’re training for something—a race date, a trip, a milestone—it’s easier to keep showing up than when we’re just trying to “exercise more.”
2. Good enough reduces perfectionism pressure: Knowing Shannon can walk the 10K within the 1:45 time limit takes the stakes down, which makes it easier to keep moving forward.
3. Make the plan doable—and give yourself permission to adjust: Janine’s “one more flight per week” approach keeps the goal realistic, and building in extra stops helps her stay steady instead of pushing too hard.
4. Fun is allowed (and it counts): A motivating event, a playful app, or a little adventure can be a real part of building a habit.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to fitness, perfectionism can whisper that it only counts if we do it the “right” way—or that we should wait until we feel more ready, more motivated, more consistent. But for us, the magic is usually simpler: a clear goal, a doable plan, and permission to make it easier when we need to.

Listener Action: Choose one small fitness goal with a reason attached (a date, a destination, a milestone). Then pick one “good enough” step you can take this week—something you could still do on a low-energy day.

Want More Like This?

Episode 21: Know Your Why If you’re trying to figure out what actually motivates you (and what doesn’t), we talk about getting clear on your values—your “why”—so “good enough” gets a whole lot easier.

Episode 22: Creating Helpful Habits If you’re building consistency from scratch, we’ve got you. We talk about why habits matter, why they’re hard, and how a good-enough mindset (hello, teeny tiny steps) can help you create routines that actually stick.

Episode 32: Self Care If movement, rest, and self-care get tangled up with “shoulds,” we’ve been there. We talk about what self-care means (it’s different for everyone), and Shannon shares an idea for making exercise feel more like self-care—even when it usually doesn’t.

Connect With Us

Working toward a fitness goal right now—and noticing perfectionism getting involved?

• Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843)
• Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

• YouTube link - If you'd like to watch the conversation, click here!

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