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Every
year, Jan. 1 is the day when New Year’s resolutions
begin to face the test of time. Goals are set and the
first day of the year marks action getting underway.
Runners are known for setting ambitious
goals, whether that means chasing a lofty PB, racing for
the first time, or not racing at all but setting a personal
milestone. The tricky part of running is that it may take
weeks and months to see the progress.
With 2018 on the horizon, here are 10
running resolutions you can set and try to follow through
on in the new year.
And remember, as coach John Lofranco wrote
for Canadian Running, “our resolutions, while they
might be fairly specific (they have to be in order to
succeed), usually serve a more general purpose.”
Did you miss one day here and there but stay consistent
overall? No big deal as it’s the big picture that
matters.
Enter a new (for
you) race
Is your routine of the same races starting
to feel stale? Try an event you’ve never done before.
There will likely be the thrill of conquering the unknown.
And though you may not know the course like you do at
your home race, the new environment and scenery may mean
time passes by quicker.
A reminder that registering early in the
year for a race often means saving a few bucks down the
line when the deadline nears and early-bird registration
ends.
Try a new surface
Like trying a new race, take change a
step further and hit the trails or cross-country course.
Or, if you’re an avid trail junkie, try testing
out flat land by racing on the roads.
Start or continue
a run streak
A run streak means you’ll be putting in consistent
mileage on a week-to-week and month-to-month basis so
you’ll be on track to be in PB-fitness. Just don’t
be discouraged by those who have hit the 10,000-day mark.
Keep a training
log
Keeping tabs on where you are in training is always a
good idea. It’s helpful to look back on past workouts
to see where things may have gone wrong or, if you set
a big PB, it’s motivating to see just how far you’ve
come. With the rise of GPS watches, a training log can
be kept almost automatically.
Add or cut out
a routine
Challenge yourself by dropping a habit you’ve wanted
to kick for some time, or, alternatively, push yourself
in other ways by adding in a specific type of cross-training
here and there or attempt to master a strength training
exercise.
Join a run group
Running in a group may help keep you accountable
towards your goals and opens the door to meeting new people
in the community.
Try to qualify
for an exclusive race
Certain races have specific qualifying standards like
the Boston Marathon. If you’re not ready to attempt
to qualify in 2018, at least check out what the qualifying
standards are for future years. You can likely cut off
more time from your PB than you think.
Listen to your
body
Runners are used to pain, whether it’s in training
or on race day. Sometimes too much pain is a bad thing.
In 2018, convince yourself that you can take a day off
here and there if you feel an injury coming on. An intermittent
or weekly day off is better than needing to take weeks
and months off at a time.
Try a big city
race
There’s a certain feeling to big-city
races as thousands, sometimes in the tens of thousands,
of runners take over downtown and the surrounding area.
The high volume of runners means there’s a good
chance you’ll have someone to run with for much
of the race (albeit there may be more bumping), and that
could lead you to a PB.
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Rocks!!
and Friends meet Jamie at the new Sudbury Library December 31,
2017
